220 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



management should sell the exclusive privilege for these refreshment 

 stands or whether they should grant this privilege to various in- 

 dividuals. Our experience has been that the exclusive privilege prop- 

 osition is not a good one and we strongly recommend that such a 

 procedure be discouraged. It is the duty of the fair association man- 

 agement, however, to see to it that these refreshment stands are present, 

 including eating places and, last but not least, these places should be 

 watched carefully and seen to that they are in a sanitary condition. I 

 think the state department of pure food usually has an inspector to 

 look after them, but should he fail to be there the fair management 

 should take this matter in hand and see to it. Some fairs have a great 

 deal of trouble in providing drinking water for the people or, at least, 

 providing it for them in a sanitary manner. This, above all, should 

 be given the very strictest attention, and nothing but good and whole- 

 some water should be offered the people whom you charge admission 

 to the county fair. 



It occurs to me that the old original idea of the county fair was 

 setting aside a time when the farmers and the other producing people 

 of the county would have an opportunity to come together and ex- 

 hibit their productions to each other and attempt, thereby, to become 

 more proficient in the line that they were following. It is true, that 

 Ave have gotten away from this old idea somewhat, and I believe that 

 we are making a mistake. In other words, the farmer and his brother 

 producers should be encouraged to go back to the old idea and bring 

 in his live stock, farm products, manufactured articles, as of yore. 

 I will call your attention to the definition of the word fair. It is as 

 follows: 1. A state market in a particular town or city; a regular 

 meeting of buyers and sellers for trade. 2. An occasional joint ex- 

 hibition of articles for sale or inspection; a sale or exhibition of goods 

 for the promotion of some public interest. 3. Market; place of sell- 

 ing. 



You will readily see that we are drifting away from the original 

 idea of a fair. In other words, we are making it more of an amuse- 

 ment proposition rather than carrying out the idea of old. I regret 

 that this is the case and I hope that the fair managements throughout 

 the state of Iowa, the greatest agricultural state in the union, will 

 try to come back to the old notion of the county fair. Let us have 

 more attractions for the farmer, for the manufacturer, for the live 

 stock grower, and last but not least, for the ladies who are gifted in 

 the art of producing fancy needle work and other articles along that 

 line. Let us offer more and better prizes for the best exhibitions. 

 Let us furnish better buildings for these exhibitions, and let us make 

 it known to the farmer, the manufacturer and the artist of the needle 

 that we want their exhibitions at our county fairs. 



In conclusion I desire to call your attention to the fact that the 

 success of a county fair depends entirely upon one man and he is 

 usually designated as the secretary. My experience has taught me 

 that unless one man is given the exclusive power to conduct all the 

 matters in connection with the county fair that you are bound to get 

 your wires crossed. The fair association usually has what is known 



