The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1921-01-18
A $500 STEER STAKE
(Ry w. T.. Stilwell)

II the State Fair of differen
States would advertise they would
give $500 steer stake every year
and If the county fairs would give :
| $500 stake. all divided into several
sums, it would be drawing card tc
the cattle breeders and there would
be royal boom tC the cattle inter
ests. The little narrow, light-bodi-
ed steer would be replaced with the
broad backed steer with quality
There would be a greater profit and
fascination that would bring back
the days Of the SOS when they ex-
hibited the great show steers School
er and NOnesuch, which won So
| 900 in gold and several CUPS. They
were exhibited by the late Mr.. w.
II. Renlck, of Kentucky, who made
the Bluegrass State famous for fine
show steers.
What a steer is worth depends up
on his breeding and the man that
has charge of him. A scrub is worth
five cents a pound, and a champion
show steer weighing LOO pounds
sold for over 50 pound and the
champion steer of 1920, weighing
1850 pounds, sold for $175 a pound
The young farmer should not be
contented to grow plain cattle and
select his seed corn and wheat from
the crib ard bin, as in his GRANDPA
theirs day. He should have a Wis
ion Of greater things and dream OF
a great show, of beautiful cattle.
wheat and corn that has greater size
and every ear looks alike and con-
tains more and straighter rows.
Then he will begin to see life and
the world differently and begin to
build up and 5eautify the home and
farm, and the grass will seem green
er and the songs of the birds sweet
er than ever before. He will visit
the live stock shows, come home
u greater herd, then enter the show
ring anG win the honOrs there
This gives a fascination that often
leads to fame and fortune. Many
times the winning of one blue ribbon
is the beginning of noted herd
that draws trade from other States
and nations.
Then the thought comes, why can't
the Department of Agriculture put
on the screen at the county sites, the
State Fair, Nashville Show, Ameri-
can Royal and the international,
champions, and show the young
farmer the finished products Of the
live stock, orchard and field indus
try? Then he will have vision of
a greater and more beautiful wOrlC
to live in.
He feeds the rich and poor, pro.
tects our feet. turns the wheels of
our nation, bleaches white cur fine
sugar strained through his ground
up bones, gives us buttons, beautiful
hair pirs tc adorn the head, his hair
is used to beautify our walls, fine
robes, soap, glue, some brands Of fer
tilizer are obtained from the steer,
he returns fertility to the soil, gives
to his owner much pleasure and 4
SUM of money for his care and feed.
He gives employment to many
thousand people. He goes from the
feeder to The packer. Armour and
Company employ 62,121 people; pay
out $224,868,547 for cattle and
calves: $2S,549,025 for sheep;
S2S2,461,183 for hogs. They use
1O,387,5S0 pounds of sugar. Their
sixteen packing plants cover 37@
acres; 1880 motor trucks, 5.417 re-
frigerators and tank cars are used to
supply food to eat, clothes wear, fur
nishings for the home, articles that
adorn, preparations that heal, pro-
ducts that make for health, comfort,
efficiency and company. Extremely
few are the fields of production
that are complete without the uso of
one or several articles of animal
origin. Thus docs this industry con-
tribute to commerce, science and
art