The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-09-02

Vegetables Must Conform to SccI
II community bloweth not its own
horn by some form Of community &C
hvfty, verify by whom shall it be
blownf
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 If busI-
ness is to be 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 a very
old story to those Immediately con-
cerned, but there are plenty of folks
near by who have not heard this story,
of, if by chance they have heard it, it
is very much worth while from a bust
ness standpoint to repeat ft-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
better production of stock, farm pro-
duce, and garden truck. It engenders
community pride, and advertises in an
attractive fashion good products and
those who produce them.
AS a result of careful study of the
methods of conducting community fairs
specialists in the United States de-
partment of agriculture outline a def
mite procedure for those interested in
promoting such neighbOrhood events.
Community fairs-the successful ones
are not gotten up in a day or
week. Preparations should begin
weeks in advance. It 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
CARNATIONS for a 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
If the community decides to hold a
fair, an organization should be formed,
officers elected, and committees ap-
pointed. The latter should include
committees on amusement and enter
tafnment, 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 fai1
through articles in the local papers,
printed handbilIs. handmade posters,
notices read, preferably several times,
! in the schools and churches, and in
various other ways. The publicity
committee should give special atten-
4 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
| do so.
Grouping of Exhibits.
The exhibit should represent as
nearly as possible the normal produc-
| ton of the community, for one of the
purposes of such a 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
| it a point personally to solicit exhibits
from ali 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 and vegetables,
ornamental shrubberv and flowers. The
women's work and fine arts depart
ment has large possibilities, and can
include a great variety Of products
prepared by the mother and daugh-
| tiers.
Much Of the success of the exhibit
depends upon securing judges OF abfl-
| ity and experience-preferabl per-
sons from outside the community.
Usually judges are available who can
be secured at little or no expense.
Cash Prizes Not Necessary.
A community effort is most success
| full when the primary aim of an exhib-
| itor is not TO win money prizes as COM
pensation for preparing his exhibit