330 



Missouri Agricultural Report. 



innovation results in increasing the show of live stock and agri- 

 cultural products, it means in the end, unless the better exhibits 

 result in an increased attendance, a falling off in receipts. 



The live stock exhibit is always one of the big features of a 

 county fair, and among live stock at the average Missouri fair 

 horses take first place. At sixty-eight fairs held in the State 

 last year horse entries totaled 5,439 head. The Missouri County 

 Fair Cattle Show for 1913 was made up of 1,405 head. Of the 

 beef breeds Shorthorns and Herefords were exhibited in largest 

 numbers. The growth of the dairy interests in the State is 

 reflected in the larger number of Jersey, Holstein and other dairy 

 breeds of cattle. Missouri is the third hog state in the Union, 

 yet the number of hogs reported as having been shown at county 

 fairs is but 1,787 head. The fear of cholera doubtless kept many 

 hog breeders from showing their stock. Sheep exhibited num- 

 bered 959 head. Of goats and "other stock" 42 head were 

 entered. All told, 11,580 head of horses, mules, jacks, jennets, 

 hogs, sheep and other animals were shown. In addition, poultry 

 was exhibited at practically every county fair, 6,439 birds hav- 

 ing been exhibited. 



Stockholders in sixty-eight Missouri county fairs number 

 8,875. Par values of shares range from $5 to $100, with $10 a 

 popular figure. Experience has demonstrated the wisdom of 

 having a large number of people interested in the success of the 

 local fair. The fair at Palmyra has 417 stockholders; Columbia, 

 242; Rolla, 340; Bunceton, 500; Butler, 225; Independence, 

 1,000; Cuba, 374; Cape Girardeau, 980; Festus, 215; Sullivan, 

 265; Maitland, 320; Lamar, 200, and Shelbina, 240. 



