282 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



ANNUAL WINTER MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

 OF THE MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Held at the Hodges House, Tontiac, January 13, 1904. 



Called to order by President Howland. 



Roll called and the following members present: E. Howland, Stephen 

 Baldwin, C. ^V. Younj?, I. H. Butterfield, E. W. Hardy, Frank Maynard, 

 H. R. Dewey, F. E. Skeels, F. G. Jacobs, W. W. Collier, Byron E. Hall, 

 John Marshall, Geo. H. German, Eugene Fifield, L. W. Barnes, W. P. 

 Custard, E. N. Ball, W. E. Boyden, M. L. Dean, J. E. Rice, C. A. 

 Waldron, John McKay, John A. Hoffman, and M. P. Anderson. 



Quorum present. 



On motion of Mr. Anderson, the regular order of business was sus- 

 pended and reports of standing committees and superintendents were 

 received as follows: 



The Secretary reported as follows: 



Gentlemen of the Executive Committee: 



I have to report a very large number of entries at the last fair. All 

 departments were well filled aud as most of the superintendents know, 

 the stalls and buildings were full to overflowing. 



The total number of entries in all departments was 7,398. As a com- 

 parison I give the totals for a few years previous: 



1902 6,342 



1901 4,914 



1900 4,413 



A detailed statement of the entries in each class and division with 

 the amounts offered and amounts awarded is herewith presented. 



The total awarded is |13,818, and 50 diplomas. Of this amount |5,000 

 is appropriated by the State aud ^491 donated by the American Short 

 Horn Cattle Breeders' Association. A few premiums remain unpaid, 

 two or three small ones for which vouchers were returned from the 

 postoffice unclaimed, and some in the horse deijartment protested aud 

 not yet adjusted. 



I suggest some changes in the premium list. There are some classes 

 of live stock in which the Michigan premiums may well be cut out, 

 making but one class and increasing the premiums to some extent. 



The live stock associations desire that the rules be amended so that 

 the same animal owned in Michigan may be allowed to compete with 

 the open to all class also. Their representative will be here to present 

 the request. 



The matter of sales of live stock at the fair is being discussed by the 

 Short Horn Breeders' Association, the Michigan Premium Stock Farm 

 Company, and the Berkshire Swine Breeders, and the matter will be 

 presented to you at this meeting. 



