SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART II 29 



I am also pleased to state that there was uot a single instance of 

 state aid being protested on the ground of allowing gambling on the 

 grounds ; showing that the fairs can be made successful without the 

 so-called gambling devices that have caused so much criticism in past 

 years. 



The question has often been asked why Iowa holds the greatest 

 state fair. In the first place, Iowa should have the greatest agricul- 

 tural fair. It is the greatest agricultural state in the Union ; ranks 

 more times first in the production of farm crops than any other two 

 states; her people are intensely interested in the production of the 

 soil ; they are proud of their occupation and are trying each year to 

 produce more and better crops and better animals. It has become a 

 matter of pride with them. The name Iowa means something and 

 they are determined to maintain this reputation as it stands today. 

 If you do not think they are interested in the things Iowa stands 

 for, go any day among the different exhibits of the fair and see the 

 thousands of people watching with intense interest the judging in 

 the different departments. This is so noticeable by visiting other 

 state fairs. . Go to our stock pavilion the days the stock is being 

 judged and look up in the faces of Iowa's best class of people sit- 

 ting there for hours watching the placing of ribbons on the ani- 

 mals as they are lead into the ring. You will see then why Iowa 

 leads the world — ajid she sliould. To continue this great interest 

 the state fair must take advanced grounds and keep in the front 

 ranks by providing suitable buildings for housing and showing to 

 the best advantage the exhibits as they are brought to the fair. I 

 would mention a few of the buildings the fair is in need of : first, 

 a large cattle barn, an addition to the machinery building, a dairy 

 building, and a maintenance fund for the upkeep of all the build- 

 ings on the grounds. 



As the fair grows, keeping the buildings in repair has become 

 quite a burden on the receipts of the fair each year. AVith increased 

 premiums and general expenses each year it is becoming quite a 

 problem with the management to meet all these incurred expenses, 

 and I hope the legislature this winter will look into these proposi- 

 tions and help the management some way with this increased ex- 

 pense. Some of the permanent buildings have now been built fif- 

 teen years and the upkeep is increasing. This is the state's prop- 

 (!rty and the legislature each session provides for the maintenance 

 of all their other state institutions; so I cannot see why they cann(>t 

 take care of this one. This yoav we tried the experiment of mowing 



