550 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
"Our people have finally acquired the State Pair habit and they come 
without any urging or special inducements. The great educational feat- 
ures of the fair are being appreciated and the progressive citizen feels 
that he cannot afford to stay away. Our State Fair is the greatest factor 
in the state in demonstrating the values of Iowa lands; each year con- 
vinces more of the fact that Iowa is a great agricultural state and that 
Iowa land investments cannot be bettered; that this is a good enough 
state to live in. 'Let well enough alone' is the motto with our best 
thinking people. 
This fair is growing better each year. This year in all departments it 
exceeds last year from 10 to 50 per cent. The attendance is greater each 
year and in all respects we should congratulate ourselves in the success 
of our fair. Would be pleased at any time to give the press any assist- 
ance in my official capacity or personal attention. Good day, call again." 
An instance in state fair history where the right man is in the right 
place. 
GREAT LIVE STOCK SHOW. 
The horse department, comprising all outside the track horses, was 
a matter of general remark in the excellence of quality and large num- 
bers. In this division were 785 horses entered. 
In cattle there was also great interest, there being in all breeds 627 
head exhibited. There was some complaint amongst breeders on the extra 
expense this year in fitting cattle for the fair owing to the higher prices 
for feeds that had to be used in finishing the show animals. The cattle 
show was not only large, but it conclusively demonstrated that the 
breeder is getting a little nearer perfection each year. Some of the old 
breeders and exhibitors were not present, but their places werre filled by 
new recruits to the great army of cattle breeders that are constantly 
being added to the lists. 
The swine department reached the enormous aggregate of 2,642 ani- 
mals, representing all breeds common to the corn country. Experts and 
clever critics in hog finish detected a very perceptable lowering in condi- 
tion of the hogs shown compared with former years of more bountiful 
feed supply, and lower prices for feed stuffs. The quality of animal was 
equal to the best that has ever been produced. There was not so free a 
buying spirit as has formerly prevailed at these fairs. This was also 
attributed to the prospect of at least 50-cent corn for the present unde- 
veloped crop. As hogs and corn naturally go together, there is nothing 
remarkable in this evidence of caution. 
NEED OF NEW SHEEP BAKN. 
The Iowa Sheep Breeders' Association has stimulated more interest 
in the sheep show and the increased attention to founding nev/ flocks of 
both grade and full blood sheep is making it more of an object for 
breeders to exhibit than formerly and the quality was good. In many 
classes the competition was very close, there being present some of the 
best sheep in the entire country. The sales of rams were reported good by 
those having sales sheep with them. The Iowa State Fair management 
will make no mistake in using a portion of its surplus before another 
