The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-03-09

gether with livestock raiSers and eX-
hibitors at the Mankato fair held a
meeting Saturday afternoon AT the
Heinrich hotel, following dinner
served TO about forty five people.
livery man present was delegated
a member of a boosters club TO go
out and work for the success. of
Mankato fair, which this year viii
be held previous TO the Minnesota
state fair. The dates set for this
years show are: August 20, 30, 81,
and September /.
From now on, according to the
suggestion of County Agent l.. n.
Mcmillan, which was put in the form
of a notion by George Atchison. the
show in this city will be known as
Mankato District Fair, and it viii
include Blue Earth, Martin, FarI-
bault, Watonwan, brown, lie Suaur
and Waseca coGnties, and the en-
tries Tor livestock will be limited to
these counties.
President Thomas McGovern pre-.
sided at the meeting, and explained
that il was called for the purpose OF
bringing out what was wanted and
needed in the way of this years
program. He said that for some
time past it had been a problem TO
going. II had been suggested that
the amount of money paid out in
liemiumS should be cut down. $4,000
had recently been borrowed by the
association to tide il over a loss oc-
CaSioned by wet weather. This
amount is still owing. Mr.. McGoyern
said that this matter and whatever
other changes was thought necessary
would be left with the members
present.
J. G. NARROW was not in favor OF
cutting down the premium list. He
would like to see some method de-
vised whereby larger crowds could
be gotten to attend the fair. The
large premium list he thought was
good talking point In advertising the
fair.
Urged Larger Premiums
President McGoyern replied to this
by stating that he would like TO. see
the premium list even larger than
it is at present. if the finances would
permit. o
c. A. Becker. q Duroc Jersey
breeder of Amboy. called attention
TO the fact that outside breeders
come to Mankato fair with a single
breed with no competition and
carry off all the cream in premiums.
DR.. Nj. B. Wood said that one rea-
son for the fair not drawing larger
crowds was the fact that the fair
dates come in very busy season for
the average farmer. He thought that
the premiums at least to be kept up
where they would encourage the ex
hibitor to ship his cattle to the
show.
Nick Kleinschmidt thought that
some of the horse races should be
al, ra,e
given the benefit.
Secretary w. E. Olson read a list
of premiums paid by different coun-
ties as follows: Steel county, S2,449:
Brown county, $1,s45: Watonwan
county, $3.50; Faribault county ST.
446; Rice county, s2,277; Nicollet
county, $1.92S; Garden city fair, ST.
1913: and Mankato Fair 1881, or at
least one thousand dollars more in
premiums than any of the surround
ing counties. In the face of this, how
ever. there WAS an attendance at the
last fair held in Window OF 10000 as
compared to 1000 total attendance
at Mankato Fair.
Harry Brush OF Amboy was not
in favor of cutting down the prem
iums.
Made District Fair
II was at this point In the meeting
that County Agent l.. e. Mcmillan
struck the keynote by suggesting that
the local association be made a dis
trict fair to take in all of the coun
ties adjoining Blue Earth county.
He said that these counties constf
tute the trade district of Mankato.
lanes O'Connell of lie Sueur Cen
ter. a breeder Of purebred sheep,
said that it had come TO a point
where Mankato fair will have TO take
a step forward and get out of the or
binary county fair class. In order to
do that every farmer must be a
booster for the success of the fair.
He realized that the business men
of Mankato have proven themselves
ALREADY back Of the association with
their money and labor.
AS far as the single entry pro
rosition with no other competition.
Mr. OConneli would match the an
jmals In that breed or class with
biue ribbon winners In some other
class and award the premiums &C
cording1y.
Edward Mccarthy of Madelia, Or.
M. B. Wood and ]. C. Ns:s.ow were