Missouri Country Life Conference. 247 



ripened, a fall fair and a picnic — a community affair. A paper 

 was passed around and sixty-five dollars subscribed for pre- 

 miums. Premiums were offered to the boys for the best samples 

 of potatoes, corn, oats, Kafir, etc.; to the girls for the best 

 samples of sewing and baking. Classes were arranged so the 

 younger boys and younger girls would not have to compete 

 against the young men and the young ladies. The premium 

 list was printed and one or more copies given to each family in 

 the neighborhood. Everyone became much interested in the 

 proposed fair and went to work in earnest to make it a success. 

 The interest in our meetings kept right on from month to month. 

 Oftentimes we would have some one with us who had heard of 

 what we were doing and would give us a short talk of encour- 

 agement. 



You all remember that the summer of 1911 was nearly as 

 hot and dry as that of 1913. As the date for our fair approached 

 we would hear that this boy's crop of potatoes or corn was an 

 entire failure, and that he would not have anything worth show- 

 ing. He was told that all were in the same fix and that the pre- 

 miums had been offered for their encouragement, so that if an 

 exhibit were made some one would get the money. The day for 

 the fair came. There were creditable samples of many kinds of 

 farm products. The girls' part of the exhibit was just grand, 

 nearly as good as that of most county fairs. Through the State 

 Board of Agriculture we secured the services of J. Kelly Wright, 

 whom you all know, to judge the farm and garden products. 

 Local talent was used in the other departments. 



The dinner was one long to be remembered, being spread 

 under the shade trees that had been planted some thirty years 

 before in the old schoolhouse yard. After dinner Mr. Wright 

 gave us a talk which benefited all and made the occasion all the 

 more profitable. 



When in the spring of 1912 we commenced to talk about our 

 fall fair the tradesmen of our town said they wanted to help. 

 One hundred and fifty dollars was subscribed; the premium list 

 was greatly enlarged. Then we had a good crop year. When 

 the time came for the fair we had fine samples of most every kind 

 of farm products that could be grown in our vicinity. F. B. 

 Mumford, dean of our State College of Agriculture, was present 

 to judge the farm and garden products, and it must have taken 

 him nearly two hours to designate where to tie the ribbons. He 

 had time to make only a short talk, but it was much appreciated. 



