PROCEEDINGS STATE AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION 179 



bill, as passed under the Grimes administration, provided for a representa- 

 tion in the state association, practically as we have it today. During every 

 legislature from that time until the present time something has been 

 done to amend the law pertaining to this association to meet the demands 

 of the present development of agriculture. Finally, this society, upon 

 the purchase of a tract of land, found a permanent home in Polk county 

 where it stands as a pre-eminent factor in agricultural development 

 among the states of the union. 



The growth of this association has kept pace with the organization of 

 the various counties in the state and has furnished an incentive and 

 education for the gradual and final development of our agricultural pur- 

 suits. We who deal with the association today cannot help but admire 

 the thought and wisdom of the founders of this society and the laws that 

 govern it. Every county or district fair association may become a part 

 of the state association and receive from the state such aid as the rules 

 of the association provide. Ninety-five county and district fairs were 

 held in this state in 1922. The representatives of these associations have 

 a voice in the state fair association, thereby linking the community in- 

 terests of the state with that of the parent association. During the 

 past year these fair associations have received aid in the sum of $168,- 

 000.00; fifty-one fairs receiving the limit of $2,000.00; the average state 

 aid being $1,770.00 each. 



The county and district fair associations, now aided by the zeal and 

 interest of the farm bureau and other like associations, form a part of 

 this development system that certainly is most creditable. It is through 

 these various county and di-strict organizations that the representatives 

 of every group of agriculture, horticulture and stock breeding become in- 

 terested. They are able to touch the farmers and breeders in the various 

 localities, the boys and girls who are now sharing the operation of their 

 management, and will sooner or later become a most potent force in 

 carrying on the future and further development of this, our great in- 

 dustry. The result of the contests in the various counties and districts 

 are evidenced at the state fair, and I cannot overlook the great importance 

 of the county and district work and believe that more encouragement 

 should be given these various societies. 



To my mind the spirit of the Iowa farmer and his loyalty to the best 

 interests of the state and these societies has been best shown in the two 

 years that have passed, and it is needless for me here today to state the 

 condition in which he has been placed under the clouds of depression. 

 In olden times before a battle, the greatest burdens and discouragements 

 were heaped upon the soldiers of battle to test their steel of endurance 

 and loyalty. Such a test has been applied to the farmers and stock breed- 

 ers of this state. Their true metal has been shown, when under disap- 

 pointment and reaction, they gathered together their implements of toil 

 and went into the fields with renewed vigor and cultivated the soils of 

 Iowa that she might produce an increased crop to help feed the world's 

 population. After they had sold the first year, the result of their toil 

 which was found to be grown at a loss, they again took up the plow and 

 reaper and garnered their grain to find their accounts were still over- 



