142 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



are to be congratulated because out of that gathering will come that under- 

 standing and that relation that must exist if we are going to go forward 

 as one great, united force for the best thing in the state. And so I deem 

 it an unusual distinction and pleasure to speak to you for a few moments 

 this evening. My relation to the city is simply to do its legal work, but 

 I say I deem it an unusual pleasure and distinction to have this appor- 

 tunity to stand here before you as a representative of this city and to 

 say these few words of greeting, and to have the opportunity to show to 

 you that the best that we have here is open to you. We want you to 

 know all about Des Moines. I tell you, men, it is today the most thrifty 

 and livest and nearest up-to-date city, in my judgment, west of Chicago. 

 We are growing, we are developing, we are trying here to get a clear 

 grasp of the wonderful resources of the most wonderful state in all 

 the Union, and you men, while there is of course always in connec- 

 tion with these associations and these meetings an element of pleas- 

 ure, and an element of recreation and all that sort of thing, over and 

 above all that, as I said in the beginning, you represent the advance guard 

 of the greatest enterprise in the world. And as I said before, the world 

 is coming to understand and to recognize the fact that out here in states 

 like Iowa, where we have farms and soil and men and women and boys 

 and girls that are big and clean and strong, we have a civilization in 

 v.'hich we can produce not only everything that we need for our material 

 comfort and happiness, but out of which we can produce the best and 

 cleanest and strongest men and women produced anywhere. And so I 

 say, we want you to know that the city itself is open to you and we wel- 

 come your association and all of you individually, and I only regret that 

 our worthy, up-to-date and much-alive mayor was not here so that he 

 could let you into some of the secrets, that I myself do not quite know as 

 yet. I thank you, men. 



The Chairman : The next subject for discussion is entitled 

 "Benefits of Annual Meetings" by L. II. Piekard of Harlan. 



Mr. Lauer: Mr. Piekard was unable to be present, and I will read his 

 paper here. 



Brother Fair Secretaries and Fair Managers: When Secretary Lauer 

 notified me that I had been assigned the above subject, I could not under- 

 stand why he should call upon me to handle so important a subject. I 

 finally decided that he did so for the same reason that the farmer put 

 three dozen eggs under the setting hen — he said that he knew she 

 couldn't cover them but he just wanted to see her spread herself. 



The benefit of annual meetings all depends upon the individual. It is 

 much the same as attending college: if one attends for the sole purpose 

 of just having a good time and go out with the boys, he may not get 

 much that would be of interest in making him a better fair secretary; 

 but if his object is to learn what he can from those who possibly have had 

 the benefit of greater opportunity and more years of experience, he surely 

 can take home to his fair people many things that will be of value in 

 conducting a fair. I have always contended that a man can usually find 

 what he is looking for. 



There is no question but our annual meetings are a great benefit to a 

 fair secretary and fair manager. I have not missed an annual fair meet- 



