62 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



department. It is to be recalled also that the Iowa State Fair was held 

 at the same time as that of Wisconsin. It was also contemporaneous 

 with the big show given at the Ohio State Fair, and the future routes of 

 some of the stables made the Columbus event more accessible than it 

 would have been for them to have gone to Des Moines. 



IOWA'S GREATEST FAIR AND EXPOSITION. 



From The Iowa Homestead, Des Moines, Iowa. 



Bigger and better than ever, marvelous in the extent and quality of 

 the exhibits in every department, the greatest educational institution in 

 the state for the farmer and those indirectly interested in agriculture, 

 an advertisement unequaled in its power to portray the resources of a 

 great state, an agricultural and live-stock exposition such as has never 

 been staged by any other state. These and many other descriptive terms 

 were freely employed by visitors to describe the Iowa State Fair, held 

 at Des Moines, last week. There was scarcely a department of this great 

 institution that did not exceed in size and educational value correspond- 

 ing departments of former Iowa State Fairs. 



The fair management, who had been working industriously for twelve 

 months to make the 1920 show an outstanding success, succeeded far beyond 

 their own expectations in getting together the splendid exhibits. They de- 

 serve nothing but praise for their faithful work and well-directed efforts. 

 The people appreciated the program that had been mapped out for them, 

 as evidenced by their interest in the various departments. The weather 

 was fine during the whole period except on the last day, when rain cut 

 the attendance to some extent. On Thursday morning, however, weather 

 conditions looked somewhat threatening, and that no doubt kept a good 

 many persons from coming to the fair. 



The attendance was 380,990 as compared with 406,100 a year ago, and 

 showed a falling off of 25,210. Receipts, however, were larger than last 

 year owing to charging 75 instead of 50 cents for admission to the grounds 

 and also a larger fee for grandstand admission. While an exact account- 

 ing has not been secured up to date, it is generally considered that the 

 fair association made a profit somewhat in excess of $75,000. Part of 

 the profits will be used to help pay for the new cattle barn and part will 

 be devoted to grading and graveling of the roads on the grounds. 



The farm machinery display was about of normal size as compared 

 with former years. Most of the well-known makes of tractors were on 

 exhibition and it was evident, even from a rather cursory glance at the 

 different models, that improvement in design and construction is still 

 going forward. The tendency is toward enclosed gears running In oil 

 and more durable construction. The tractor is undergoing improvement 

 from year to year just as the automobile did in its early history and as 

 a result is gaining in efficiency. A number of motor cultivators were also 

 shown; they are gradually gaining in popularity, but are not being intro- 

 duced as rapidly as tractors and trucks. No doubt the day is coming, 

 however, when greater interest in them will be manifested by the farmers. 



