ANNUAL MEETING. 97 



At our last meeting numerous suggestions were offered in regard to 

 metliods of advertising, but uo definite action thereon was taken. It will 

 always be conceded that the worst managed fairs are those in which the 

 managers are furthest away from the hearts and confidence of the masses 

 of the people, and many fine exhibitions are failures because the people 

 in those localities are not educated up to the point where they can rightly 

 appreciate the object lessons that are taught at our best fairs. 



For 1,000 years fairs have been popular events in the development of 

 the material natural resources of the various countries in which they 

 were held, but they have only been successful when the infiuential people 

 of the respective communities were in close partnership with the fair 

 managers. This nearness of copartnership can at the present time in this 

 country be best secured through co-operation of the newspapers. Every 

 one reads the papers, and from this source of knowledge the residents of 

 the city as well as the country generally form their opinions upon almost 

 every public question, and since the establishment of the rural route sys- 

 tem fair managers will lose their finest opportunity for success if they fail 

 to use this means of reaching the intelligent masses of the rural districts. 

 The old flaming posters of "'Best Pair on Earth" and other meaningless 

 catchwords will not catch attention any more. This form of advertising 

 is out of date. You must give the patrons of fairs sensible reading mat- 

 ter about which they can think and talk, if you desire their friendly co- 

 operation. 



It was suggested at our last meeting that a literary bureau of infor- 

 mation and education along the lines of the popular industries of Indiana 

 might be taken up by the State Board with profit to the State Fair and 

 local fairs as well. Thus in a condensed form printed slips could be pre- 

 pared at small expense touching various topics containing valuable facts 

 of special interest as above indicated. Those slips could be forwarded to 

 County Secretaries for insertion in the local newspapers of their counties, 

 and thus not only the. State B'air might be gi-eatly popularized but local 

 organizations would be equally benefited. 



The above items are merely suggestive and are intended only for 

 consideration or discussion as may appear fitting by the members now 

 present. 



Numerous other questions might be noted and doubtless will be by 

 others who are more capable of discussing the important business at 

 hand. 



We are here for mutual conference concerning the great interests 

 which this delegate body represents. Each one present should freely tell 

 of his observations of better methods in all departments of fair man- 

 agement. Respectfully submitted, 



W. M. BLACKSTOCK, 



Secretary. 



7— Agriculture. 



