15 



of the premiums; also make symbols of premiums — ribbons 

 and cards — as attractive as possible, for in all likelihood 

 winners will keep them many years. 



Use the Budget System. 



Plans covering all expenditures of funds should be carefully 

 made. The best plan is to conduct the fair, no matter how 

 small, on the budget system. Intelligent and effective ap- 

 ])ortionment of funds available cannot be made without care- 

 ful study, and the budget system provides means for this 

 careful study. In planning expenditures, funds for premiums 

 especially, ascertain through careful calculation about what 

 receipts will be, then outline expenditures according to prob- 

 able receipts, leaving a safe margin as a contingent fund. 

 Build the fair for average weather. No one can accurately 

 forecast six months ahead probable weather of a given period. 

 If the fair is built for average weather, the wisest course has 

 been followed. The public ought not to criticize if rain or 

 cold weather ruins attendance. 



Be careful to conduct all financial transactions under a 

 proper system of accounting. Issue a receipt for every pay- 

 ment received, and insist on having a receipt for every pay- 

 ment made. See that books of the fair are open to any one 

 who cares to examine them. The fair well managed has 

 nothing to hide from any one. 



Every exhibitor in competitive departments should be re- 

 quired to pay an entry fee equal to the cost of a season 

 ticket, and a ticket should be furnished on receipt of the 

 entry fee. Premiums should be spread as far as possible. Do 

 not offer all the money available for three or four premiums 

 in a single classification; ten premiums get better results than 

 three or four. The small exhibitor must be encouraged. 



It is an open question whether a county fair should accept 

 exhibits from another county. If the fair is young, it is 

 advisable to confine all exhibits to the county, until quality 

 and quantity of county exliibits are such that outside com- 

 petition is not to be feared. 



Pay premiums and all other obligations promptly — during 

 the fair period if possible. Nothing pleases exliibitors so 

 much as prompt payment of money they have won. 



