476 IOWA 'DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



dead, buried and forgotten. As prophets they proved lamentable fail- 

 ures, for after the soaking of 1915 the fairs bloomed bigger, brighter and 

 better than ever before, and vastly more popular, if the attendance figures 

 are a proper criterion of estimation — which they are. A tolerant clientage 

 allowed the calamity howlers plenty of platform room and full permission 

 to talk it out of their systems. Meanwhile they went cheerfully about 

 the business of greasing the wheels and inflating the tires for 1916. 

 For the county fair is billed for an indefinite run; slated for a long 

 and useful life, knockers to the contrary notwithstanding. 



The story of the state fair has been exploited in these columns. From 

 whatever angle regarded it was an unprecedented success. It is possible 

 for a fair to achieve financial success — for a time— and yet be manifestly 

 lacking in the essentials that constitute properly rounded and balanced 

 expositions of agriculture. It is also possible for a fair to be up to 

 the standard in the essentials, meaning the exhibits, entertainment, etc., 

 and yet fall short financially. 



The state fair of 1916 made good on every count. Without exaggera- 

 tion it can be said of it that it was the most consistent, the most perfectly 

 balanced in matters of entertainment and educative features of any state 

 fair ever held in Iowa. Favored with ideal weather — with the exception 

 of one day — it left nothing to be desired. The citizens of the state 

 showed their appreciation by patronage so liberal that a new attendance 

 record was 'established, more than eleven thousand above that of any 

 other state fair, and an attractive balance left in the treasury. 



Next to the state fair in magnitude and importance comes Sioux City's 

 pride, the Inter-State Fair. When the founders of the Inter-State picked 

 the "Soo" wherein to stage their production they demonstrated rare 

 ability as pickers. For Sioux Oity is the point of juxtaposition of three 

 great states, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota, and a fourth, Minne- 

 sota, within easy "Fording" distance. Four big, rich, powerful and 

 enterprising commonwealths to draw on for patronage. It happens in 

 each instance, too, that the state fairs of the several commonwealths are 

 distantly located. So when Secretary Morton announces a "Minnesota 

 Day," a "South Dakota Day" and a "Nebraska Day" he is only giving 

 proper recognition to each of the states that join with Iowa in making one 

 of the greatest and best agricultural fairs in the country not immediately 

 connected with state apron strings. 



The figures setting forth the attendance, financial receipts, disburse- 

 ments for premiums and the various expenses incident to the promoting 

 of a great fair are feally of state fair fatness and volume. The attend- 

 ance totaled 68,643. Premium money to the amount of $13,457 was dis- 

 tributed among 700 exhibitors, while the total expense of putting on the 

 show was $34,328. 



The fame of the Cerro Gordo County Fair, held annually at Mason 

 City, has strayed far beyond the boundary lines of the state, and it fur- 

 nishes an excellent example of what it is possible to achieve in the way 

 of county fairs by earnest effort and teamwork. The attendance this 

 year totalled 38,983, and practically $7,000 in cash premiums was dis- 



