326 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



is a general rule which may be followed successfully. That is, that in 

 no case must the possible expenditures exceed the probable receipts from 

 attendance. A fair cannot be bigger than the community in which it is 

 located. Of course there are some exceptions to this statement because of 

 environment. The Kansas State Fair at Hutchinson draws its patronage 

 from a large area. If the State Fair of Missouri or the State Fair of 

 Ohio for instance drew as large a percentage of the total population liv- 

 ing within an area the size that the Hutchinson fair draws from they 

 would have an attendance of more than a million. So, environment cuts 

 considerable figure. In advertising this might as well be taken into con- 

 sideration and in many instances considerable expense in the way of ad- 

 vertising may be saved. 



Every management must figure on where the people are to come from 

 and then advertise in a way to get them. The great state — supported, 

 state-controlled, state fair owes it as a duty, perhaps to reach out co-ex- 

 tensive with the state, but all other fair organizations are guilty of waste 

 if they extend their advertising beyond the reach of their probabilities. 



In making up the premium list of a county or district fair the prob- 

 able attendance of course must be considered, likewise all other expense. 

 Whenever the expense becomes greater than the probable attendance will 

 justify, then the fair will certainly fail in making profits, if indeed, it 

 can make expenses. Notwithstanding a faii* is a weather bet and a fight 

 against thieves, the managers are usually held responsible and in their 

 figuring on possible expense, they must always take into consideration 

 the fact that weather and thieves are liable to encroach upon their prob- 

 able earnings. I have been asked what proportion should the purse of- 

 fering for races be to the total premium list. My reply is that all things 

 being equal the total might be commensurate with the probable attendance 

 and the amount devoted to racing must be according to the interest the 

 particular community takes in turf events. As a general rule fairs do not 

 flourish without racing. The racing is an important feature and in nor- 

 mal communities as much money can be devoted by county and district 

 fairs to the turf as there is to the premiums of the other departments. 

 Especially so if interesting and high class free attractions are inter- 

 spersed between heats. This class of entertainment will fill the grand- 

 stand and please the people. It is almost impossible to interest a large 

 audience with exhibits only. There must be interesting and exciting en- 

 tertainment. Old people are just grown children and when it comes to a 

 big all round old-fashioned agricultural fair it takes everything to make 

 it complete, — barring of course intoxicating liquors and immorality. 

 As to the latter a safe rule to establish is, that nothing shall occur on 

 the grounds beneath the average morality of the community in which 

 the fair is held. Then the goody-goody man has no kick which he can 

 justify neither the base representative of the under world. A fair built' 

 thus along educational lines, which is also inspirational and recreational, 

 well balanced as to expenditures as based upon probable receipts, will 

 win the public favor and make profits to build the fair bigger and better. 

 Or if it be a state supported fair additional appropriations will be more 

 easily secured. 



