Some Russian on the Side

harasha · December 5, 2020 6:34AM

I normally do not collect Russia material, but I never saw a Russian medal with this sort of barnyard animal scene. With a horse, of course.

IVB · December 5, 2020 7:07AM

Nice medal.

Here is some background, part of article from here http://www.mirvistavok.ru/2015-10-01/3192-pervye-selskohozjajstvennye-vystavki-v-rossii.html (Google Translate) by Yuri Nikitin (professor of St. Petersburg State Transport University):

Industrial exhibitions have been regularly held in Russia under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance since 1829. The Ministry of State Property, established in 1837, played a prominent role in encouraging farmers to improve agriculture, expand rural industry and organize agricultural exhibitions in Russia. The head of the new ministry, Count P.D. Kiselev initiated the first agricultural inspections in the province in the 1840s-1850s. In 1842, he presented to Emperor Nicholas I a proposal to organize exhibitions of works of land, livestock, and works of rural crafts in the provinces. Kiselev P.D. suggested starting the experiment with the Novorossiya Governorates by establishing livestock exhibitions there, which at that time was one of the main subjects of the economy of the steppe provinces. Nicholas I "imperially" approved the minister's proposal, which acquired the force of law and was included in the Complete Collection of Laws of the Russian Empire with the following wording "On the establishment of exhibitions of works of land, livestock and works of rural crafts in the provinces" (PSZRI (second collection), vol. XVII, second branch, 1842, December 9. No. 16307).

Preparations for the future exhibition were covered in detail in the press. "Odessa Bulletin" in January 1843 published the contents of the "highest" decree. In February, the draft exhibition rules, consisting of 19 paragraphs, were published. A little later, the program of the show was published. Horses, oxen, bulls, cows, rams and pigs only from Novorossiya Governorates were admitted to the exhibition. At the beginning of July 1843, Nicholas I approved the design of the medal drawing, which was to be awarded to the best participants. On one side of the medal there is an image of domestic animals and an inscription in a circle: "Provincial exhibition of domestic animals", on the other - "From the Ministry of State Property."

The first livestock exhibition in Russia was opened on September 14, 1843 in Odessa. Simultaneously with the exhibition, the opening of the Exaltation of the Cross Fair took place, the ninth in a row since its approval. The show was held with the direct participation of the Society of Agriculture of Southern Russia, created in Odessa in 1828.

After the competition, the distribution of awards took place. It turned into an unusual extra-class folk holiday, which has not yet been in Russia. At a specially arranged place, decorated with flags, near the fairgrounds, with a large gathering of spectators of "every rank," the commissioners read the protocol of the Imperial Society of Agriculture of Southern Russia on the results of three days of the exhibition. When the awards were announced, the animals, crowned with awards, passed in turn at the sound of music. At the end of the distribution of awards, all these animals, decorated with ribbons and flowers, were circled around the fair and then carried along the main streets of the city, accompanied by music.

Eyewitnesses of this first exhibition of domestic animals in Russia described their impressions in the following way: “The inhabitants of Odessa and visitors with the liveliest pleasure were present at this rural celebration, the first of its kind in our region. Some more livestock were presented at this first exhibition; but there is no doubt that the Novorossiysk landowners and farmers will soon familiarize themselves with this extremely useful institution and that it will not hesitate to get its proper development and bring the benefits that a beneficent government expects from it, so carefully concerned about the improvement of all branches of rural industry in our region."

harasha · December 5, 2020 9:51AM

Well, blow me down. Added the link to my Flickr page. Thank you!

Namvet69 · December 6, 2020 5:25AM

@IVB nice historic info Ivan. Brings that medal to life. Animal husbandry at it's best. Have a good day. Peace Roy

Some Russian on the Side

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