400 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



will clear enough money to pay all expenses and to run a good "ad" in 

 several of the best live stock papers, besides the advertising and th*j 

 acquaintances you make that are useful to you. 



F. A. Nave: From my personal experience I will say most emphati- 

 cally it does pay to show cattle. Showing cattle will pay directly witn a 

 good herd and good herdsman to fit them and carefully managed. I think 

 it is well for the beginner to start at the county and district fairs. The 

 acquaintance with farmers and cattlemen at these shows is very valuable 

 After some experience at the smaller shows one is better prepared to 

 enter the field of the professional sbowman. Never be satisfied with just 

 a place in the money, but always aspire and strive to the possession of a 

 herd, or at least some individuals, to stand at the top. I do not favo? 

 overfitting cattle, but they must be in prime condition; and it is best that 

 cattle make their reputation under three years of age. Then they are not 

 ruined for breeders. The advertising gained in the show yard is the most 

 effectual advertising, there is, and is gained without expense; and as i 

 have before said the acquaintance of breeders, feeders and farmers 

 gained in the show business is the most valuable of all and something 

 money will not buy. 



O. H. Swigart: If the end sought is immediate financial returns my 

 answer is no. I have not had extensive experience in the show yard, 

 but my observation is that the returns are remote rather than immediate. 

 They are in advertising your own stock and incidentally the breed in 

 which you are interested. If you are not endowed somewhat with the 

 missionary spirit you would better not show stock, as the breeders and 

 your competitors are more interested in making a fine display of the 

 breed than they are in your financial welfare. "He who would save his 

 life must lose it" is especially true in showing stock. That is if you are 

 not willing to sacrifice immediate personal glory for the glory of the 

 show, or if your disposition is to win for the sake of the money rather 

 than for the glory of winning because you have the best, you will be dis- 

 appointed and your fellow breeders will be disappointed in you as their 

 representative. A "grouchy" man is not needed in the show yard. This 

 dual character, representing both yourself and your fellow breeders, must 

 be constantly borne in mind. From a selfish standpoint you have the 

 only cattle and want to win on all. From a representative standpoint 

 you must broaden out to want to see the best win whether you own it or 

 not. From a selfish standpoint you will shut out your competitor on any 

 technicality from the show yard. From a representative point of view 

 you want to see the best show possible and unless the show is made bel- 

 ter by excluding some one hesitate long before you do it, unless there is 

 a positive offense in permitting him to show. Exclusion would help yon 

 to win money, but unless you have an ideal higher than winning money, 

 unless you have regard for your competitor, unless you have regard for 

 the breed you represent you will win neither money nor fame. The good 



