CHAPTER XVII 



ADVANTAGES OF SHOWING 



For the breeder of pure-bred hogs who wishes to establish a 

 substantial trade, it is very necessary that, as soon as he becomes 

 well versed and properly started in his breeding line, he should 

 make it a practice each year to fit a show herd. Possibly at first it 

 is as well for him to prepare only for county shows, until he thor- 

 oughly learns what is required to win at the big shows and ex- 

 positions. There is no way, in my opinion, in which a young 

 breeder can so quickly get before the people and started to selling 

 his hogs for breeders as to annually fit enough animals to fill the 

 classes usually provided for in the various premium lists. 



The reason I suggest that the beginner commence his show 

 career at the county fairs, is from the fact that I passed through 

 all these little troubles when I was a great many years younger 

 than I am now and know what the difficulties are for a beginner. 

 It is hardly expected that a young breeder who has never followed 

 the practice of showing, and who has probably not spent a very 

 large amount of money in the foundation of his herd, can win at 

 state fairs and expositions where only a few great show animals 

 can get the money. Let the county fairs be the stepping stones to 

 larger ones where it requires, practically speaking, the P. T. 

 Barnums of the business to win. 



Never will I forget the time way back in the '70 's when I made 

 my first show at a state fair. It was at the Illinois State Fair 

 when it went around on wheels, and that year was located at 

 Freeport. I had only been in the business a year; knew nothing 

 of what it required to; even have a chance of getting into the 

 money ; but nevertheless I was full of enthusiasm and overflowing 

 with ignorance. I fitted up a portion of a herd which I thought 

 was "some pigs" but found, much to my profit eventually, that 

 they were only ordinary. Starting out with much pride and hav- 

 ing already figured the amount of money I would bring home 

 by adding, up the amounts in( the premium lists, I found after 

 the fair was over, that I was really a wiser man and richer in 

 knowledge, but poorer financially than when I arrived on the 

 grounds, beaming with confidence. I did not even get in sight 

 of the premium money. Those were the days when a young 

 breeder was hardly noticed, but, being made of the kind of stuff 

 that never gives up, but sticks, I did not parade the grounds con- 

 demning the judges for lack of knowledge, nor inform the manag- 

 ers of the state fair that I would never show again at their fair ; but 

 quietly studied the conformation of the animals that were good 

 enough to win, then returned home with the determination to come 

 a little stronger next year. 



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