782 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



was estimated at 273,000 as compared with 270,700 last year. The net 

 profit was unofficially placed at approximately $30,000. Total receipts 

 were estimated at $180,000. In other words, the fair was a success 

 financially. 



Financial success is desirable, but it is more important that it should 

 be a success educationally as well as inspirationally. In these respects 

 the big exposition did not lag. Thousands of men and women went 

 home with new ideas in farming and home-making. Men who studied 

 the live stock exhibits, the agricultural and horticultural products were 

 deeply impressed with the value of breeding and feeding in the develop- 

 ment of Iowa's great live stock industry. The same was true of the 

 women folks who studied the many things pertaining to the home. New 

 enthusiasm was kindled in the minds of thousands of young as well as 

 older men in the latent possibilities of Iowa farms, many of which are still 

 awaiting modern methods of culture and management. It is indeed a 

 privilege to attend a great state fair in these days of high-priced land 

 when everybody is looking for information to help make it pay. 



As usual, the live stock show was excellent. The Iowa fair has for 

 years been looked upon as a leader among state fairs in the number and 

 quality of draft horses, beef cattle, and swine on exhibition and no doubt 

 its past record will be upheld this year when the show season has ended. 

 However, a number of the leading live stock exhibitors did not appear 

 in the ring this year, and a percentage of the stock was not as highly 

 conditioned as it has been in former years. The latter condition was 

 undoubtedly due to the fact that feed has been scarce and unusually high 

 in price. Though some of the leading showmen, who usually make their 

 initial appearance at Des Moines each season, were absent, the show as a 

 whole was no less attractive and educational than those of past years. 

 In some respects it was better. It was more of a farmer's fair and 

 less of the professional showman's fair. The places of some of the leading 

 breeders, who were absent, were taken by new men and new herds so 

 far as the Iowa show rings were concernd. This fact points to still 

 bigger stock shows at Des Moines in the future. 



The draft horse show, taking everything into consideration, was one 

 of the best that has ever been held at Des Moines. Some of the classes 

 were not so well filled and were perhaps not quite so good from a 

 quality point of view as they have been in former years, yet others were 

 larger and better. Many notable victories were won in the horse classes 

 by home-bred stock. This was particularly true of the Percheron and 

 Clydesdale breeds. H. G. McMillan & Sons of Rock Rapids, Iowa, were 

 the leading winners of Percheron honors; in fact, this firm won more 

 championships than has ever been won by any other firm at one fair. 

 They emerged with champion stallion, champion mare, champion stallion 

 owned in Iowa, champion mare owned in Iowa, Percheron Society of 

 America champion stallion and mare bred and owned in Iowa, and a num- 



