The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-03-31
They Are to Discuss the Agri,
cultural Topics
PRIZES TO BE OFFERED
Blue Earth County Seed Grow.
ers' Association Behind the
Movement
From Mondays Oaiiy.


The interesting of young as well
as old, and every part of the county,
in better farming methods and bet
ter results, was one of the things
sought at a meeting of the officers
and executive committee of the Blue
Earth County Seed Growers as
ISOLATION, held at the Commercial
club headquarters Saturday after
noon. Plans for the creating of
greater interest in the next annual
convention and seed fair were talked
over.
The Mankato Commercial club le-
Gently decided to put up 500 in
cash prizes for a boys and girls
acre corn contest, to de carried on
according to the rules that apply to
the state acre corn contest, which
can be had by applying to Professor
c. R. Shumway, agricultural teach
er in the high school at Mankato.
This contest is open to the boys and
girls of Blue Earth and Nicollet
counties. 1t was decided to have the
prizes awarded at the next conven-
ton of the Seed Growers associa-
ton, and also to have at that time
SOME essays read by the successful
ones on how they managed to have
such large Yields
An Essay Contest.
1t was also decided at the meet
ing Saturday to inaugurate an essay
contest open to all boys and girls of
Blue Earth county and Belgrade
township, on agricultural topics.
The essays will be judged and cash
prizes awarded. Such topics as corn
growing, wheat raising, stock rails
ing, hogs, poultry, butter and any
thing else of Importance on the farm
will be included. The details and
amount of the prizes will be an
nounced later.
1t was also practically decided to
offer prizes for the best results in
poultry and eggs, on the farms,
during the coming year, to interest
the wives and boys and girls. These
will also be cash prizes.
1t was decided to appoint Jense
Johnson of Butternut Valley to
figure out and determine who are
entitled to the prizes in the hog
marketing contest for the past year.
There are five or six contestants,
and two registered spring pigs are
the prizes. ..s a~-@.. .f.a-s-e.
It was decided to encourage the
holding of township fairs in the viii
lagos of the county or elsewhere
during the fall, and the Offering of
prizes at these, the winning exhibits
to be boxed at the expense of the as
sociation and entered in the general
fair of the Seed Growers associa-
ton in Mankato in the winter. The
winners there will, in turn, have
their exhibits entered in the state
association corn and seed show
Thus, everybody all over the county
will have a chance at the prizes in
three contests, and Blue Earth
county will have chance to win
more prizes in the state show.
Will Have Fairs.
1t was thought that the village
and township fairs ought to be held
in October, one following the other,
daily. In this event, the meeting
decided to provide speakers for all
Of the fairs, from the state agricul-
tural college extension division.
These speakers could then go from
one fair to another with little or no
extra expense. Fairs such as were held
last fall at Medo and previously at
Amboy and Lake Crystal were fav-
ored, the idea being to get together
the best products of the local COM
munities. The county association
Will aid in every way to make these
fairs success.
1t was decided to appoint a large
committee on exhibits, the members
to help every way they can in max
ing the village and township fairs as
well as the county meeting a sue
cess. 1t was decided to have this
committee made up of one man from
each farmers club or equity club III
the territory of the Seed Growers
association, each club to appoint its
own committeeman. This will give
good live, active men all over the
county, and will interest the clubs.
II each club would have a fair of its
own, it would be just the thing
wished for by the county associa-
ton.
Much enthusiasm was shown at
Saturdays meeting, and if the entire
county will cooperate, big things
are sure to result for the agricuI-
tural interests of the county.
The Mankato Commercial club is
willing to help all it can and it is
thought that similar clubs in the VIII
lagos will do the same. especially in
getting up the local fairs.