50 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



There were ninety-two farmers' institutes held in the State of 

 Iowa during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1916. There were sixty 

 held in sixty-seven different counties and had a total attendance 

 of 115,700. 



The state aid paid these institutes through the Department of 

 Agriculture amounted to $4,852.53. In addition to this there was 

 raised by the local institutes by subscription, memberships, etc., 

 $17,616, making the total receipts with balances on hand $28,782.49. 



The total expense of conducting these institutes was $22,719.32. 

 The principal items of expense were: for speakers and judges, 

 $3,963.83 ; cash premiums on live stock, agricultural products and 

 the products of domestic science, $10,855.75, and miscellaneous 

 expense, $7,899.74. 



The tabulation attached to and made a part of this report gives 

 the detailed information for each institute. 



SHORT COURSES. 



Our present law making appropriation to short course associa- 

 tions provides in counties where no county or district fair is held 

 they may draw $200 from the fair funds and in counties where 

 no farmers' institutes are held the institute fund may be diverted 

 to the short course. For this reason there are a number ot short 

 courses held each year that receive no state aid and from which the 

 department receives no report. 



Sixteen short courses received state aid during the fiscal year 

 ending June 30, in the sum of $1,772.03. Four drew the aid due 

 county fairs, seven the aid due farmers' institutes and five drew 

 both. 



The total attendance of these short courses was 26,820. The 

 total receipts including state aid was $11,581.18 and the total ex- 

 pense of conducting them was $10,006.72. 



THE IOWA STATE FAIR AND EXPOSITION. 



Following two unfavorable seasons as far as weather and con- 

 ditions favorable to a large attendance were concerned the Iowa 

 State Fair was more fortunate this year, and with the exception of 

 Thursday afternoon and Friday forenoon of the last week when we 

 had a drizzling rain, the weather was all that could be wished for. 

 On account of the favorable season the farmers had their threshing 



