988 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The Iowa State fair has grown into an annual exposition of the pro- 

 ducts of the state that is a bewildering collection, the greatness and 

 number of which make it impossible to give the whole more than a 

 passing view. Indeed, it has become a common practice for the visi- 

 tor to devote his entire time to these special features with which his 

 interests might be connected, and to go home in ignorance of its many 

 wonders that are equally important to some one else. 



Truly, it was a great show, an honor to the commonwealth from 

 which it was gathered, a credit to the men through whose industry and 

 intelligence it was produced, a source of pride to every resident of the 

 state, and a monument to the perseverance and business sagacity of 

 the small circle of men who, as managers, are responsible for the suc- 

 cess that has been attained. 



Half a century ago the first Iowa State fair was held, and a com- 

 parison of that occasion with the great exposition of the present j-ear 

 will, in some measure, show the strides that have been made in 

 Improvement and development. The premium list of the fair of 1854, 

 in the live stock department, was somewhat crude from the standpoint 

 of the present day. In cattle Durhams and Devons were the only 

 breeds for which prizes were offered. There were no registry depart- 

 ments and the two sorts were competitors in the same classes. Then 

 there were classes for "natives and grade," "oxen," "beef" and "milk 

 cows." The horses were shown in classes of "ail work," heavy draft," 

 "jacks" and •'blooded," the latter having reference to thoroughbreds, 

 and this was the only instance in the entire fair where there was any 

 requirement as tc purity of blood. Sheep were shown as "long wools" 

 and "fine wools." Hogs were "swine" only. 



The poultry show called for "Shanghai. Dorking, Poland, Black 

 Spanish, Cochin, China, Chitigon, natives or dunghill". Turkeys, ge^se 

 and ducks were shown, but no breeds named. Prizes were offered for 

 hams cured by exhibitors and for "five acres of Indian corn". History 

 throws no light on the number of animals competing, but we are told 

 that at the fair of 1856 sixty-one hogs were shown and sixty-three cat- 

 tle. At the latter show the premium list called for Shorthorns and 

 Devons, and they were shown as different breeds. It will be seen that 

 the purebred live stock industry of Iowa, which today stands second 

 in importance to that of no state in the union, as evidenced by this 

 great exhibition, is the growth and development of less than half a 

 century. 



In the show of 1905 we have 599 cattle belonging to eight different 

 breeds, and as many horses belonging to five breeds, 2,415 hogs belonging 

 to four breeds, and hundreds of domestics fowls of modern and improved 

 varieties. 



