The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1917-03-22
Advertising by Circulars

We'll written circular letters may Df
used advantageously TO get special an
nouncements to farmers. An effective
letter might be sent early in the sprins
or summer urging farmers to exhibit
Ct the fair; pointing out the advantages
of making early plans for an exhibit
appealing to their sense of loyalty by
asserting that the success of the fail
depends upon the individual farmer
showing the farmer the advertising
value of a good farm display.
A very effective letter might be
written to the school children urging
them to take special interest in the
school exhibits and the prizes offered
in the juvenile classes.
F. S. Ashleman, secretary Of the
Nowata, (Okla.) county fair, has been
successful with sucn letters. He issues
a letter in January-nine months be-
fore the fair begins-advising citizens
of the county of the dates of the fair,
giving a brief outline of premiums and
attractions, and asking for suggestions
as to improving the exposition. About
a month later he issues advance prem
ium lists or separate circulars special
izing on each subject. These are mail
ed to separate mailing lists, approx
mately a thousand names being on
each. About July-three months be-
fore the fair begins-the official cata-
log is issued.
C. G. Kaskey, secretary of the Cal
houn, Ua.), county fair, sends out a
letter five days before the fair begins
to the automobile owners who live a
distance away from the fair.
The following is an extract from one of
these letters:
Dear Sir: From the state records
/ find you to be the owner Of a car
which makes the distance of thirty or
forty miles as short as were five or ten
when you drove a team" y = =
The letter closes:
I'm consideration of the fact that
YOU live a greater distance than ten
from Manson, the management
has made arrangements for the gate
keeper to accept this letter as free adj
mission for car and driver any day or
evening during the fair. With compli-
nents of the officers and board of d.
'ectors, / am, Yours truly"
Mr.. Kaskey says the foregoing
in II per cent returns on a
mailing list of 5000. About three or
our months before the fair begins Mr..
haskey sends a letter TO all the women
If the county inviting them to a spec
al free entertainment at a local thea
.er in which special moving pictures
interesting to women were shown and
address given by a member of the
home economics department If the
iowa State College. This speaker also
gave numerous suggestions to help the
in preparing domestic science
exhibits and lettering their depart
nents at the county fair. Mr.. Kaskey
that this is an annual event and
keeps the interest alive among wo-
men. O
Another circular letter from Mr.. Kas-
key reads:
Dear Sir: A mutual friend informs
ne that you are an owner of a car. Our
friend thinks that you would run over
and attend the fair. at Manson one of
The three days. September 3-4-5, if |
should tell you which of the three days
program will be the best. | am posi-
i've that Thursday, September 4, will
De the best and biggest day.
I'm consideration of the fact that you
are a friend Of my friend, | have made
arrangements to have the gatekeeper
accept this letter as free admission to
your car any day during the fair"
Mr.. Kaskey also pays a great deal Of
attention to newspaper write-ups and
advertising.
N. T. Christensen, secretary of the
Northwood, (Ia.) fair, states that last
rear they sent 1000 personal letters
throughout the county ten days before
he fair opened, enclosing a hand bill
announcing free attractions and other
TENS of interest.
Competition Among Children
Replies received from many secre-
aries seem to indicate that there is
10 better way to create interest in a
fair than through the children.
some secretaries go so far as to assert
hat lively competition among the
school children and their united in
crest ssure the success of the fair,
because the older people follow the
children. Here's how the Nowata,
OKLA. county fair handled the school