216 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



this sngg:estion in advance of his report, for I coincide with his 

 opinion in that matter, that, on account of the growing proportions 

 of this organization, a little more money is needed. The assessment 

 at present is only $4.00. At the very least, in my judgment, it 

 should be $5.00, and I question whether that will fully meet the 

 reciuirements attendant on these meetings. We, of course, will be 

 told that in Mr. Eigby's report, and it will probably come up for 

 discussion in the business session after the banquet. 



I think that all of you appreciate the energy and the activity of 

 Secretary Rigby in giving such a splendid entertainment this morn- 

 ing at the Unique Theater with moving pictures of the state fair, 

 and the other county and district fairs of the state that availed 

 themselves of the opportunity he gave them. 



The first number on the program will be, "Building Up the 

 County Fair," by Peter Stephany, of Carroll, Iowa. 



BUILDING UP THE COUNTY FAIR. 



BY PETER STEPHANY, CARROLL, IOWA. 



Your able Secretary of this association some few days ago sent me 

 notice that I was to read a paper upon this occasion entitled "Building 

 up the County Fair." Not being a person who has had much, if any, ex- 

 perience in public speaking, and having had but one year's experience 

 as an officer of the county fair, you will readily see that I might properly 

 appear before this audience with a great deal of hesitancy and reluctance. 

 I dare say that there are many men in this audience who have had so 

 much more experience in building up county fairs that it must seem rather 

 presumptive for one like myself to offer any suggestions that might be 

 instructive to the hearers. Having had but one year's experience as above 

 suggested, and my knowledge of county fairs being limited almost ex- 

 clusively to this one effort, I hope you will pardon me if some of my re- 

 marks may refer to matters that might seem somewhat personal, that is, 

 based upon my personal experience. 



In this progressive day and age when all of our efforts are met 

 with severe and effective competition we are brought to realize more than 

 ever that advertising is profitable. This is no exception with the county 

 fair. It has been our experience that many people will attend a county 

 fair if they can be notified in advance of some of the features of the fair, 

 and particularly is this true if such notice can be brought to their at- 

 tion in an attractive manner. The mere mentioning in the newspapers 

 will hardly reach the people, although this feature should not be over- 

 looked. I would advocate a liberal advertising in the local newspapers as 

 well as the newspapers in the surrounding towns and counties. It has 

 been our experience that the locals should be written by the management of 

 the fair association themselves rather than to leave it to the editor, as 

 much good can be derived from the way these sentences are worded. 



