408 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



yourself at a state fair. In giving my personal experience I will say that 

 I fed and showed at our county fair for ten years before I had the cour- 

 age to attend a state fair, and v/hen I did so I never failed to get my 

 share of the ribbons, and it paid me as an advertisement and gave me an 

 excellent opportunity to dispose of my surplus stock at good prices. 



A. J. Lovejoy: This is often a difficult question for the beginner in 

 pure-bred swine breeding to determine. The fact that one has just em- 

 barked in the business of breeding pure-bred swine would seem to the 

 writer evidence that he must in some way let the people know it, and 

 from the standpoint of one who has in the last quarter of a century 

 passed through the labyrinth and finally emerged into the open path I 

 would certainly advise the beginner to commence at the fairs. The suc- 

 cess he will meet with will depend entirely on what kind of stock he 

 starts out with and how much pluck and good nature there is in him. 

 Many men nowadays with some capital and good judgment pick up a few 

 animals of show merit and at once start out and are in a short time 

 close up to the old breeders who have spent a lifetime in getting well to 

 the front, while others like the writer had to start with nothing but the 

 good nature and pluck. 



"Well do I remember the first show I ever made. I had selected from 

 the meager herd we than had enough to fill part of the classes at the 

 fair, and had watched them from day to day and thought that there was 

 not probably in the country anything to compare with them. The prem- 

 ium list had been studied till it was known by heart. Thoughts of how 

 the animals would look when all washed up and driven into the ring 

 had passed through my mind a thousand times; even the amount of 

 money that would be won had been figured to a nicety. The day and 

 hour came when the animals were called into the ring, with palpitating 

 heart the last brushing was given and the pen was opened and out to the 

 ring we went. Somehow the judge did not seem to see my pigs, or if he 

 did his examination was not very critical, as he did not stop, but passed 

 them, and in due course of time the ribbons were placed and none 

 seemed to come my way. Of course I was disappointed, but if I wa<? 

 young and very green I had sense enough not to abuse the judge or con- 

 demn the association, but began to look around to see where my pigs 

 lacked and to learn, if possible, why there were no ribbons coming to me. 

 I could see several things that showed me that there was much to learn, 

 and while I was out of pocket the expense of fitting and other incidentals 

 I had been well paid, for I was a wiser if not a sadder man. 



I had learned the lesson that all must learn — that "there are others" 

 — and went home to come again the next year, which I did, and when 

 at this the second trial in the show yard a ribbon or two came my way. 

 even if the color was not just what was best, it was encouragement that 

 was a tonic and a stimulant that worked well. To repeat the many trials 

 and discouragements would tire the reader. The only object in mention- 

 ing these things is to caution the beginner that he must not launch out 

 with the expectation of winning all the blue ribbons the first year. It 



