Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1916-12-07
A MODEL COUNTY FAIR


in the extreme northeast corner
of Tennessee, lies johnson Coun-
ty. Il consists of three great
valleys, each with numerous side
valleys opening into it, separated
by ridges and mountains. The
valleys are filled with well titled
farms. The ridges are grass
covered, affcrding splendid past
urage. The mountains are forest
clad. One sees as good farming
in Johnson County as can be
found in the entire state.
And the farmers have a good
fair. The fair was organized
four years ago. From the first it
commanded the support of all the
people. Not only Johnson, but
all the neighboring counties,
come to Mountain City for the
fair. This year the weather was
perfect, and people came to the
fair by the thousands. Dozens
of old-time mou itain wagons,
patterned on those in which the
pioneers first entered Tennessee,
were here from North Carolina.
Literally hundreds of people
came on horse back. And al
most a hundred automobiles were
here. The people were the most
interesting exhibit at this. as at
every fair; all sorts and condit-
ions of men and women, all with
common interest. Every de-
partment of the agricultural and
household effort was represented
| in the exhibits. In live stock the
outstanding feature was the COM
bination horses. This class, with
seven entries, had at least three
that would have stood high in
any company. The Short Horns
led the cattle in both numbers
and quality.
The Johnson County farmers
are not professional exhibitors;
they bring their stock from past
ure; it is not state fed nor groom
| ed but it shows what isbeing done.
Fully 1000 grade stockers will be
sold from this section to feeders
this year. The sheep show, tho
small, was of high quality. The
hogs were not at all what should
be shown. Evidently the john
son County farmers chief inter-
est is in beef cattle and light
horses.
The agricultural display in
several respects surpassed the
State, the Tri-State and the East
Tennessee Division Fair. There
were thirty entries of Irish pota-
toes, and the size and quality was
of surprising excellence. There
were twenty-four entries of dry
beans; and this crop is the most
valuable garden crop in the coun-
ty, hundreds of bushels being
grown. The wheat, oats, and
buckwheat were Of high quality.
Only in corn do the johnson
County exhibits fall below the
standard of the larger fairs.
| The apple show was large ano
varied, but only one lot of fruit
had been sprayed. Great, big
apples attracted general atten'
ton. One exhibition showed
over fifty varieties, and there
were eight competitors for the
prize for the largest and best col
lection of apples. In all over zoo
plates were shown, though the
total value of the prizes was less
than twenty dollars. 1t is this
readiness on the part OF the PEG
pie to exhibit what they have tina
is SO eommendable, and this i
what has made the fair model
The ladies are quite as read,
to show their work as are thu
men. Indeed, the woman's build
ing surpassed in variety and mum
Der OF exhibits that of several o
the larger fairs. A notable feat
ure is the china painting. Evi
IDENTIFY a good teacher of this ar
| has been at work in this littl