DIVISION OF FAIRS 

 Stephen F. Quinn, Director 



The Massachusetts Agricultural fairs enjoyed an all time high in attendance 

 and attractions in the past fair season. 



The total attendance reported by the 129 agricultural fairs and shows was a 

 record 4,166,847. 



Agricultural exhibits totalled 87,987. Of this number, 36,574 were pre- 

 pared by individual young people or youth groups. An all time high of 26,229 

 other exhibits were recorded which help immensely in attracting large crowds. 



Several good changes were noticed this year which should help in the con- 

 tinued growth of our fairs. 



The closing of the Commonwealth Pier caused a void in the availability of 

 an area to be used for shows and expositions near Boston. The opening of the 

 Bayside Exposition Center will fill this void. The New England Flower Show was 

 one of the first attractions held at the center and the facility certainly 

 proved to be everything desired in an exhibition hall. Other agricultural 

 groups have met with the new management and are considering holding other events 

 there. 



Another big change noticed was the leasing of the Brockton State Building 

 to the Brockton Agricultural Society for exhibition purposes. For the past fif- 

 teen years the building was leased to the Brockton School Department and then to 

 the CETA program. The Society spent a great deal of time, energy and money 

 getting the building cleaned up and suitable for exhibits once again. This 

 year's fair was a great start and hopefully, as it gets more publicity, it will 

 assist in helping to draw larger crowds. 



The Massachusetts Building at the Eastern States Exposition in West 

 Springfield which is still operated by the Division enjoyed a tremendous recep- 

 tion from the 990,000 patrons who visited the Big E. New attractions which 

 brought considerable delight to the fair goers who visited the Massachusetts 

 Building were the cheese making demonstrations and the Agricultural Stabili- 

 zation and Conservation Services exhibit which displayed an old fashioned 

 grocery store. 



Ten part-time fair inspectors were employed again this year to help aid the 

 Division in its monitoring of the agricultural prizes and the use of rehabilita- 

 tion monies. This year $320,000 dollars were spent for prizes by the Division , 

 and another $140,000 were added by the various agricultural societies. 



The Rehabilitation Committee met in West Springfield in December and 

 approved $88,000 dollars from requests of over $400,000 dollars from 47 fairs. 



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