TWELFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XI 547 



and he had a number of good ones to pass upon. The fall colt shows 

 that are spreading rapidly over the state have been responsible for a 

 number of the exhibits. Colts that have won in the local autumn fall 

 shows and maintained their lead through the yearling and older com- 

 petition were here and made farmers in many localities where such 

 shows are not known realize that great possibilities are open to those 

 who wish to take advantage of the educational features of such exhibitors. 

 The Belgian grades and Shire grades were the draftiest shown, though 

 a few Percheron grades showed as much of this character as any. When 

 Mr. Ogilvie left, Professor Kennedy finished the judging. 



THE FUTURITIES. 



Much interest was taken in the showing of yearling draft stallions 

 brought out at Des Moines in response to the call of the organizers of the 

 National Draft Horse Breeders' Futurities. The idea of adapting the 

 principle of the futurity stakes of the race horse world to the exhibition 

 of draft horses originated with J. H. S. Johnstone, who is recognized 

 as one of America's best known agricultural writers and live stock au- 

 thorities. In this work he has been ably assisted by A. C. Halliwell, of 

 the Live Stock World, many of the prominent breeders, the various 

 breeders' associations and the Iowa State Board of Agriculture. "For 

 many years," Mr. Johnstone says in explanation of his plan, "we have 

 believed that if it were possible to win championships in state fairs and 

 expositions with American-bred draft mares, it was equally possible to 

 line up in the show ring a lot of young draft stallions that might bid de- 

 fiance to the imported article. Surveying the entire horse breeding field 

 it appeared to the management that the principle of the 'futurity stakes' 

 might well be invoked to induce breeders to fit and exhibit their young 

 stallions so as to be able to play up sticks with the products of European 

 stables and paddocks." In all the futurity premium fund, including cash 

 and the cash value of cups, medals and ribbons amounted to nearly 

 $3,500, quite the largest sum ever offered for an exhibit of draft yearlings. 

 Fifty-three representatives of the four breeds were shown and of this 

 number nearly one-half were in the Percheron class. Not only was this 

 breed in greater evidence in respect to the number of entries, but the ex- 

 hibit quite surpassed the others in respect to quality and general excel- 

 lence. Professor Carlyle was assisted in judging the Percheron yearlings 

 by John Truman, of Bushnell, 111., and Robert G. Ogilvie, of Chicago. The 

 Belgians were placed by Professor Kennedy and A. Latimer Wilson, of 

 Creston, Iowa. 



SWINE 



In magnitude of numbers the swine division of the Iowa State Fair 

 stands head and shoulders above all other live stock. shows or expositions. 

 In this respect it is representative of the real importance of the pork rais- 

 ing industry in that section of the country tributary to the Iowa State 

 Fair. The occasion is, in fact, rapidly taking on the character of the 



