116 



at East Troy, ami exhibit such articles of stock, farming implements, dairy 

 products, &c., as each might have, by way of competition for premiums. 



The officers of the Society at this time were : President, Augustus Smith, 

 Troy; Vice President, Jacob Burgit, East Troy; Secretaries, Seymour Brooks 

 and C. L. Oatman, East Troy ; Treasurer, T. Mower, jr., Troy ; Managers, Wm. 

 Child, Hiram Brewster, Emery Thayer, Elias Hibbard, Joseph Bishop, William 

 Watt, Samuel P. Cole, James W. Baitolf, and James Mother. 



The first Cattle Show and Fair of the said Society was held at East Troy 

 village on the 16th day of October, 1850, and was well attended, not only by 

 those living in East Troy and the adjacent towns, but also by residents of almost 

 every town in the count}'. There was a good exhibition of stock, both native 

 and blooded, and premiums were awarded in all the departments of the Society. 

 The day being unpleasant, the ploughing match was postponed to a future day 

 of the same month, at which time several competitors entered their names, and 

 gained for themselves great praise by their skill in ploughing. 



The Society then met for the election of officers, and several gentlemen being 

 present from different parts of the county, who were desirous of having the 

 " East Troy Society'' (heretofore, in a great measure, local in its character and 

 influence) change its name to the Walworth County Agricultural Society, and 

 those who had put the ball in motion, in East Troy, being desirous to embrace 

 the whole county, and increase the benefits growing out of an Agricultural Asso- 

 ciation, a vote, after much discussion, was had and carried, that the Society, 

 heretofore known as the East Troy Agricultural Society, should take the name 

 of the " Walworth County Agricultural Society." 



The ofticers elected for the year 1851, were: President, William Child, 

 Spring Prairie ; Vice President, Robert R. Potter, La Fayette ; Secretaries, Edw. 

 Elderkin, Elkhorn, and Seymour Brooks, East Troy ; Treasurer, Sherman M. 

 Rockwood, Lafayette; Managers, Jacob Burgit, E. Thayer, and William Hollins- 

 head. 



The Executive Committee of the Walworth County Agricultural Society 

 determined to hold the first Cattle Show and Fair of the said Society, at the 

 villao:e of Elkhorn, on the 14th and loth davs of October, 1851. 



The exhibition of horses, neat stock, sheep, hogs, dairy products, and house- 

 hol<l manufactures, at this Fair, surpassed the expectations of the most sanguine 

 in the success of the enterprize. The concourse of people was very large ; but 

 many came with fjiint hopes and doubting hearts, and did not participate in the 

 proceedings. When all was over, in all probability, their hopes received new 

 strength, and their hearts were established in the belief that the movement in the 

 county of Walworth to promote Agriculture, Are. was by no means premature, 

 jis had been tho connnou saying through the county up to that time. 



