The Robesonian., 1917-10-01
HOW TO HOLD
"A COMMUNITY FAIE

Buildings, Etc.
Row Thomas in Progressive Farmer
Every rural community in the
State should have fair this fall anc
now is the time to make plans to1
it. After having taken. an active
part in conducting six fairs within
the past two years, I offer. as sug
gestion, the following outline Of the
organization and management OF
community fair. 1t is not Intended
that this plan, as whole, shall be
applicable to all communities, but is
followed in a genera way it may pre-
vent many annoying and costly mis-
takes.
Purpose of Fair.-The purpose OF
community fair is educational, ana
recreational and not commercial ana
amusement The community 1alr
should represent the real, substantial
progress that is being made; 1t
Should be the meeting place Of coun-
try folks, and it should bring to-
gether all elements that are concern
ed in the development Of country life:
The county fair, in which the chief
interest is cheap vaudeville shows,
catch-penny games, ETC., and the ag-
ricultural interest of minor import
ance, is unsuited to this age Of rur-
al civilization. Hence the necessity
of casting aside tradition and pursu-
ing a constructive program for the
community fair. This program would
eliminate all gate receipts, all
shows, all concessions, and most
of the money premiums. The COM
munity fair is in the initial stage
and every effort should be made to
keep it free Of commercialism and
questionable amusemenSs, and this
! must be done if the community fair
is to represent real country life and
country people.
Who Should Take Part.-A person
living in community places on
himself responsibility for the welfare
of that community. Therefore it is
assumed that every citizen in the
community is member of the fair
and should support it. The fair
should be confined to one or two
townships and all people and schools
within that territory should partici-
pate.
When and Where Fair Should Be
the middle Of November is probably,
been harvested by this time. The
fair should be held at school CEN
trally located in the community. A
i farm life school is preferable if there
is one in the community on account
of the increased facilities it has for
handling the exhibits.
Preliminary Organizatlon.-(D A
good community leader in charge, ~
into oc& - 4ho I'D 10
the point of thorough cooperation,
and (3) efficient management
these are necessary Tor a successful
fair. St is assumed that several
schools will participate in the fair.
:, Each school should be the organiz-
ing center for the neighborhood it
serves. The first step is to call a
mass meeting at the school where the
fair is held. This should be attend
ed by representatives from al II the 6
the following business:
: 1. Formation of fair association,
. electing president, secretary, treas
urer and chef marshal.
2. Raising of money by voluntary
contributions to meet expenses.
3: Outline explicitly the duties Of
: each school.
A. Plan the details of the parade,
o dinner, handling Of exhibits, etc.
Next, meetings should be held at
each school to outline to the patrons
Of that school what is expected of
: them. A few days before the fair
S 1t will be necessary to have another
: mass meeting at the central school
: to make final arrangements.
h A satisfactory arrangement is to
n have four main divisions or depart
h ments-Q) livestock, (2) field crops,
y 90 domestic science and art and az
= educational. 1t is advisable to desig-
d nate three persons who shall be re-
: sponBible for the management of
: each dpartmnt.
l. Premium L'st-A premium list
e should be printed and distributed at
t least two months before the fair. A
d large part of the premium list can be
substantial upnaenfni money no1@ prze mGr
al should be offered for the school hav-
Il ing the best exhibit. All premiums
d should be paid by check.
'el buildings In o1der that the schoo
A. building may not be mutilated anG
l. that the exhibits may be displayed
l. more attractively an exhibit hal
r should be built. A satisfactory she5
IS is one 100 feet long, II feet wide, Il
er feet high in front and IL feet higl
n IN the rear, with the rear and side;
r enclosed. Such a building can b,
r erected without any actual expendi
ture of money by having the peopl.
OF the community furnish thelumbe:
ID and labor and the merchants thu
roofing and nails.
How Exhibits Are Entered.-Th,
of exhibit space should be divided int,
m booths, assigning one booth tn eacl
t. school. All patrons of a partcula
Ell school place their exhibits with tha
7e school; This arrangement enable
ne the school, as a whole, to compete fo
n the best school prize and vet doe
at not prevent the tnd;vid1,al on+r; :