46 'I'WENTY-SECOND ANNUAL YEAR ROOK— PART II 



COUNTY AND DISTRICT FAIRS 



During the season of 1921 ninety-two county and district fairs 

 were held in the state of Iowa and made reports to the Department 

 of Agriculture covering their activities and for the purpose of secur- 

 ing state aid. 



The state aid paid the fairs this year amounted to $157,690.90. 

 This was an increase of $44,677.66 over the amount paid in 1920. 



Considering the financial conditions during the past season, the 

 county and district fairs made a very good showing. The efifect of 

 the depression, however, is apparent, both in the attendance figures 

 and the financial results. The total attendance of the ninety-two 

 fairs was 1,476,042 compared with 1,806,033 in 1920. The total 

 paid admissions were 1.209,283 in 1921 and 1,456,755 in 1920. The 

 admissions to the day and night grandstand shows showed a corre- 

 sponding decrease. 



The total receipts of the ninety-two fairs were $1,275,802.04 com- 

 pared with $1,417,604.46 for the 1920 fair. The receipts from sub- 

 scriptions, stock sold, etc., were $247,559.48 and the balances on 

 hand, at the beginning of the season, $130,191.35, making the total 

 receipts $1,653,552.87. 



The total expense of these fairs was $1,223,072.66. Indebtedness 

 of previous fairs paid during the current fair, $106,042.12; for im- 

 provements and maintenance, $286,033.04, making the grand total 

 disbursements, $1,615,148.22. Sixty-six fairs show a balance on 

 hand of $88,755.98 as compared with a balance of $162,332.03. 

 Fifty-four fairs showed a profit of $108,234.87 and thirty-eight 

 showed a loss of $55,505.49, leaving a net pro^fit of $52,729.38. 

 These figures take into consideration only the receipts and operating 

 expenses of the fairs. The expense of maintaining the building and 

 grounds and all improvements, and interest on indebtedness must, of 

 necessity, come out of these profits or from funds derived from stock 

 sold, subscriptions or other sources, amounting to $247,559.48. 

 Twenty-one fairs showed over-drafts in the sum of $50,351.33 

 against over-drafts of $21,285.85 for 1920 fairs. The present inter- 

 est-bearing indebtedness amounts to $1,076,848.45 compared with 

 $901,367.79 at the close of the year 1920. 



