Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1919-09-09
COUNTY FARM NEWS
A Department Edited by A. @.
Heyn,an. County Agricultural
Agent, for tho FAFmes and
Stoelmen Of Luna County. .; 3;
SOME OF THE FUNDAMENTALS
OF A GOOD RURAL FAIR

The fair itself is largely an exhibit
ton. II IL graphic method OF por-
traying what has been accomplished.
IL IL the blackboard upon which Is
pictured the results Of progress. I'M
provement, Initiative; the application
Of better methods and closer study.
A fair Is not 80 much an educational
institution as II IL medium or an &C.
casion upon which are displayed the
results Of the years education. a meet
ing Of common and mutual interests.
where the rate and direction Of
progress can be determined. This.
every fair undertakes to do chiefly
through a system OF exhibits. competi-
lions, contests, demonstrations and ex-
valuations, whose main features are
superior crops animals. machinery and
the various products Of the home and
the school.
Fairs are more than this They are
informal gatherings OF mutual inter
est, gatherings Of people interested In
their communities. In themselves and
In everything that tends to improve
the locality, the farm, the home, the
church and the school. Fairs are IN
spirers Of community operation, OF
work together spirit. Of common veal.
The basic principal OF rural organiza.
ton IL that farmers must be organized
around something in which they have
vital economic interest Merely or
ganizing rural interest In a general,
Intangible, indefinite manner for the
sake Of organization, and not because
OF what the organization may produce
Ii waste of time and dismal failure.
Fairs represent typical rural organi-
cations, the immediate purpose OF
which Is 10 better conditions, by slim
ulating greater production and better
production, by teaching through com
narrative methods the secrets Of larger
individual and collective profits, which
I'm turn can be expressed In improved
living.
Fairs are not mere money making
institutions any more than. the schools
are: rather. they are money-losing IN
stitutions. II fairs today were not
supported by the state, county ana
private subscriptions, they could not
exist as In many cases expenses out
weigh receipts. On the other hand,
properly conducted first, with the
proper goal In mind. result In increased
production, by disseminating Informs
ton. and are, therefore. very properly
supported by state aid, private SUD
scriptions and In some instances by
taxation. The fair. therefore. Ike the
school is a medium for educating peo-
pie.
The fair as a unit Is made up OF
number Of factors, all Of which
tribute toward the same end. namely.
instruction, inspiration. Specialization
and amusement. These factors are ~
exhibits; (2) contests; CD competi-
tive entries; ca demonstrations; lo)
lectures, and 90 entertainment fea-
lures. When properly correlated. each
In its proportionate place. they make
up the American institution, known as
the modern agricultural fairs When
these factors are not properly balanced
the product becomes top-heavy and the
result Is generally failure.
Too much entertainment, and often
OF a questionable variety. and not
enough instruction, wearies patronage
In due time and the fair dies OF stagna-
ton. Too much instruction and not
enough entertainment fails 10 secure
the proper patronage, without which
fairs can not succeed. A lack Of en-
tries signifies no individual INTEREST,"
due to any OF Il number OF causes. No
exhibits signify no community inter
est on the part OF the schools, clubs,
and rural institutions.
Abstracted from Fairs and their
Educa tional Value" Circular 90, Agrl-
cultural Extension Service OF North
Carolina.