4r)X IOWA j>i<:partaiknt of agriculture 



As an inducement to undertake this work a special grant of money 

 might be made by the state or coun'y, to be offered to such associations 

 as will maintain breeding barns of well-bred sires. As a purely busi- 

 ness proposition no bettor investment can be made of public funds than 

 to supply the aid necessary to bring about such action, for a slight 

 improvement upon each animal will add enormously to the wealth of 

 the agricultural people of the state. 



PAID SECRET.VUY. 



If the fair ai-sociation is to fulfill its mission, its influence will have 

 to be felt for more than the few days during which the exhibition is 

 held. It will have to be an active force the year around. Before this 

 can be done there must be a paid secretary who can devote all of h's 

 time to the affairs of the association. The secretary should be an expert 

 in agricultural matters and not a mere clerk with little or no practical 

 or theoretical knowledge of this industry. 



now STIAIJ, COITXTV FAIR AHSOCIATroNS I'.K IXrUCr:i) TO UNDICRTAKK 



THIS WORK? 



Many associations are now ready for what has been here outlined, and 

 will be glad to undertake the work if a practicable plan is shown. Others 

 will need urging This w'll require the personal efforts of organizers to 

 meet thoir managers and show them precisely how they can do at least 

 some of the things that are needed, leaving the others, if necessary; for 

 future consi'leration after the movement is well under way. 



Responsibility for and the initiative in this work might be given to 

 the state boards and departments of agriculture. Agents could be em- 

 ployed by them to visit the several counties to organize new fair associa- 

 tions, and to reorganize the old. Later, these agents should revisit the 

 societies to see that they understand what is pi'oposed and to assist 

 them when necessary in carrying out the project. This is a kind of 

 service that the state departments of agriculture are snecially fitted to 

 undertake, and, in securing valuable results to agriculture, is as prom- 

 ising a field of effort as any other that they have hi'.herto attempted. 



Most of the state departments or boards of agriculture have interested 

 themselves in the local fair associations very little beyond collecting 

 copies of their premium lists and getting records of attendance and the 

 amount of the gale receipts. If they will devote some of their time and 

 money to sending out an expert or several experts to organize county 

 fairs and to advise with their officers and aid them in carrying on their 

 work, they will not only be increasing their usefulness to the farming 

 industry, but their action will also be in direct keeping with the pur- 

 pose of the commonwealth in establishing state departments for the 

 benefit of agriculture. .' 



APPENDIX. 



The following suggestions for the organization of fair associations 

 and for the management of exh'bitlonB in the interest of rural people 

 are preseni<ul with n view to aiding those wlio av^ interested in this 



