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Missouri Agricultural Report. 



COUNTY FAIR CLASSIFICATION FOR LIVE STOCK. 



(Dr. A. R. McComas, Sturgeon, Mo.) 



One year ago the following resolution was unanimously 



adopted by this body : 



Resolved, That the State Board of Agriculture be 

 requested to promulgate for the use of county fairs and 

 agricultural and mechanical societies, rules and classi- 

 fications for judging different classes of live stock, and 

 that they furnish to the secretary of each county fair, 

 agricultural and mechanical society and to the State 

 Fair, blanks on which awards on the different classes 

 under the proper heads may be filled out, containing 

 name, age and breeding of each animal. These blanks 

 to be certified by the secretaries to the Secretary of the 

 State Board of Agriculture, and printed annually in 

 bulletin form. 



The object of this resolution was two- 

 fold. First, that there might be a uniform 

 Dr. A. w. McComas. distinction between the different classes 

 and each class so clearly defined that the awards properly made 

 would fix in the mind of the spectator the requirements for each 

 class. 



Second, that the blood lines of the winners might be known 

 and the production of animals filling the requirements of the 

 different classes rendered easier and more precise. 



Seeing the awards at one county fair, then going to another 

 in a different locality, both equally distant from the market, we see 

 the classification partially or radically changed. So, when the 

 breeder tries to produce an animal that will meet the successful re- 

 quirements of the show ring, he is bewildered and oftentimes quits 

 in disgust. In one locality, as this of ours, where the saddle horse 

 has attained the highest degree of perfection, the more a light 

 horse resembles him in confirmation and temperament the more 

 certain he is of receiving the award in any class where he may 

 be shown. The exhibitor is elated and has dreams of a world- 

 beater, but when he goes to another locality, or where each animal 

 is judged properly according to his class, he has a rude awakening 

 and gives up in despair. 



One of the banes of the county fair is the dissatisfied exhibitor. 

 He calls in all his friends, relates his troubles and they in their 

 sympathy oftentimes agree that he has been purposely wronged 

 and condemn the fair from the president down to the ribbon-tier. 

 When, as a matter of fact, he may have been trying to win the 



