660 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



societ}' was duly organized, and the preamble to the constitu- 

 tion adopted provided that the style of the society should Ije the 

 ''Iowa State Agricultural Society," and that its object would 

 be ''for the promotion of agriculture, horticulture, manufactures, 

 mechanics and household arts." 



The! first president elect was Hon. Thos. \\\ Clegett of Lee 

 county, and the first secretary Dr. J. M. Shaffer of Jefferson 

 county. The latter is still living, and an active practitioner of 

 medicine at Keokuk, Iowa. 



New Agricultural, Horticultural and Dairy building to be erected on 

 State Fair Giounds, 1904 



On the date of organization it was decided to hold the lirst 

 annual exhibition at Fairfield on the 24th and 25th of October. 

 1854. The grounds secured contained about six acres adjoinmg 

 Fairfield and were enclosed by a rail fence ten feet high. The 

 main building was a shed two hundred and fifty feet in length 

 erected on one side of the grounds next to the fence, and con- 

 tained a table five feet in width running its entire length, upon 

 which were placed exhibits. On the opposite side of the en- 

 closure rails were used for the erection of stalls and pens for live 

 stock exhibits. 



The first premium list offered, among other things, premiums 

 to be on the following- : "Team of oxen, not less than three 

 yoke, " "Best and biggest fattened hog," "Native or dunghill 

 fowls," "Ox yoke," "Grain cradle," "Arrangement for raising 

 water, other than pump," "Mattock," "Corn sheller," "Hand- 

 power," ertc, all of which would be curiosities to the voung-er 

 generation of today. 



It appears from the treasurer's report that the total receipts 

 from the first fair were about $1,000, "after deducting counter- 

 feit and otherwise worthless money," of which there seems to 

 have been plenty. 



