FARMERS SUPPLY THE PROGRAMME.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3407, 11 February 1920, Page 4

FARMERS SUPPLY THE PROGRAMME.

The Rangitikei Agricultural and P'astoral Show is the outstanding event of the whole year in the Taihape district. It is to be held this year on the 25th of the present month, and it is notified thart entries for the various classes and competitions will close next Saturday, the lath instl:-int. Particular attention is drawn to the desirability of having entries made by closing date, because the Show suffers every year owing to several would-be exhibitors leaving the selection and preparation of their «stock until it is too late to exhibit with the best chance of success. How frequently farmers may be heard to say while examining exhibits, that they could easily have beaten those'°to whom prizes had ‘been awarded. It is well known, too, that ‘timid farmers are not winning the pl‘izCE=' that could not be taken from them if {they competed more bravely and courageously; we mean that some men are afraid to back their opinion of .'Wha.Kl. is lhigh-class in stock. One settler at last Taihape Show, on it being remarked that he had managed to get a second prize, said that in his opinion it should have had first, and he would go on backing his opinion in the show pen till he did get first. Some people would say that this was stupidity and stubbornness, but it is the very stufi.’ that accounts for Brit'a.in’s success in war and in trade. The man and the nation with pluck, courage, and daring ihut has an understanding of what he is likely to have Ito contend with, is going to win in the long run, and there not the slightest doubt about the secondprize man of last year securing firs?‘ honours sooner or later, perhaps this year. It is admitted in other stock distiicts that Taihape is becoming increasingly noted for the quality and robustness of its sheep, and it is particularly gratifying that the men -of ihis district who exhibit are commencing to reap the rewards. Home Taihape sheep were sold at a l‘Etlll fair recently for over fifty guincas a head, but no UllO Taihape farmer has all the fifl'y-guinea sheep, and if those others will strive for what is actually awaiting -them, the fifty-guinea sheep will be found to be much more numerous than expected. The show pen is the place buyers look for the »high-priced sheep, and it is only by displaying them that they are discovered. Many buyers of sheep are not looking for prize-winners. 'l‘h.3y want rams that will, in their opinion, produce best. results on their flocks. We need not enl'arge upon this, for it well-known that there is going to he a great demand for sheep during the next five years to stock newly opened up land. There is a falling off in the ‘Dominion’s flocks, and it may be that a demand will arise out of all proportion to the supply. .\lany farmers reiiise this, and ‘they are taking every opportunity to make it known where the good sheep are. For the sake of this town and (listrict’s progress, it is hoped that every farnler'will do his utmost in niaking the Ramgitikei annual stock exhibition all it should be. The time for receiving entries is close at lrand, yet there is time to select entries of one kind and another, more par't.icularly is it desirable that the dairying industry should be represen|t—and encouraged. Dairy farnis are growing in number; they are being CSt’ELblih‘llC(l where least expected. Some sheepmen are devoting one hundred aeres -or so to dairying, and the number of dairy farms are increasing in various directions. Dairying exhibits at the Show should receive special eneouragenient, for Whether it is willed or not Tailrape is goingto be ‘the ,cenj.r,_. of a great dairying indiistry. The Agricultural and Pastoral Show Day is the farmer’s day; it falls upon him to furnisli a programme that will cause Visitors to marvel at his resources. and it is safe to predict that there will be such a progrannne this year that will put all previous exhibitions into the shade,