4 66 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



The committee always plans to have ribbons as well as prizes for the 

 winning stock. The people are generally as proud of these as they are 

 of the money that they get. I have often seen a boy or young man take 

 great pl'ide in showing visitors the ribbons won at colt shows. The 

 ribbons should show the name of the show, the date, the class, and the 

 position won, namely, first, second, tliird, etc. 



The results of the show are always made public. Photographs are 

 taken of the stock. The list of the prize winners and their owners, as 

 well as short, breezy write-ups of some of the best stock, are published 

 in the local papers. This aids the show the next year, for then the 

 farmers are watching the papers for the announcements of when the 

 shows are going to be held. 



These shows have done a great good for the community. One of the 

 most important of the benefits has been the interest aroused in good 

 stock. Already many of the farmers are thinking of purchasing full- 

 blood stock. They clearly see the difference between the colts from the 

 well-bred sires and from those of the poorer horses. At present, however, 

 the shows are limited to the g^'ade horses, for they are shows where all 

 the farmers can meet on an equal basis. 



Thre is also a great financial benefit from these shows. When so 

 many good animals are led out in shows it cannot be kept a secret. It is 

 a means of advertisement from which the whole community reaps a 

 benefit. At present Polk county is noted for her draft horses. One 

 noted horse buyer, when asked where was the best territory for picking 

 up a bunch of horses, said, "Polk county is the place I always visit when 

 I am looking for a bunch of real good horses." Such a reputation as 

 th's means that the farmers can command a larger price for their stock. 



Besides being a paying proposition, the big thing, as one man put it. is 

 that these shows ceate a community interest. The shows afford the men 

 and women a holiday when they bring their stock together in friendly 

 competit'cn. They find which is the better and go home feeling good, 

 and in the meantime boosting for their town. It also gets everyone to 

 co-operate. The business men boost with their farmer friends. The 

 farmers get the habit of trading with their home merchant and there 

 is patriotism aroused for the home products. 



These shows also lead to more social intercourse among the farmers. 

 They have formed a meeting place for the people to get acquainted. The 

 farmers will meet together and talk over neighborhood problems. The 

 farmers' wives will become acquainted with each other. The boys and 

 girls will plan for some social activity. In fact, the friendships that 

 have been formed at these shows have grown into other activities so 

 that the life on the farm is not so tiresome or so lonesome. 



These meetings of the farmers have also caused them to talk of their 

 community betterment: The reads are now better than they used to be. 

 In fact, the whole community seems to be on the uplift. It is known to 

 be progressive. Some other hobbies besides horses are working in. 

 Other live stock is given better attention. The dairy cow, with more 

 intensive methods, is gradually coming to the front. 



