682 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



were worth going to see. The farmer boy thinks he's pretty clever and 

 strong, but after seeing those men do with ease what seemed impossible, he 

 n© doubt has less conceit. It shows what constant training can do for a 

 man. If the farmer would take as much pride in doing a little better each 

 year agriculture would make rapid advancement. 



It is worth while to attend the State fair. Every farmer should make an 

 effort to visit the one nearest to his home at least and every citizen of Iowa 

 should support the Iowa State fair. 



LESSONS OF THE SHOW YARD, 



Breeders ' Gazette . 



The writer met a friend at a great cattle show, who said: ' 'Come with 

 me. I want you to see my herd. I am in hard luck. The judges discrimi- 

 nate against me. I have not made my expenses at this fair." A close in- 

 spection of the cattle revealed two facts; they were not in show condition 

 and there was in each animal a fatal weakness of conformation, though the 

 herd possessed great excellencies. "I know the animals are not fat. I have 

 a poor herdsman. I am willing to get a better herdsman, if you think best, 

 and I am willing to get on the right side of the judge, if you think that will 

 help me the next year", was the suggestion. 



Here was an old breeder and a good man, who needed some elementary 

 training and instruction. I decided it would be best to speak with him 

 frankly, for his future good. ' 'May I talk with y«u freely, and will you be- 

 lieve me smcere and not take offense?" I asked. ' 'Certainly", he replied. 

 "Well then you must not speak so of the judge. Judges are human and 

 may make mistakes but it is rare they are partial to individuals. Indeed, I 

 happen to know that judges quite often give their own consciences a twinge 

 by awarding prizes where they do not properly belong rather than leave 

 some poor exhibitor lonely in entire defeat. The number of our judges who 

 are to be bought is very small indeed. I, could not have given your cattle 

 more than they received, and here is the weak place", and I put my hand 

 on a marked deficiency in conformation. 



' 'First of all get a better sire; get one that will correct this weakness in 

 his offspring; get a good one. Stand not on economy or pride or anything 

 else but hunt high and low till you have found one that is strong where you 

 are weak. Then get two females as good as he is. Then you need not dis- 

 card your present herd but you will build it up while you are creating a new 

 family to add strength to it." 



