The Alaska daily empire., 1923-08-09
SCHOOL EXHIBIT FOR LOCAL FAIR
 TO BE FEATURED
Fair Association Seeks to Arouse Interest Tn Work
 It Is Fostering.

the directors or the SOulnedsteIi
 Alaska Fair Association last March
 offered a prize of 5000 for the best
 essay on the Advantages to be
 gained by Southeastern Alaska from holding an annual fair Competi- tion was open to regularly enrolled pupils and students in both public
 and high schools of Southeastern Alaska. Circular letters containing
 full information of the contest were mailed to 15 principals and snperin- tendents of schools. The directors served as judges of the contest and after considering the merits of the essays submitted. awarded the prize to Miss Selma Aalto, of the Douglas school. Miss Aalto advances some very good points in favor of the an- nual fair as an advantage to school children and to the entire South eastern Alaska country.
 The winning essay. made public to day by the Association, is as follows; "There is no better way of trying to develop Southeastern Alaska than through the influence of holding an annual agricultural fair. The first advantage to be gained Is that of advertising Alaska. It : is one Of
 the best forms of advertising be-
 cause 1t will help to attract the kind
 of people that is most needed in
 the development of our resources.
 The reason Southeastern Alaska has,
 mt more farmers is that people h.
 terested in the farming industry do
 not realize the possibilities or our agricultural resources.
 People who are not familiar with this section don't know that farm
 products like those that were dis. played at the fair last September could possibly yegetate on this land of ours. Many visitors who at tended the fair were amazed when they saw the splendid products Of this district which were on display. I have lived in Alaska all my life and never realized that such farm products could possibly be grown here until I saw them at the fair.
 Love of Nature
 "The second advantage of promot- ing interest in agriculture is that 1t teaches the love of nature. The care of the garden teaches the develop 1 ment of plants. In order to per feet plants and farm products the individual must have some knowledge concerning their growth and there by botany is mastered. Still an other advantage to be gained will be that it will develop character in the boys and girls in that it fur nishes them with something to do. When school is over there is very | little for a boy or girl to do, but with a garden to work in there IS both employment and happiness and therefore less mischief. The fact the fair management offers prizes for schools and individual pupils, both self exertion and team work is pro- | noted, for there is goal to work for.
 Preparation for the fair leads to and reliability. This work will occupy all the child's thoughts, mental, moral, spiritual, and there will be no room for i'll weeds to affect either the mind or the garden.
 "The holding of an annual fair will also make the younger generation more interested in the countrys de- velopment. Tn entering the veget- able growing contests they will be taught patience. persistency and ob- servation which will develop those young minds to the highest degree. They will have something to look forward to in their later years by planning the cultivation Of farms of their own. The children will be able to sell the garden products which they grow and thereby earn money which they can deposit in bank, and in this way they will be taught the laws of economy and thrift
 Aids In Development
 "One of the many advantages to be gained also is the development of the territory. The best way to develop country is through the efforts oil each individual. By holding an an nual fair it will establish harmony between the different towns. Manyl new friends will be made and ideas exchanged for the mutual benefit of those who attend the fairs.
 "The holding of an annual fair will greatly aid in the betterment Of between Alaska com munities. The residents of the dif- ferent towns who are interested in the development of our country Will visit the fair, and furnish business for the transportation companies. It will aid in the development of the territory by bringing us into closer with the people of thel States.
 We need virile men, women and children, who will be a benefit tol our country and which we will bel proud of, and who will take an in terest in the development Of our vast and varied resources This class of people will be attracted by ourl fair. Thus by holding an annual fair many advantages will be gained