84 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



IOWA STATE FAIR 



The Sixty-fifth Annual Iowa State Fair and Exposition will 

 long be remembered as a record breaker from many viewpoints. 



The fair was held under most favorable conditions. Inas- 

 much as the war was over a greater portion of the boys had re- 

 turned to the state and were engaged in their old or new occu- 

 pations. This greatly relieved the labor situation which had a 

 tendency to keep down the attendance and reduce the exhibits 

 in 1918. 



The weather was about what it would have been had it been 

 possible for the management to place the order. With the ex- 

 ception of a 'light shower Sunday morning, which removed all 

 dust from the buildings and walks and brightened all vegeta- 

 tion, the balance of the week was fair and just about the right 

 temperature to warrant a good attendance and to make it com- 

 fortable for those availing themselves of the camp ground privi- 

 leges. 



The total attendance of the fair was 408,147. This made a 

 new record as it exceeded the 1918 attendance by 83,770 and 

 1917 attendance, which was theprevious record year, by 58,849. 

 The attendance on Tuesday was 78,612 and established a new 

 record for one day. Thursday of 1918 had held the record up 

 to this time with an attendance of 67,072. 



In connection with the attendance it is of interest to note the 

 increase in the number of automobiles admitted to the grounds 

 each year. In 1917, the first year a record was kept of the num- 

 ber of cars admitted, it was found 31,990 were admitted; in 1918, 

 44,432 and in 1919, 52,889. Estimating four passengers to the 

 car over one-half of the attendance in 1919 reached the fair in 

 automobiles. The record day was on Tuesday when 10,213 

 automobiles were admitted to the grounds. 



The performances in front of the grandstand, both afternoon 

 and evening, showed to capacity crowds and were thoroughly 

 enjoyed by those in attendance. 



There were 91,017 admissions to the seven afternoon perform- 

 ances compared with 87,775 in 1918 and 108.634 admissions to 

 the six night performances compared with 80,089 in 1918. The 

 largest attendance at any one performance was on Monday night 

 when 24,719 were admitted. This is just double the seating ca- 



