440 



IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



portant class of farm animals. Much improvement has been effected 

 since last year in the way of providing suitable quarters for the sheep 

 and shepherds. The provision for a suitable place for making awards 

 has been provided in a temporary way, and sheep exhibitors look for- 

 ward to a time when a permanent judging ring will be provided, which 

 can not be accomplished until more ground has been added, which prob- 

 ably will occur in the near future. As usual, the Shropshires show 

 that they are the leading breed and appear in the largest numbers. 



Showing Section of Fancy Work Display Cases, Exposition Building, Iowa .State Fair, 1906. 



THE IOWA STATE PAIR. 



Farmers' Tribune. Sioux City. Iowa. 



The Iowa State Fair has been growing in importance from year to 

 year. Ten years ago its receipts, in round numbers, amounted to 

 $33,600; five years later, in 1901, to $43,400, and this year to approxi- 

 mately $100,000. There was a total attendance this year of 250,000, 

 which was a gain of 3 per cent over the attendance a year ago. Every 

 day of fair week brought good weather. No rain fell throughout the 

 entire week, and the temperature was just right to enable the thou- 

 sands of visitors who were daily in attendance to enjoy the fair to 

 the fullest extent. As is usually the case, Wednesday brought the 

 largest number of people, and the attendance ran up to 75,000, as 

 compared with 66,000 on the same day of the week in 1905. On that 

 day it was evident to everyone that the facilities on the grounds were 



