PART XL 



IOWA STATE FAI1I-IT8 EARLY HISTORY, ETC 



View of Iowa State Fair Q-rounds— looking east. 



ORGANIZATION AND GROWTH OF TH'E IOWA 

 STATE FAIR. 



The first movement for the holding of a State fair was at a 

 meeting- of the board of directors of the Jefferson County Agri- 

 cultural society, held at Fairfield, Iowa, October 13, 1853. (It 

 will probably be of interest to note that at this time Iowa was 

 the only free State in the Union not holding an annual State 

 fair.) At this meeting a motion was made by Mr. C. W. Slagle, 

 and adopted by the society, whereby the officers of the societ>' 

 were instructed to take immediate steps to effect the organiza- 

 tion of a State agricultural society, and that they use their infiu- 

 ence tO' have said society hold its first annual exhibition at Fair- 

 field in October, 1854. 



A committee was appointed to confer with the different agri- 

 cultural societies of the State and invite them to- send delegates 

 to a meeting to be held at Fairfield on the 28th day of December, 

 1853, for the purpose of effecting a State organization. It was 

 urged that not only farmers, but mechanics, merchants and pro- 

 fessional men, interest themselves in the movement, and all were 

 invited to attend. 



The day of the convention delegates representing Jeft'erson. 

 Henry, Lee, \''an Buren and ^^'apello counties were present. The 



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