45G yTATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



President Angell, of the Michigan State University, at Ann Arbor, extended 

 a cordial invitation to the convention to visit the University at 2 o'clock this 

 afternoon, which was thankfully acce[)ted. 



Kov, ]j. 13. Potter, chairman coinmittce on topics, made a partial report, 

 and the convention entered upon the discussion of the same, a brief mention 

 of which is only given. 



TOPICS DISCUSSED. 



1. Does this convention recomramend that horse-racing be made a leading part of 

 our county fairs? 



The emphatic answer from the delegates was no. 



2. Docs the convention recommend tliat agricultural societies rent booths or stands 

 for the sale of beer and cider on the fair grounds? 



Considerable discussion followed the reading of the second question, when J. 

 D. Wing, of Scio, and a member of the Washtenaw county agricultural and 

 horticultural society, submitted the following resolution as a substitute, which 

 was unanimously adopted : 



Resolved, Th:it it is against the best interests of our agricultural societies and the 

 success of our fairs, to allow or permit saloons or stalls for the sale of intoxicating 

 -drinks, or wheels of fortune, or any other device for gambling to be allowed upon our 

 fair grounds during our fairs. 



The question "Does the offering of large premiums and few in number, or 

 tlie same amount distributed into less amounts each and more in number, best 

 subserve the interests of the society and the exhibition?" was referred to the 

 committee to draft a resolution covering the subject. 



At 11 A. M. the regular order was suspended, and Prof. Beal, of the Agri- 

 •<juUural College, delivered the following address, entitled: 



HOW CAN AVE MAKE OUR COUNTT FAIRS BETTER? 



Mk. President and Members of the Association, — I have not the least idea that 

 what 1 shall say at this time will tell any of you liow to make county fairs a complete 

 success, but 1 hope to throw out some hints which, if carrieil out, will make our fairs 

 better. We learn of each other. One of the most hopeful signs of the progress of 

 our fairs is the existence of this association which meets annually for counsel. No 

 doubt some of our county fairs are nnich improved by the fact that one or two of the 

 leading officers visit other fairs in tiiis State or in neighboring States. The further 

 away from home a person goes to visit a good fair the more likeh' he will be to get 

 some new idea. For example, our friend (Jol. F. W. Halloway, who has been so long 

 secretary of the county agricultural society of Hillsdale, would learn much more 

 attending a fair in tiie province of Ontario than he would by visiting a fair in Adrian 

 or Coldwater. Such visits by the officers will always improve any agricultural 

 societj\ It is a good investment, every year, to send a wide-awake man and pay his 

 expenses, to visit some fair, take notes, and report at the annual meeting. Why 

 could not this association economize by sending some one? 



What constitutes success? On this question there arc various opinions. A great 

 many measure the success of a fair by the size of the crowd in attendance and the 

 money taken in at the gates. The piesence of a great number of persons and large 

 receipts are certainly encouraging symptoms of tiie life of a fair. Tiiey are not to be 

 ignored, but they are not sure guides to success in the highest sense. 



Wiiat are the objects of a fair? Js it to amuse everybody? Is it to pay exhibit- 

 ors large premiums? It seems to the speaker that the success of a fair depends on 

 furnishing the greatest amount and variety of useful information to the numbers who 

 are in attendance. As I look at it, the main objects of our fairs are to educate the 

 people. 



For 10 years I lived in the State of New York. I once attended a fair which was 

 considered by many a great success. The crowd was one of the largest which had 

 ever attended. The money receipts were gratifying. I looked around to see the 



