136 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Another thing, the schools should have a large share of attention, 

 some contest like the contest in arithmetic or spelling, or a contest in 

 some other line will bring representatives from all parts of the county. 

 It is virell to have a free ticket to the school children on a certain day. 

 We have found that to be a great help in building up a fair and getting 

 attendance. 



We would not think of running our county fair without a baby-health 

 contest. You know that was started at the state fair only a few years 

 ago, and it became very popular. at once all over the country, and every 

 fair that has been able to install the facilities has done so. I believe that 

 is one of the most important movements that was ever made in the 

 handling of a fair, whether state or county or district fair. 



Now, one of the main requisites in building up the fair is to do every- 

 thing on the square. Always give the people a little more than you 

 promise to them in the way of accommodations, in races, free attractions, 

 and all that. You must charge enough admission at the outside gate to 

 pay your expenses, and you should count on a profit each year. People 

 are satisfied and pleased to help with an institution that is prosperous, 

 but if you place your admission fees at a rate which makes no profit 

 people become dissatisfied and their dissatisfaction soon affects your 

 whole fair. 



The Chairman: Anybody else on this subject? 



Mr. Jones (Linn). One thing that has not been touched on that we 

 consider an attraction at our fair is exhibits put on by country clubs. 

 The country clubs in our vicinity, Linn county, number probably twenty- 

 eight or thirty, and last year we had I think fourteen exhibits from 

 country clubs. These were all farm exhibits, and I think it was one of 

 the most attractive features we had at the fair. It not only interested the 

 people participating, but others as well. Those country clubs consist of 

 from probably fifteen to thirty families to each club. Members of clubs 

 exhibiting were of course very much interested, and the more persons 

 you can get interested in a fair the more you can get at. The exhibits 

 from these clubs practically are everything that can be raised upon 

 farms. As a rule, from the time they are in place until the close of the 

 fair, they are drawing attention all the time. 



The Chairman : Anybody else wish to contribute to this subject ? 



Mr. Bennett: With regard to these country-club exhibits, I don't think 

 the average county fair gives premiums enough for their farm and garden 

 exhibits. I heard one woman ask another yesterday what premium she 

 got at the county fair for her exhibit, and she replied that what she got 

 didn't begin to pay her for the time and work she put on it. They have to 

 plant the seed in the early spring and they have to be on the job every 

 day in order to care for their exhibit. The fairs don't pay premiums 

 enough for the work that the exhibitors have to do, and they will have 

 to pay better for that branch of exhibits if they want to have success and 

 encourage exhibitors. 



The Chairman: The next subject for discussion is "The Effect 

 of a Show or Carnival in Town Prior to or During- Week of Fair 

 — Legislate Against", by George W. Haynes, leader. 



