146 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



The Breeders' Gazette has the following to say: 



"Half a century and five added years have contributed to the history 

 of the Iowa State Fair, but no year has written so brilliant a record as 

 lf09. The halting footsteps of a few years ago have been succeeded by 

 the firm determined tread that presses irresistibly forward to assured 

 success. Many causes combine to make this fair great, but perhaps the 

 chief is that it deserves greatness. 



"The fair going spirit is stiviulatccl by the attractiveness and adequacy 

 of fair ground equipment. While Iowa has not worn ten-league boots 

 in its forward strides in state fair rebuilding, it has made that steaay 

 and substantial progress which bespeaks provision for the future. Tem- 

 porary construction finds no place in the plans of the managers of this 

 fair. Last year's construction account approximates a total of $150,000 

 spent. It was a big year's work, but every penny appears to have 

 counted. 



. "Iowa's agriculture was typified in the agricultural building. For 

 some years past the agriculture of the enterprising northwest 

 has been dominant in it. Certainly these bright minded breezy 

 men from the pioneer sections know a good thing when they see 

 it. They are not to be blamed for displaying their attractive wares, un- 

 impeachable evidence of the richness of virgin soil, in the most desirable 

 space in Iowa"s agricultural building. They could not get better adver- 

 tj^ng space. But "home first" is a pretty fair motto in such matters. 

 I411 i^Jift-rp contrast with some preceding years, more than 600 Hawkeye 

 farmers v.ere represented by farm product exhibits in the agricultura: 

 building, and the proselyting exhibits from the northwest, our newer states 

 and Canada, were under tents, at so much per front foot for exhibition 

 sjjgijtfe,.. J^V!ei;i,.^ypcI,(^..Saip, with his thoroughly staged bid for settlers on 

 l|ij/i.up(iej:,|ijis.^mt^ajr^^tipfl^ rented space under a tent. This is as 



ii.^^ipul^'.bV,, ,u ,,j,^.„. e,,,' ,ofn 



'■'In the mat•tel^■o^ judges, Iowa gets an example worthy of emulation. 

 Theittuenibgi^ 'Oijthj^itooMd ha^e no political debts to pay in the selection 

 crfste-dgep. Friends 1 and neighbors are; not given a free visit to the fairs. 

 Tliei(aim-,iS;t0fS.eIe!c4;.mj6n wholly able andoexperjenced, and the field is not 

 liiiitteditp^beiibiqr.deRs of-the.-^state^, --Tlivee ftfijtherfjudges this year were 

 d'rA%njffom<Bntai'iOrr-mo ijrithe beef cattle ;S€eti{)n,G06_- in the sheep, and 

 ana! iaih-p. horses..; It-. is -r^efresiiing to find a fre^jhand in choosing judges, 

 a^td; .-a/ personal knowledge; oji; the part of tlie^wejimte^deR-tg of si^en quali- 

 fi«,(ti^foi».thie. responsibilities of'-ithe;positi©ii;''.;;T ; i^r! iv/^ wo'i^ .'.i-i; , 



The Twentfeth Century Farmer speats of the last fair as fpllov/s: , . 



rl .<>-, 7; '-rru' ■■^'■r■n:■ ^'^-^ruc^' •!<»' t, :,,m^ ;•-.■•-.■;.- rtiv^^ t, .-rjo!'- 

 -,.i;TlLe.I.QW^ State Fair, ^or. 1909 Is^^nottLerdemonsti^ation of the forw.ar^l. 

 i^o/5^enaent .^ ;ta- . greater and , bettej ._,t:hings In state, lair .enterprises , and, 

 ajchievements. • . .It illv.strated. ,mpre : pQsitively t.hap .at; ,any, former exhil;)!,-,^ 

 tijon ot this,. great. '^.gricultural exposition thaj; agriculture a.hd agricuir, 

 tu^al teii^encies ar-e the bases upon whiph, the business and educatioual., 

 interests of this great commonwealth are founded. It pointed out w'itb. 

 unmistakable evidence, in every feature of exhibition interest, that the 

 spirit of the times demands improvement and that nothing short of 



