FIFTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART III 183 



Then, of course, you must not forget your baby contest and educational 

 program. Of course, you must have good races, but don't give too large 

 purses, as you are liable to scare the horseman out. They do not like to 

 race for too large purses — $250 to $400 purses will catch the most of 

 them. However, don't fail to put on a relay running race for your county 

 horses. That will catch the young fellows who are past the eighth grade 

 in school work and too light for the tug-of-war. 



Now, please do not think that any of the above stunts cannot be 

 pulled off successfully, for they can. In fact, you can fill your fair ground 

 on the first day of your fair until, like the hobble skirt, there is hardly 

 standing room. I fully realize that there are fairs in the state that will 

 not approve of lowering the price of admission, from the fact that they 

 can fill their fair grounds the three days at thirty-five cents. I find, how- 

 ever, that there are about thirty-five out of ninety-one fairs in Iowa that 

 did not pay expenses last year. The suggestions I have offered in this 

 article are along the lines of awakening a deeper interest throughout 

 your county. When this is done, there will be little difliculty in getting 

 a good attendance, and, at the same time, distribute a portion of the 

 money among your patrons. 



DISCUSSION. 



Chairman: Has any one anything to offer or say upon this 

 subject? 



Mr. Pickard : I will be pleased to answer any question if I can. 

 We have tried these attractions and find them a great success. 



Mr. E. R. Mitchell, Marion: Mr. Chairman: I would like to 

 say one word. This idea of selling these season tickets and selling 

 them in advance ; at our fair last fall it was the first time it had 

 ever been done there. A great many said it was impossible to do 

 it, but there were a few of us got together and got some season 

 tickets up for which we charged thirty-five cents for a single ad- 

 mission. We sold these season tickets for $1.00 for the three days, 

 $2.00 for a man and his wife and children. We sold over $200.00 

 worth of tickets before the gates w^ere opened, taken in that way. 

 If you should run up against bad weather, — and that is one of 

 the worst things the county fair has to contend with — you have 

 your money in hand and it will almost run you through. 



Mr. Pickard: That is the object, to get the money in your 

 treasury as soon as you can. The first day, when we have taken 

 that course, we have usually enough money in the treasury to carry 

 us through, so that the balance of the time we are that much in 

 the clear; that is, as a rule. The main thing is to get your at- 

 tendance. If you can get a large number of tickets out sold for 

 the three days they are going to attend the three days. 



