Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-07-20
Com. Washburn
On Agricultural Fairs

Commissioner of Agriculture Frank
p. Washburn has issued the follow
ing very important statement to the
farmers of Maine to the coming sea-
son of agricultural fairs and their i'm
portance to the people and the State:
IN view of the near approach of
the season of agricultural fairs, the
Department of Agriculture desires to
call the attention of the farmers of
the State to the Importance of these
institutions and the valuable service
which they may, if properly admins
tered and supported, render to the
cause of Maine agriculture. Ever
since the time when society began to
congregate for the purpose of buying
and selling goods, fairs and eXposi
tons have existed. There are now in
the United States 5000 of them at
tended every year by upwards Of 40,-
100000 people. In our own State we
have listed for the coming season 81
fairs and agricultural exhibits which
will probably be visited by one-half
of our people.
The criticism of these events most
frequently heard is that their agri-
cultural features are neglected and
their real purpose lost sight of.
While it is true that the officials of
many fairs have listened most at
tentively to the call for more horse
racing and greater midway attrac-
lions, it may also be said that our
farmers are themselves somewhat
responsible for the inadequate and
unrepresentative display of stock and
farm products found at many of the
fairs. From every point of view it
is to the advantage of the farmer to
make an exhibit at his own local or
one of the State fairs.
1.-THE exhibitor of live stock for
example, makes the acquaintance of
other breeders, gains by their expert
ence and learns where he may to the
best advantage find new and better
stock. Comprehensive exhibits of
grain, fruit and vegetables have a
tendency to teach the exhibitor the
value of good seed, proper fertiliza-
ton and above all. the best methods
of grading and preparing such
may be made to have an all-the-year
influence upon our agricultural corr
munities rather than a one-week
roundup and display.
"As an advertising medium. the
agricultural fair should be fully
recognized. Census returns now give
us the interesting information that
the consuming public in our State is
for the first time greater than the
producing It follows that many of
those who attend our fairs will be
from the ranks of those who are in
terested in the purchasing of farm
products rather than in their produc-
ton. Under normal conditions Maine
farms offer for sale 100000, 600 worth
of vegetables. hay, grain, fruit. dairy
and poultry products. Is not such an
industry worthy of a better effort
than is now being made by our farm
ers in the line of advertising?
THE purpose of this letter is to
urge upon our farmers the necessity
and advantage of furnishing larger
and better exhibits of farm products
at all fairs. The excessively dry
weather prevailing in many sections
of the State may render it unusually
difficult to obtain even the usual dis
play. The moving of valuable live
stock requires some sacrifice on the
part of the owners, but Maine will
still have enough attractive produce
and animals to make exhibits at all
fairs worthy of the industry which
they are supposed to foster We
hope to find our farmers public
spirited and energetic enough to bring
them out The various associations
and particularly those of the State
fairs. are making an especial effort
this year to provide attractive quar-
tiers and premiums for livestock
ANY organization will grant suf-
ficient space for farm and Grange
exhibits outside the regular com
petitive departments The Depart
ment of Agriculture will make every
effort to increase the agricultural
value of the various events and to
keep their grounds clear of obiec-
tional features None of the exhibi