94 Forty Years' Experience of a Practical Hog Man. 



but found, much to my profit eventually, that they were 

 only ordinary. Starting out with much pride and having 

 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 ar- 

 rived 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 condemning the Judges for 

 lack of knowledge, nor inform the managers 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 deter- 

 mination to come a little stronger next year. 



This was followed up several years before getting much 

 above the white and yellow ribbons. The only blue thing I 

 found in those days was my feelings in not being able to 

 win. This is where I made a mistake by attempting, 

 ignorant as I was, to show at the great State Fairs, rather 

 than starting at County Fairs. But the determination was 

 in me and the show ring was followed, as large as it was and 

 as great as the shows were, from 1877 until 1893, when the 

 climax was reached at the Chicago Worlds Fair. As I 

 grew in knowledge and experience each year, after a few 

 years I was able to win a few of the better prizes and as 

 the years came and went, won more prizes, until it was a 

 pretty sure thing when I started out on an eight weeks' 

 trip to the Big State Fairs, that I would win money enougii 

 to pay all expenses and more and be benefitted greatly by 

 building a substantial acquaintance among breeders in our 

 line. 



The trade grew annually and after winning the Grand 

 Championship at the World's Fair at Chicago for the best 

 herd, consisting of one boar and four sows, over one year 

 old, my name was finally placed on the map and my son and 

 I have practically discontinued showing since that time, 



I strongly urge the show ring as a means, not only of 

 education for the breeder, but of building up a substantial 

 business. 



