PROCEEDINGS STATE AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION 95 



second. The pig club was incomparably the best ever seen at the Iowa 

 fair. The absence of the Poland China and Duroc Jersey futurity shows 

 was noticeable, these having been previously held at Davenport, Iowa. 

 Breeders reported an active inquiry, and sales were numerous. Prices 

 varied widely. Salesmanship was a greater factor than in recent years. 

 One Duroc Jersey breeder sold seven spring boars for $700, the lowest 

 going at $65. A Poland China breeder sold twelve at $100 to $250. 

 Chester White and Hampshire breeders had a considerable inquiry and 

 made a number of satisfactory sales, as did also the exhibitors of the 

 bacon breeds. 



The Sheep Show 



The sheep show was approximately equal in numbers to that of last 

 year, but the exhibits were not quite so good in "fit." Shropshires, Hamp- 

 shires and Cotswolds were strongest in numbers. Many of the entries 

 were Iowa-bred. An encouraging feature was the large number of entries 

 made by smaller breeders, who are just beginning. 



The Sheep-Shearing Contest 



This was one of the greatest attractions of the sheep show. For three 

 hours sheepmen vied with one another in their skill with the power ma- 

 chine clippers and shears. Twenty-three sheep were shorn, and blocked 

 and trimmed in the fitting contest. Ordinary field lambs were used. Each 

 shepherd drew for his sheep. One hour was allowed for the bloc"king and 

 trimming contest. The boys made a remarkable change in the appear- 

 ance of the lambs. The judges, in placing the awards, took into consid- 

 eration the kind of sheep to begin with, the way that the shepherd han- 

 dled his sheep, and the appearance of the sheep when the shearer had 

 finished with it. 



CHICAGO DAILY DROVERS JOURNAL, CHICAGO, ILL. 



Iowa's state fair live stock judging pavilion has been outgrown, and the 

 first permanent building on the grounds that are the pride of the leading 

 agricultural state of the Union must be enlarged to keep pace with the 

 cattle barn that is this week housing three and a half acres of cattle. 



Today these champions and grand champions of previous state fairs are 

 being marshaled for the grand march across the street to the live stock 

 pavilion where the judging events in the beef breed sections are in prog- 

 ress. The draft horse men had the live stock arena to themselves this 

 forenoon, and in a way to convince the onlooker that the horse is still 

 playing a prominent part in the agricultural economics of the country. 

 It was one of the best draft horse shows ever presented at the Iowa State 

 Fair, and this Is Its 67th anniversary. 



Cattle Show "Best and Largest" 



The great cattle barn, sheltering here this week the premiers of the 

 beef breeds, and dairy cattle that attract a great deal of attention from 

 people of a state that is nearly as prominent in dairy progress as in the 

 achievements that it can claim for itself in the beef cattle production. 



