The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1921-01-20
FEDERATED FAIRS
Meeting SUCCESS
INFORMATION OF PRACTICAL
BENEFIT DISSEMINATED
TO 225 DELEGATES
ENCOURAGE JUNIOR ACTIVITY
MESSRS. HARRISON, PARKER
AND GILLIG REPRESENT
COUNTY FAIR
(By E. M. Gillig)

The annual meeting of the State
Federation of County Fairs held in
Minneapolis last week was the larg-
est in its history, 225 delegates rep
resenting sc fairs in the state be-
ing present. The members of the
Stearns County Fair delegation We're
Chas. Harrison, W.. M. Parker and
E. M. Gllig.
The meeting was not only a great
success in point of attendance but
also from the standpoint of informa-
ton disconnected and discussed. It
was an opportunity for each Fair in
the state that was present to gain
some valuable pointers on the en-
largement and the Improvement OF
their own fair. Men of experience
in the various activities Of the fair
disscused their problems and these
were always followed by a general
discussion by the members OF the
convention. The Stearns County del
egation noted several good ideas
which we will set forth here for the
benefit of the public.
One Of the principal ideas that was
brought before the convention was
that the fair is real educational IN
stitution. o. c. Newman OF Whea-
ton the president of the state FEEDER
atlon. brought this fact out very en-
phatically. He depicted as fair as
display window showing the people,
the progress IN agriculture and other
industries. that has taken place IN
the past year,.for the purpose OF
showing and educating others to iml-
tate. He emphasized one Of our lat
est principles II general edueatlon'
and that is to educate by seeing. The
educator calls this the visual method
of instruction, and modern experience
credits this as being very effective.
one. Colonel Wilkinson, a member
of the legislature, F. w. Murphey,
president of State Fair and many OF
the other speakers discussed this
proposition also, giving the same I'M
preston that Fairs are educational
institutions and that fair should
try to model itself as closely as pos
sible to educate its people in the &C
complishments and new things that
have been developed by those in their
locality and in the state, who exhlb-
it their work.
The next important feature that
was emphasized at the convention
was concerning the Junior activities
of the fair. Mr.. Newman here again
told about his experience and obser-
walton. He said, that the modern
fair is more and more centering It's
activities around the young people
of the community. This 'embodies the
fostering of all the activities OF Or
ganizing boys and girls club work
and all enterprises in which the
young peopel are interested. The sec
retary of the Big Stone County
Fair emphasized this point very care
fully. We quote him when we say
"remotely, most of our activities
should be conferred around the rear
ing asld educating of the children,
and the county fair should realize
this and do its share, for 1t can be a
very effective agent in this matter.
The youngsters appreciate attention
and when we recognize their efforts
by premiums and other attentions at
the fair, we can be certain that they
will profit by it.
The amusement and attraction fea-
lures were also touched upon. The
Secretary of the st. Louis County
Fair speaking on this subject said,
"the amusement features of a fair
should represent all that the fair
stands for and fair cannot afford
to stand for anything that is not
wholesome, educative and up-bulld-
ing without defeating its purpose for
its existence" Many ideas too num-
erous to mention here were taken up
ca this, and on the other subjects
discussed. The Secretary has made
a note Of everything discussed and
will bring things before the local
board for consideration. A report
will be made by him at the next
county fair board meeting and also
at future general meetings. The pub
lie will be informed at a latter date
following the board meeting, as to
lust what policy in the various de-
partments of the Fair that win be
pursued this year.
The convention was well worth
attending and SO much Of vital in
terest to all Of us was discussed that