The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-08-23
What Good Is a Poultry Show,
and Why2
fBy C. l. Davis, Poultry Expert for
Grandin Milling Coz

Often you hear some such express
sion from a casual visitor to poul-
try show Usually this questioner
passes rapidly through the show, has
little interest, and is looking for eX-
element rather than for genuine IN
formation or anything that VIII I'M
prove or uplift him.
Poultry shows in the beginning
were often very small and held only
in a few favored localities. Today shey
are held by the thousands. lnelud-
ing these held with agricultural fairs.
There is now hardly a community but
that is favored with a poultry show
and many live centers boast of several
each year.
Not all the labor of putting on
show is done for the mere pleasure
of seeing a few fine fowls strut in
their coops or for the joy of winning
a few ribbons There is substan-
tial reason why these shows grow in
numbers from year to year and the
numbers of fowls shown are constant
ly on the increase.
The leading idea in a poultry show
Is to arouse more interest in poultry
raising, especially poultry of the most
profitable kind The sight of nicely
finished fowls in large numbers Is
sure to arouse a desire in the visitor
to own such or to at least improve
his own fowls until they approach the
desired specimens.
Attractive fowls lead the observer
to study not only their beauty but also
xxrtIJ nc
we'll as please the eye.
If the visitor hasn't any fowls al
ready he is very likely to have an
attack of the back -the-soil' fever,
and especial cravings for some of the
very best in the poultry line.
The desire to live in the country
is almost universal in mankind. Rich
men buy and plan nice country homes
while men in middle circumstances
keep a few or many hens to help
economic on household expenses, as
we'll as TO afford some easing up for
the back to-the-soil" fever.
Often the casual visitor meets with
owners of fowls on display and poul-
trymen are usually glad to- explain
the merits of their fowls. Thus the
good impression made by the fowls
themselves is increased by the owners
talk The average poultry raiser is
always glad to explain methods of
feeding, breeding, care of poultry, etc.
And he is generally an enthusiast and
in his talk cannot but impart some
of the enthusiasm to his fellows.
Another good reason for poultry
shows is this very exchange of ideas
among the poultry raising folks them
selves. 1t is a regular "get-to-geth-
err" time for the poultry raisers and
their folks. Not only are subjects
of poultry interest discussed but ideas
are exchanged on nearly all SUBJECTS,
especially along farming and garden
ing experiences.
The last and final good thing that
the poultry show does is to afford a
place for competition and comparison
of the various breeds and varieties as
well as a place to try out the work
of the various breeders. The skill
of the breeder is shown here and the
less skillful breeder resolves to equal
or cut-distance his improvements
Prizes are really the least of the re-
ward to the successful breeder 1t
is true the prizes won often lead to
good demand for his stock and thus
make him some money yet the salts
faction of knowing that he has i'm
proved over his fellow breeders counts
with the real true poultry breeder,
Then the three real good things
that a poultry show will and does do
are, first, arouse more and deeper in
terest in poultry raising, second,
cause a comparison of methods of the
raisers themselves, and third, award
prizes to those who have shown merit
In their work of poultry raising.
Mr.. Davis is to judge the poultry at
the Skowhegan Fair September IL, IL,
IS, and ID.