ANNUAL MEETING. 69 



The next snoject, "How Can Fair Management Be Improved ? 

 Duties and Salaries of Officers," was led by W. F. Unlet, of 

 Crawfordsville, wlio said : 



Mr. President and Gentlemen: 



How to improve tlie management of the county fair is a question 

 whicli is entitled to a very careful study and is open to considerable dis- 

 cussion. The question how to improve it does not imply that it is bad, 

 but the reverse. The difficulty in answering the question arises from 

 the fact that the fair management is much nearer perfect than the public 

 at large is prepared to believe; therefore, when we come to suggest 

 changes or improvements, we must remen^ber that the fair is an institu- 

 tion that has come to us with the experience and improvements of our 

 fair managers for many years; The changes should be very conservative 

 and made in a way that Ave will not lose any of the benefits we now 

 have. 



One person may think the mission of the county fair should be one 

 thing, and another another thing, according to the trend of their own 

 individual, business. Some would say the development of the speed horse 

 should be the dominant feature, some the draft horse, some the beef cattle, 

 some swine, some sheep, poultry, and so on, all of which should have a 

 prominent place in the county fair and should have all the assistance 

 and support that the fair managers can give them; and I believe that it 

 will be conceded that all of them have been fairly treated by the fair 

 managers, generally, and that nothing has had more to do with the ad- 

 vancement and development of these classes than the recognition they 

 have received at the hands of the fairs. 



It has been instilled into the stock breeders, by the yearly exhibition 

 which has continued for many years, that the way to make tHe most 

 out of their stock raising, is to raise the best. There is a friendly rivalry 

 existing among the stock breeders, as to who can develop their stock to 

 the standard nearest perfect, which rivalry is a source of great wealth to 

 our country, and I believe the fair has been the power behind it all. 



The fair manager should take a broad view of the question, not of 

 the classes that I have spoken of only, but everything of merit should be 

 encouraged in order that it may be developed to be the best of its kind. 

 The farmers' produce, fruits, grain and seeds, the merchants' display and 

 the women's exhibit should receive the thoughtful care of all fair man- 

 agers. When you go to the fair, you should be able to see the best of 

 everything, no matter in what class it belongs. 



I believe the county fair is one of the best and most beneficial insti- 

 tutions Ave have and indirectly does a great work, the effects of which 

 can not be measured. The county that has no interest in a fair is un- 

 fortunate. You may go to the county where there has been a well man- 



