SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART II 53 



Fair occupies among the live stock sliows of America, but we can 

 not hope to retain this position unless better barns are provided 

 for the horse and cattle exhibits. 



An added feature of the cattle show this year, was the cow test- 

 ing demonstration which was explained to you in detail by Profes- 

 sor Barker. This exhibit received considerable favorable com- 

 ment and has a real educational value. It puts the proposition 

 and the advisability of testing cows up to a farmer in such a manner 

 that he is sure to take ideas home with him. 



The swine show filled practically every pen in the mammoth 

 pavilion. There were 166 exhibitors who showed 2,356 head of 

 swine. The show was pronounced the best in years from the stand- 

 point of quality. 



The sheep show was made by 29 exhibitors who showed 605 head 

 of sheep. The number shown was a trifle less than last year, which 

 is accounted for by the extremely warm weather during the latter 

 part of July and the fore part of August, which made it difficult 

 to fit sheep for show purposes. 



New features of the sheep show were the classification for fleeces 

 and the sheep-shearing contest. The latter created considerable 

 interest and promises to have a number of contestants if continued 

 another year. 



The poultry show made a wonderful gain, increasing from 1,578 

 birds in 1915 to 2,458 this year. The show was made by 133 ex- 

 hibitors, which was also an increase of 14 over 1915. 



The Agricultural Building reflected more clearly the possibilities 

 of agriculture in Iowa and the excellence of her farm, garden and 

 orchard products. In addition to the 12 county and 21 individual 

 farm exhibits which were an exposition of agriculture in them- 

 selves, there was an excellent showing of both agricultural products 

 and fruit by individual exhibitors. 



The predominating feature of the agricultural exhibit, however, 

 was the ' ' Horn of Plenty ' ' wiiich won the grand prize for collective 

 agricultural exhibits and placed Iowa on the map at the P. P. T. 

 E. This was reproduced in every detail under a contract with Fred 

 Hethershaw, who was assisted by Victor Felter, both of whom were 

 employed by the commission to build the exhibit at San Francisco. 

 The State Board of Agi-iculture had the hearty co-operation of the 

 Iowa P. P. I. E. Commission in reproducing this exhibit. A greater 

 portion of llie original exhibits and all the show cases, draperies, 



