THE HOOVER BOOTH The Hoover booth at the Armory, shown above with its patriotic decorations and practical and instructive charts giving valuable information on food conservation, was a center of interest during the fair. Mrs. Jos. Massey, who had arranged for it, had gathered from Northfield housewives a collection of canned vegetables that won the approval of Miss Burgan, the government demonstrator. A collection of 12 varieties of dried vegetables, exhibited by Mrs. A. F. Howland, was of such high quality that the judges called her in from the farm Thursday in order that she might explain to them personally how she prepared it. They declared it the best exhibit in the state, obtained permission to take it to the university and will advocate the adoption of Mrs. Howland's methods thruout the state. Mrs. Howland was drafted to demonstrate her methods at the Dakota county fair at Farmington tomorrow and was told that she would be called on further by the University Extension Division. Here again is a demonstration of Northfield community efficiency and excellence and of the fact that the Rice County Fair is "an educational fair." Miss Burgan's practical talks at the Hoover booth were well received and the numerous questions and requests for recipes indicated a keen interest in the government's food conservation program. Miss Josephine Creelman, state demonstrator of home nursing spent Wednesday and Friday at the Hoover booth consulting with ladies from the surrounding towns. She will come to Northfield later and demonstrate for the local Red Cross unit. The following town chairmen of the women's branch of the state Public Safety Commission visited the Hoover booth Friday: Mrs. K. A. Finseth, Nerstrand; Mrs. J. W. Topka, Vesli; Mrs. J. Trenda, Montgomery; Mrs. Taylor, Dundas, and Miss Elizabeth Tate, Faribault. Mrs. Massey and her assistants made a distinct contribution to the parade also. The prize-winning "America for Humanity" float, drawn by a team of horses, represented originality of thought, carefulness and detail and taught a lesson in patriotism. On a dias in the center of the float sat Columbia holding a gold and silver Horn of Plenty which represented our mines and was filled to overflowing with grain, fruit and vegetables. Prostrate at her feet was starving Servia, while grouped around her were Belgium, France, Great Britain, Italy and Russia in costume, all imploring help, while her gaze rested ever upon her own flesh and blood, our army. The characters were: Columbia, Mrs. Martin Ellingboe; Serbia, Kate Blodgett; Belgium, Edna Mabon; France, Mary Blodgett; Great Britain, Mary Erb of Faribault; Italy, Laura Baker; Russia, Mrs. Russell Gress; Our Army, Master Buddy Hill. Miss Carter of Carleton aided in posing the group.
