The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-29
1--WE Are Arranging to Feature Food Products
Show At the Alabama State Fair This Fall J." Says
Mrs. John B. Reid, Manager Woman's Department.
BY DOLLY DALRYMPLE

661OERHAPs the most difficult task
connected with the building up
of a great State Fair is enlist
ing the interest of the general public"
This is the statement with which Mrs.
Reid greeted me a few days ago when
dropped in to see her and talk about
the prospects of the forthcoming Ala
bama State Fair, of which she has been
manager of the woman's department for
the past II years
No woman in Alabama stands higher
in the estimation of the public than Mrs
Reid; she is known and beloved from one
end of this big state to the other, and
she probobly knows more people in the
state than any other one woman
Mrs Reid is a perfect wonder; we
al, concede that; she is marvellous ex-
ample of energy cleverness, and determi-
nation to succeed in whatever she at
tempts; that she has succeeded admirably
in the womans department at the Ala
bama State Fair is unquestioned
From practically nothing in the way of
a won1an's department at the fair Mrs
Reid has built UP a structure that has
not only entertained thousands each year
by it's wide scope and variety, but she
has made it possible for hundreds of
women to find a market for their talents,
who otherwise might never have been
heard of.
DO you know there are great many
ignorant people about us" Mrs. Reid said
as she continued her remarks about the
fair? There are lot of people who
think the fair is private enterprise
and in consequence are Indifferent to its
success. l wish that every one might
be impressed with the real facts in the
case that the Alabama State Fair is an
institution founded upon the good will of
the people; its success is dependent upon
their appreciation of it's value to the
community. The real purpose of all fair
is to denote methods and results in in
dustry; to stimulate effort and promote
industries and to exhibit examples of
each. In a way, it is a school, and in
my department it is certainly graded
class"
You have no idea how noticeable is
the difference in the work of the old and
new exhibitions Mrs. Reid continued
another problem is to display the ex
hibits differently each year. to arrange
the building so as to surprise visitors on
their first trip to the fair. We do not
want the people to feel they will see the
same things each year, and it is some
thing of a task to change the interior
This is the tenth time 1 have made tile
building over. Another thing, l never
take an article that has been exhibited
before, because 1 want to keep the people
busy the year round. 1 want new ideas
and new folk; in other words, l want my
class to grow. This year we are arrang-
ing to feature food products show. We
have converted the centre space into a
pure food show. 1 would like to have
a Birmingham products division, but you
have no idea how hard it is to interest
home manufacturers in showing their
goods. If we have a good advertising
medium there, with follow-up system
through the papers, it would not fail to
be profitable. You would enjoy going
around with me to ask cooperation in
this feature; the men are the poorest
talking set you ever heard of. 1 feel
like carrying some of them lunch, and
feel real nervy to ask them to show us
for month and more. Hence our hope
that somebody who no longer plays upon
the old banjo may let us hear from
him or her.