120 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



in every department must be complete, and In order to encourage exhibit- 

 ors large and attractive premiums should be offered, sufficient to enthuse 

 competition and justly compensate for the preparation. 



Premiums that are offered to exhibitors by the ordinary agricultural 

 societies are comparatively small, at least too small to encourage many 

 exhibitors. This is undoubtedly one of the many reasons why the interest 

 of the community has slackened in the success of the fair. In localities 

 where the success of the fair is of little concern it is a difficult matter 

 for the management, in preparing the premium list, to offer large and 

 attractive premiums because of their inability to estimate what the income 

 of the society will be and what money there will be on hand with which 

 to pay premiums and other expenses that are necessary. 



It cannot be expected that a few enterprising and public-spirited men 

 in the community, who have invested their money and devoted their ener- 

 gies towards the upbuilding of an institution like the county fair purely 

 for the benefit of the public, and who under the most favorable conditions 

 are unable to realize any profit upon their investment, should be com- 

 pelled, year after year, to offer larger premiums than they are, or that the 

 income of the society will permit, in order that the fair may be main- 

 tained. 



If the fair was one of the permanent institutions maintained by the 

 county, through a tax or appropriation, if such was necessary, better and 

 more attractive premiums could be offered, which no doubt would stimu- 

 late the interest and energy of the people to such an extent that exhib- 

 itors would be more numerous, more exhibits would be displayed, and 

 flnall the interests, energy and enterprise would be concentrated to 

 such an extent that there would be but one object in view, and that to 

 broaden its scope of usefulness. And with but one effort in view there 

 would also be a tendency to eliminate much of exclusiveness and self- 

 ishness, and with this out of the way the fair could be raised to a high 

 level as an institution of learning and its usefulness would be well 

 observed. 



By the county fair the progress of the community is measured. It 

 records the advancement. It stimulates the energy, enterprise and intel- 

 lect of the people; it goes into the home; it broadens and brightens the 

 daily life of the people; it opens iiiore storehouses of information. Every 

 county fair, great or small, has helped to some onward step. Comparison 

 of ideas is beneficial and educational and as such instructs the brain and 

 hand of man. Friendly rivalry follows, which is the spur to industrial 

 improvement, the inspiration to high endeavor in all departments of 

 activity. It exacts a study of the wants and comforts of the people, and 

 recognizes the efficacy of high quality to win their favor. The county fair 

 has done its work thoroughly in presenting in its exhibits evidence of 

 the highest endeavor and illustration of the progress of the community. 



In our day there has been much change, much progress. Agricultural 

 societies and similar organizations, such as the Farmers' Institute, etc., and 

 all agencies which promote intelligent co-operation and give opportunity 

 for social and intellectual intercourse, have played a large part in raising 

 the level of life and work among the people. For the farmer and stock 



