The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1920-09-17

If community bloweth not its own
horn by some form Of community ac-
tivity, verify by whom shall 1t be
blown?
Advertisers have discovered that
good characteristics of their products
which are so familiar to them as to
seem commonplace, are often not so
well known to the great buying public.
Goods must be talked about IL busl-
ness is to he secured. The same holds
true with communities. The excel
lence of neighborhood products and
the special lines In which various indi-
viduals excel may seem like very
old story to those Immediately con-
cerned, but there are plenty of folks
near by who have not heard this story,
of, II by chance they have heard 1t, 1t
Is very much worth while from bust
ness standpoint to repeat it-and more
than once.
Exhibits Stimulate Business.
It follows that promoting some form
of community fair, such as an exhibit
Of local products, Is profitable from
many points of view. IT stimulates
better production of stock, farm pro-
duce, and garden truck. 1t engenders
community pride. and adyertises in an
attractive fashion good products and
those who produce them.
AS result of careful study of the
methods Of conducting community fairs
specialists I'm the United States de-
partment of agriculture outline def
mite procedure for those interested In
promoting such neighborhood events.
Community fairs-the successful ones
are not gotten up in a day or a
week. Preparations should begin
weeks In advance. II is not too early
now to begin planning for an exhibit
this autumn. The first step is to get
together the leaders of different or
ganizations for discussion of the
proposed fair. At this meeting a gen.
eral outline Of the plan to be followed
should be presented for approval. The
meeting, to be thoroughly representa-
tive. should be well advertised with
posters, newspaper notices and post
cards addressed to each family.
II the community decides to hold a
fair, an organization should be formed,
officers elected, and committees APP
pointed. The latter should include
committees on amusement and enter
.ainment. arrangements, decorations.
and publicity. These are general COM
mittees. In addition, there should be
exhibit department committees for
such exhibits as live stock, farm prod
ucts. orchard and garden products,
women's work and fine arts, school
and club exhibits, and historical relics.
Too much emphasis cannot be placed
upon, properly advertising the fair
through articles in the local papers,
printed handbills, handmade posters,
notices read. preferably several times,
in the schools and churches, and In
various other ways. The publicity
committee should give special atten-
ton to advertising In neighboring
communities, extending an invitation
In such cordial terms that many who
ordinarily do not visit the community
holding exhibit will be induced to
dc so.
Grouping Of Exhibits.
The exhibit should represent as
nearly as possible the normal produc-
tion of the community, for one Of the
purposes of such fair is to stimulate
interest in increasing the quantity and
improving the quality of the average
produce, as well as giving special rec
ognition to the leaders In different
lines. The committees should make
II point personally to solicit exhibits
from all persons eligible, not failing
to emphasize the business benefits
which may result.
Satisfactory results are usually OBJ
tanned by grouping certain classes of
exhibits. In the live stock department,
horses. cattle, swine. poultry and pets
are exhibited. In the farm-products
department are shown grains, seeds,
grasses. forage crops, beans, peas, pea
nuts, potatoes, together with dairy
products and bee products. The or
chard and garden department includes
such exhibits as fruits ss,d vegetables,
ornamental shrubbery and flowers. The
wcmen's work and fine arts depart
menr has large possibilities. and can
include great variety Of products
prepared by the mother and daugh-
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