1002 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



a pictii:-e in his own mind of what the "stock '^ught to be, and the 

 departure of the different individuals on the farm from this ideal or 

 ideals; for the ideal bull is quite different from the ideal cow; the 

 ideal beef animal quite different from the ideal dairy cow; the ideal 

 draft horse quite different from the ideal roadster. If he can get these 

 ideals firmly fixed in his mind it will pay him many times over for 

 the time and expense of visiting the fair. The diversion, the know- 

 ledge of men and women, the different atmosphere which surrounds 

 individuals, all these will be thrown in for profit. 



We hope the boys and girls will as far as possible have an oppor- 

 tunity to see the fair, not as recreation alone or to have a good time, 

 although there is plenty of recreation and plenty of good time thrown 

 in for good measure, but to help qualify them for their life work. For 

 this a well organized state fair, and to a less extent the county fair, 

 affords abundant opportunity. 



We don't mean by this that the boys should not have a good time 

 or plenty of recreation. They ought to have; they deserve it; but they 

 should learn the trick of getting an education with their good times 

 and with their recreation, an education in the line of their future pro- 

 fession. 



Many fond mothers imagine that there is some danger in allowing 

 the boy or girl to go to the state fair. If there is any danger, the 

 grounds for the danger existed before the boy ever say the light. The 

 boy with good blood in him will not be in any danger of going wrong 

 when he gets into a crowd of people. He will instinctively be attracted 

 to the better sort and will instinctively avoid all that is evil and debas- 

 ing. Let the boy come to the fair. Let him take his sister with him. 

 They may not always be interested in the same thing, but there will 

 be many things in which their Interest will be mutual. Let them by 

 all means as far as possible take in the fair. They will do better 

 work at home and be better equipped for the business of life for hav- 

 ing had this opportunity for recreation, amusement and instruction. 



FAIR WEEK FOR A VACATION. 



BY M. M. KNUDESON, STOKY COUNTY, IOWA, IN THE HOMESTEAD. 



There are some people in the world so sure they are not as other men 

 that they even boast of never taking a vacation. Where good sense is dis- 

 played in such a performance is hard to discover, as they would not 

 expect such a service of machine or beast of burden in their possession. 



A misunderstanding regarding a bill for building material called 

 together the office force of a large and thriving lumber company. The 

 junior member of the firm was chief speaker, and was taking the lead 



