322 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



"We insist that you respond, as we think your subject a vital one to the 

 Indiana breeders and exhibitors at present." As he came after me so 

 strong, I suppose I will have to say something on the subject, although I 

 would have preferred to have some one more able prepare the paper. 



The Indiana state class is an important and beneficial one to the 

 breeders and exhibitors of this state, and I want to congratulate this 

 association on the grand exhibit in this class made at our last State Fair. 

 It was gratifying to see the large numbers and good quality of the young 

 things brought out, and shows that this class was wisely established 

 and is appreciated, and has been the means of encouraging small breeders 

 to exhibit their good ones, and is filling its intended mission. 



I wish, also, to congratulate the breeders for the imposing display of 

 short-horns in all classes. It was a wonderful show, and I think I can 

 safely say the t>est show of short-horns ever held at our State Fair. 

 This was all the more remarkable as the great live stock exhibition of 

 the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, at St. Louis, was on at the same 

 time. This, however, did not seem to detract from the exhibition held 

 here as to numbers or quality. It has been a "banner" year for the Red. 

 White and Roan, and especially for those from the great state of Indiana. 

 Our herds have been found on exhibition at aU the state fairs and national 

 shows in the United States, and one herd invaded Canada and was on 

 exhibition at the great show in Toronto. At all these shows in competi- 

 tion with the best lot of cattle ever exhibited, Indiana cattle were always 

 in it when the ribbons were distributed. Indiana sent out the senior 

 and junior female champions of the breed, neither of which have ever 

 been defeated in their class. Indiana exhibitors have reason to feel 

 proud of the record they have made in the show-yard during the past 

 season. 



How, and why. were these grand herds of show cattle founded? 

 There is always a beginning. Very few men are able to start out at a 

 bound with a full herd of cattle able to land within the monej'. It takes 

 experience, it is expensive, and is attended by many trials and lots of 

 hard work; but you find the number of exhibitors increasing year by 

 year. Why? Because it is like everything else. There is a beginning 

 in a small way. A breeder will have one, or a half dozen, young things 

 that he considers to be extra good. He probably has been taking in some 

 of our fairs, or national shows; and, after looking over the exhibits, he 

 ooncludos that he has some better than the ones he saw there. He begins 

 fitting them, with an idea of showing them; he puts them ou exhibition 

 at his county fair, and if successful In securing a ribbon he looks for 

 larger fields to conquer. He gathers a certain amount of enthusiasm, 

 and is proud of his success; "but," he says, "I can not go up against those 

 professional showmen, who have their herds out on the circuit." He 

 feels a little backward about making his first show In strong competition; 

 but when he finds a state class he will probably enter his cattle and take 



