600 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



TEN-HOUR DAY IN SIGHT FOR FARMERS. 



The 14 and 18-hour day is still the bugbear on many corn belt farms 

 and is undoubtedly causing many farm boys to go to the city and farm 

 girls to exclude the ambitious young farmer from their list of matri- 

 monial prospects. The only practical remedy in sight for overworked 

 farm folks seems to be more labor-saving machinery and devices. Farm 

 homes and buildings can be made more convenient and comfortable than 

 at present and many helpful ideas were to be picked up along this line 

 from the exhibits sheltered in the new $75,000 machinery building in 

 tents and private floor space. Especially was big machinery in evidence 

 and through its use many farmers will contrive in the future to llgnten 

 farm labor if not shorten the hours of the ordinary work day. 



FARM CO-OPERATION BOOSTED. 



Two important meetings were held during the fair which point to a 

 growing interest in Iowa for farm co-operation. One of these meetings, 

 at which delegates from twenty or more farmers' clubs were present, cul- 

 minated in the formation of a state organization for encouraging and 

 aiding the organization of clubs throughout the state. While the grange 

 Is moving ahead there are communities which are more favorable to a 

 less formal organization such as the farmers' club. 



The other meeting was for the purpose of perfecting an organization 

 for promoting the breeding of beef cattle in Iowa instead of relying on 

 the range for unfinished beef, and it is believed that such an organization 

 will insure the continuance of the state as the greatest beef cattle center 

 in the world. 



FARMERS ENDORSE FAIR MANAGEMENT. 



The Iowa idea of running a state fair that it may contribute the great- 

 est amount of good to the greatest number of people has met with the 

 unreserved approval of corn belt farmers. No fair is so little affected 

 by the personal interests of individuals. The indictment that our state 

 fairs are run for personal advancement cannot be charged against the 

 Iowa fair. And the best fair-going population of the state know this and 

 give the fair most loyal support. Going back to 1905 it is to be noted 

 that the attendance was a trifle over one-half of this year's attendance, 

 or 162,000. Each succeeding year, with the exception of one, has shown 

 a big increase. In 1908 the attendance jumped to 218,000 and this year 

 conservative estimates place the attendance at approximately a quarter 

 of a million, and this success was realized with no large city contiguous 

 to swell admissions. 



