102 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



FAIB OF 1902. 



The Iowa State Fair for 1902 was the greatest the state has ever 

 seen. It was not only the best fair ever held in Iowa, but the greatest 

 ever held in the West. The receipts were larger than ever before received 

 at an Iowa fair. The total aggregate amounts to nearly $63,000. On 

 Wednesday during the fair of 1896, the day's receipts amounted to a 

 little over $19,000, which was the largest ever received in one day up to 

 the present year. On Wednesday of the fair this year the receipts were 

 over $21,000, As stated before the total receipts for the fair, in round 

 numbers, were $63,000, and the total premiums and expenses were $43,000. 

 This you will see leaves us a balance of $20,000 from the fair of 1902. 



On Monday the prospects for a good attendance looked gloomy. The 

 rain began early in the morning and continued all day long until late in 

 the evening. One would have thought by studying the faces of the mem- 

 bers of the board on this day, that they were all preparing to attend the 

 funeral of very dear friends. In estimating the success or failure of the 

 state fair, no matter what the number of entries or quality of exhibits 

 may be, it is judged by the cash to be found in the treasurer's office. Tf 

 one had examined the books in his office after the first day, it would not 

 have taken long to have seen, that another day or two of the rain, would 

 have made a dismal failure of the Iowa State Fair for 1902 from a finan 

 cial standpoint, and this in the eyes of the public in general would have 

 been sufficient. 



On Tuesday morning, however, the skies cleared and the remainder 

 of the week was ideal weather. The race track had been left in a fright- 

 ful condition and it was late on Tuesday afternoon before we were able 

 to start any races, and even on Wednesday the track was so soft that a 

 great many horsemen refused to start their horses. We had received a 

 very large list of entries, more than ever before, and the condition of the 

 track interfered with what would have otherwise been the best race pro- 

 gram ever seen on the Iowa State Fair grounds. 



The horse exhibit at the fair showed improvement over last year, 

 but was not up to what it should have been, especially in the draft classes. 

 The superintendent informs me that he conversed with many of the large 

 horse breeders during the fair, and they assured him they would make 

 an exhibit another year, since we have the stock pavilion in which to 

 show their horses. The large increase in the number of entries at the 

 Illinois state fair this year was largely due to the stock pavilion, so I 

 was informed by their superintendent of horses. We hope as much for 

 our horse department another year. 



Never before in the history of the Iowa State Fair has so great a 

 lot of cattle been gathered together as at the 1902 exhibition. It was the 

 strongest in numbers and best in quality ever witnessed in the show 

 ring. Over 800 head of cattle were on the grounds, and this certainly 

 demonstrates Iowa's rank as the first cattle state of the union. The 

 exhibitors were generally satisfied with the awards. 



