Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-21

Montana state fair, lack the essential
elements of real competition.
Contests of All Sorts
The other type of entertainment
sought after to replace the vaudeville
acts before the grandstand can be
illustrated by the state strengthening
contest, Secretary McLennan, execu-
tive officer of the International Sheep
Shearers' union, is in charge of this
event. The plan is to select by elimina-
ton the six best Montana sheep shear
I ers. and then stage before the grand
stand and bleachers a championship
sbearing race with approximately 10
head to the man, the winner to be
acclaimed Montana champion. When
n thinks of this in the light of the
fact that a record has been made in
this state of ! minute and 40 seconds
per head it is easy to see that there
will be action and real competition
in such a contest.
The contest idea is to be carried
out throughout the fairgrounds. If
present plans work out, there will be
state miners drilling contests, state
trapshoOters' tournament. a golf driv-
ing contest, and this year there will be
introduced a feature which is proving
of considerable attraction in eastern
fairs-a state horseshoe pitching tour
nament. The fair will not be without
features that are inseparable from
f~airs-balloons and air events, plenty
of good band music. clowns and laugh
provoking acts, and a good clean mid
way with its noise and attractions.
New Agricultural Plan
The basic idea underlying the agri-
cultural products show this fall will
be radically different from that which
in the past has developed a remark
ably spectacular exhibit of county col
lections of grains, grasses and vege-
tables, but the state fair is confident
that the change will bring in other adj
vantages greatly needed. The object
of the old county collective grouping
was publicity for the different sections
of the state, and to attain it counties
developed or hired professional decor
ators and exhibitors who put on the
show. The result in many cases has
been a loss of direct interest in the
fair on the part of the farmer.
This year all exhibits in the agri-
cultural hall will be grouped by va
riety, class and sub-class. instead of
by counties, although means are be-
ing planned to provide for county rec
ignition and ranking of counties ac-
cording to the merit of the exhibits
entered by their farmers. The funda-
mental idea of this years agricultural
show will be education rather than !
publicity. 4
Again. an illustration affords the.
best explanation. One section of the J
agricultural hall this fall will be de-
to- an enormous collective show [
ing of corn entered by c~orn-growing t
from all over the state. In
this corn section, farmers who are in !
in corn will be able to study i
and compare variety and standard TO i
heir satisfaction. Under the former
,lan it was necessary to search through
ID or more booths in order to make
comparison. and the educational
of the exhibit was largely lost.
There Will he the big section of thresh-
ID and sheaf wheat and other grains.
and this year an especial effort will
De made to create in the potato see
ion. one of the most interesting and
agricultural exhibits. with a
nance for the potato grower to famil-
arize himself with type and variety
under ideal conditions. po-
alto grading demonstration schools will
'e conducted here throughout rhe
week. and it is the belief of the man
cement of the fair this year that
here will be a tendency and oppor- F.
unity for farmers To meet in these !
ectlons of the agricultural hall with |
theirs of like interest.
Costs to Counties Less
One important side of this change |
D the agricultural hall is the lessened
Expense to the counties. In the past it +
as been necessary for the counties
, appropriate for the expense of as
embling, preparing and shipping the
xhibit to the state fair. and then to
ay the greater expense of a group
{ decorators to arrange the county
Doth. This year the state fair is ask al
* the county commissioners to ar GO
ange for funds to pay the t~ransporta- m
on of the agricultural products which da
lrmers prepare 10 show, to and from it
elena. but the transportation and ex- lo'
ense of the man IN charge. who shall
the county advisory board member. q
be paid by the State fair, and the OF
Ir VIII also assume the expense and III
,sponslbllltv of setting up the exhib- tn
and showing them at the proper wi
me. en-
The all -around cost will be relatively We
nall, both to the counties and to the an
ate fair. Instead of the heavy cash OK
Yards for county collective winnings ca
hlch in the past have formed so great sq1
part of the money devoted TO the thu
ri%cultural hall. and in so many cases
S gone wholly to the professional
%corator in charge of the booth, the
ID premium list will offer trophy re =
ps and vases, to be the permanent ol
operty of the counties ranking first, su
cond. third. fourth, fifth, etc. in nn'
nntity and merit of showing made by hp
Fir farmers in the various divisions. IN
lis will enable the fair to give the ga
lividuaI exhibitor, in addition to the nm
of