The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1917-06-21
A COUNTY FAIR
BOOSTS THE FARM
SPLENDID ARTICLE BY STOCK
RAISING EXPERT ON VALUE
OF COUNTY FAIRS
BOTH FARMERS AND MERCHANTS PROFIT
Argument in Favor Of the Town and
Country Working Together
to Build Fair.

The time is fast approaching when
we Will be having our justly celebrat
ed Bookings County Fair. In one of
the big stock papers of the west We
found the following article on fairs,
an dconsider it very valuable for our
readers to learn these concrete facts
hearty fair spirit of the county and
star; things moving for Il big county
fair this year:
As the present time is the time
when the county fairs are making
their final arrangements for the years
expositions, | think a few facts and
figures setting forth the value of a
county fair to a city or community,
may be Of advantage to both secretar-
les and patrons Of Americas best and
NOS universal out doors entertain
mont. Whether they are strictly an
American institution or not, | am un-
able to say, but Prof. Clark S. Wheel
er, Of the Ohio State University, at
Columbus, stated at the meeting Of
the Ohio Fair Boys held last January,
thai the Father Of Our Country,
George Washington and Benjamin
Franklin, were the original promoters
of a county fair, which was held in
1855, or 1872 years ago. 1t would GER
tainly be "A grand surprise to either
Of these great men could they appear
again and see one Of our modern
~ fairs in operation some time this
fan. and compare it with their original
fair. The incentive to produce the
best, whether il be in the arts or in
stock breeding, or any other depart
ment of the fairs, created by the lib
eral premiums offered, is, without
doubt, the greatest factor at the pres
ent time in the progress made in stock
raising. The fair is the pattern setter,
the instructor, and the guide for farm
ers and %stockmen. in the judging and
production OF stock of all kinds. The
American desire for the betterment OF
all things has been the motive force
behind the county fairs for fifty years.
Breeders exhibit their stock, compare
their product with that OF their neigh
bors and competitors, and return an
other year with an animal Of better
quality, and in this ann our breed
ing animals have been improved upon,
until we are today the acknowledged
leaders in the production OF stock Of
all kinds. The long-horn, or Texas
steer, as we We're wont 10 call them,
and the razor-splitter hog of twenty
five years ago is practically obsolete
and unknown to our generation Of the
present day.
Art of all kinds has reached its
present state Of advancement in the
smaller cities and towns by reason IF
artists in every line being able TO see
the work of other artists at the u
" fairs and compare methods and
compete with them for the prizes Of
fered, and in the future execute a bet
ter piece of work, TO be exhibited an
other year. The county fair is not
only an instructor in animal husband
airy, but it Is the annual gathering
place OF people in all walks Of life.
They meet and discuss farming meth
every other department Of the farm.
II is also the annual time OF home-com.
ing for those who have moved to 9th
er olcalities. affording the best oppor-
tunity to meet and visit old friends,
transact business, or afford a day or