620 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



' 'We congratulate the Jefferson County Society upon their prompt action 

 in this behalf. They have done themselves credit in taking hold of the mat- 

 ter in so earnest a manner. The state society will, dobtless, have to struggle 

 through many difficulties; but it will succeed, and the time will assuredly 

 come when its projectors will be regarded as public benefactors." 



A copy of the above circular was written to each county agricultural 

 society in the State, as far as the committee could obtain information 

 of their organization. The circular was also published in many papers of 

 the State, and the remarks of the editors and the correspondence of the com- 

 mittee awakened pretty general interest in the success of the enterprise. 

 However, the day of the proposed convention having arrived, but five 

 counties were represented, viz.: Henry, Van Buren, Wapello, Jefferson 

 and Lee. 



A. R. Fulton, editor of the Fairfield Ledge}', of December 22, 1853, 

 says: 



"We notice that several of our State exchanges have responded to the 

 call for a meeting here on the 28th inst., lor the purpose of organizing a 

 State Agricultural Society. For the information of the Sentinel , we would 

 say that we did not intentionally omit to call attention to the proposition for 

 holding the above meeting, the official call for which was published in our 

 paper several weeks ago. We feel, with our neighbor, like taking a deep 

 interest in this matter, and should like to see the meeting well attended from 

 every part of the State. The adaption of Iowa for becoming a great agri- 

 cultural State, demands that early steps be taken to enlist that interest in 

 the subject and secure those advantages which experience in other states had 

 shown to be the result of such organization. All the free states except Iowa, 

 and several of the southern states have state societies fully organized and in 

 successful operation. Shall it be said of Iowa, whose agricultural resources 

 are unsurpassed, remains in the background in this respect? We hope the 

 meeting on Wednesday next will determine to give a negative answer to this 

 question. 



' 'There is no better method of exciting an honorable emulation between 

 this and other States, and between the different sections of this State, than 

 by the workings of such a society. Let every county society in the State 

 be represented in the meeting, and all who attend from abroad may rest 

 fissured that the friends of the cause in Jefferson county will meet them on 

 fairground. The State society may be in full operation for the holding 

 of a fair some time next autumn which will do honor to Iowa." 



The following is a copy of the proceedings of the convention: 



IOWA STATE AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. 



Pursuant to a call, a number of delegates met at the court house in Fair- 

 field for the purpose of forming a State Agricultural Society. 



On motion, D. P. Inskeep, of Wapello, was called to the chair, and D. 

 Sheward, of Jefferson, appointed secretary. 



On motion, the credentials of delegates were called for and presented and 

 five counties, Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Van Buren and Wapello, reported as 

 represented. 



