FIFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VII. 673 



IOWA'S FIFTIETH STATE FAIR. 



Weekly Live Stock Report. 



Iowa's golden aniversary State Fair held last week at Des Moines was in 

 every particular up to the high standard which a prosperous and progres- 

 sive rural population has established. It was big, rich, imposing, edifying, 

 clean and high-class. In its comprehensiveness and overwhelming strength 

 it was worthy of the banner agricultural State of the Union. It may be seri- 

 ously doubted whether there ever has been a greater State Fair than this 

 one. Certainly there has never been one comparable with it in point of 

 interest shown by the people for whom the institution was created long years 

 ago. 



More favorable weather for the fair could not have been provided. The 

 weather man was in a happy mood and blessed the fair with cool winds, a 

 clear sky and beautiful nights, making the night attractions a strong fea- 

 ture. Subsequent counts undoubtedly will show that the total attendance 

 was record-breaking, and the probabilities are that the number of admis- 

 sions each day will be found greater than for the corresponding day last 

 year or any preceding year. Des Moines is a good fair town and Iowa peo- 

 ple long ago acquired the State-fair-going habit. _ As the crops for the most 

 part have been, and are, exceptionally good in Iowa this year, it was to be 

 expected that a standard-setting fair would be held. Expectations were 

 fully realized. Never has there been such a State Fair in Iowa and it is 

 likely that no other State has ever conducted such a successful agricultural 

 show. Stupendous, comprehensive and high-class in every respect, it was 

 the most memorable event in the history of Iowa agriculture up to the pre- 

 sent time. Never have the farmers shown such keen appreciation of their 

 own institution. Never has the support accorded it been more widespread 

 and loyal. Verily, this fair has the strength of Gibraltar behind it and the 

 goal of perfection before it 



Live stock was the dominant note. Corn was in big evidence. Every 

 agricultural resource of the State was creditably represented. No depart- 

 ment was dwarfed or weak, though the equine display was somewhat circum- 

 scribed on account of the St. Louis show, which practically monopolized 

 the show horses of the country last week. About one thousand one hundred 

 head of cattle, two thousand five hundred hogs and an overflowing sheep 

 show distinguished the fair. Not only were the numbers large but the 

 character of the live stock exhibit as a whole was first class. Never has 

 there appered at any State fair such an imposing array of top-notch show 

 stock as made this an historical and memorable eveat. While every bovine 

 breed of prominent commercial importance was strongly represented, the 

 show of black cattle, especially Aberdeeos-AnguB , was sensationally big and 

 high class. It was by odds the best show the breed ever has made at a State 

 fair, and it is very doubtful whether a better or more uniformly good lot of 

 "doddies" has ever appeared at any of the national shows in this country. 

 Numbers were there and the individual merit and excellent showyard finish 

 f the various entries were the subject of much favorable comment. W. B. 

 eeley's great show cow Vala^ repeated the trick which she performed 

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