The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-11
Nj E N w o M E N
 A N D T HIN G s

1 The exhibitors of cattle. hogs and i poultry at the Alabama State Fair this year seemed to be greatly ] pleased at the treatment they got at the hands of the management. as well as the public IL takes more than ribbons and prizes to make successful show from the standpoint of those who spend the year in fitting animals and birds for the various entries, for In the last analysis the creating wider interest in cattle, swine and poultry | Is sought.
 | The acid test being the ability to sell pure-brcd cattIe.' hogs and pouI- try to an ever enlarging clientele The number of purchases Is constant ly increasing and, therefore, the sales this year were larger than usual in all of the cattle and chicken breeds. and while prices were not as high as during the war. yet showed a steadiness that was assuring. 1 Few people who have never fitted cattle, hogs and poultry for the fairs and shows have any idea of the trouble and the cost. It means days and months of constant watch | fitness Take, for instance, my l friend "Old Man" Dale, as he is af- fe ctionatcly called by the cattle hra time to time at the fair. He had nursed herd carefully and just, two weeks ago the best heifer he had walked into q well. He is still wondering why one of the other 15 hadn't suicided and left him his favorite.
 It's not only the actual fitting, hut when they are ready to leave the farm, then trouble begins to loom near by, for it's matter of get ting cars, driving and loading, and then the long wait at this end on account of the round about way which the cars are delivered at the fairgrounds. The cattle cars have to go to Bessemer, and from there are handled by the E. R., l.. and P. An exhibitor told me that he would subscribe $500 towards putting in a sidetrack on the A., B. and A., the fair association having bought to It's right of way.
 If you had been on the grounds Saturday or Sunday preceding the opening of the fair, you would have seen 8 bunch of sweating men un- loading, watering and feeding their stock. The stalls had to be put in condition, sawdust sprinkled down the aisles before the final finishing touches or getting the various ex- for the toilet of a heifer who has to have her glossy coat marcelled waved than 1t docs for 8 debutante to get ready for her coming-out party.
 And then when everything is Tn ship-shape, along comes the long awaited moment, for call comes,
 
 there is 8 mighty hurrying and scurrying. The horns are gone over. the plaited tail is smoothed out, the ring halter is put on and the herds man proudly leads out his offering in the class asked for and lines her up with the others and takes his stand at the head to see that she assumes the right pose to show to the best advantage.
 Then the judge begins his work. With practiced eye he runs up and down as he constantly shifts to get a better view. After looking them over In a group. he will be seen to walk close to a special one and finger for a bit and then move on to another and so down to the end of the line. Next he will walk over and put his hand on her back, and feel beneath her ribs, and if she Is in the dairy class, will examine her bag. After long study he will have a certain one moved to the head which means for the moment she IS picked for first place. but later, after further study, she may be turned down. It's like the old field school. There is head and foot and foot and constant shifting of posi- tions.
 This year there was sale, potn of dairy cattle and fat steers. There were some splendid bargains picked up in the Jersey ring, and some mighty fine fat steers. junior ana senior heifers in the beef breeds were bought cheap; but on the whole. poth sales were worth while. l didn't get to talk with the Jersey exhibitors at the close of Bob Bells sale, but the ones in the fat steer sales expressed themselves as being well satisfied cAm.vlLlM lM1AantiH