414 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



draft classes made a very creditable showing, some of the most prominent 

 studs from the middle and western states being shown. 



Perhaps the most conspicuous feature of the fair this year was the re- 

 marltably large attendance. Farmer and Breeder had been urging "every- 

 body to go" and it looked as' though all the folks had taken our advice. 

 Even in the early days of the session, large crowds took advantage of the 

 fine weather to congregate on the grounds for general and special sight- 

 seeing. All former records of attendance and money receipts were broken 

 at the 1919 fair and if the crowds continue to increase, with Iowa's growing 

 richness and productivity, the state board of agriculture will have to en- 

 large the grounds and add more buildings. 



This year there was a total attendance of 406.000 people during the nine 

 days of the fair's duration. The total receipts were $310,000 and the net 

 profits were |70,000, as reported by Secretary A. R. Corey at the close of 

 the fair. 



The weather during the entire period of ten days was just about ideal. 

 It wasn't too hot and it wasn't chilly and disagreeable as it sometimes is 

 the last week in August. The good roads enabled thousands of farmers 

 to motor direct from the old homestead right into the fair grounds where 

 ample provision had been made for camping parties to pitch their tents 

 and stay a^ long as they liked. Many brought along their own eatables 

 and some filled their larder from the groceries or eating stands on the 

 grounds. This phase of seeing the fair is likely to grow to unheard-of 

 proportions, as the auto and good roads become more and more vital fac- 

 tors in rural life. 



IOWA'S GREAT FAIR BREAKS ALL RECORDS. 



From the Iowa Farmer. 



The greatest In the history of the organization is the record made at this 

 year'^ fair and exposition. The attendance surpassed that of all previous 

 fairs and the exhibits from farm and factory surpassed any similar exhibit 

 ever held in the United States. No place in the world ever exhibited such 

 an array of high-class animals and the display of products from the farm, 

 orchard and garden are nowhere surpassed. Liberal premiums were not 

 alone responsible for the great display, but rather a patriotic zeal which 

 prompted the exhibition of the wonderful products of a most seasonable 

 crop year. People wanted the world to know what they had accomplished 

 and so they brought the choice products from all sections of the state and 

 made a display that is seldom equaled. 



The total attendance at the Iowa State Fair this year was 406,185. Last 

 year the attendance ws 324,000. The receipts laSt year were $251,196.62. 

 This year the receipts were $301,243.51. The society expects to make about 

 $60,000 clear. Already plans are being made for the future. The last legis- 

 lature appropriated $200,000 for a great cattle barn and this will be com- 

 menced at once, plans already having been secured. A new poultry house 

 and a suitable place for the flower exhibit are some of the things badly 

 needed and will come in time. 



A shortage of farm labor and a great need of additional man power on 

 the farm caused an unus'ual interest in the exhibition of labor-saving de- 

 vices of all kinds. Farmers feel the need of machinery- that will enable 

 a greater output from the energy expended. Inventive skill has come to 

 the rescue in a large way and this was "clearly in evidence at the state 

 fair. More people, men and women, visited the machinery section than 

 ever before. The western part of the grounds was devoted to a wonderful 

 display of tractors, threshers', harvesters, elevators, silo equipment, plows, 

 and all of the latest power equipment. "WTien all of this machinery was 

 in operation there was a great opportunity to study the various devices 

 and to form an estimate of action and service. All types and designs in 

 silo construction gave interested observers a good insight into construe- 



