130 
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
that County Society, the people of whose county should make 
the largest and most creditable contribution of articles to this 
Exhibition. 
The Committee of able and impartial gentlemen who were 
chosen to make a careful examination of the individual and 
aggregate exhibitions of the several counties in competition, 
have faithfully performed the arduous and delicate duties as¬ 
signed them, and have awarded the Banner to the County of 
Pierce. 
In accordance with this decision of this Awarding Com¬ 
mittee, it becomes the duty, as it is also the high pleasure of 
the State Agricultural Society, to deliver into your hands, as 
the authorized representative of the Agricultural Society of 
Pierce, the Banner which has been provided for the victorious 
county. 
For a county of so recent organization, and situated in a 
latitude which has heretofore unjustly, but yet very generally, 
been, of itself, considered a sufficient barrier to the settlement 
of its fertile and beautiful lands, to so promptly enter the 
list with the long settled and wealthy counties of the State is 
high proof of a resoluteness of spirit, energy of character and 
nobleness of ambition which must have challenged the admira¬ 
tion of even her competitors. 
For scarcely more than five years have you had a separate 
county organization; and only last year did your Agricultural 
Society begin an independent career. Yet to-day you have 
won the proud distinction of the Banner County of Wisconsin ! 
Sir, you have a right to be proud, not only of the soil and 
climate, which, by the aid of an intelligent industry, have 
yielded such products as in yonder Agricultural Hall have 
been the praise of the multitudes who have beheld them, but 
likewise of the noble people whose interests and honor you 
represent on this occasion. The State Agricultural Scociety 
and the citizens of the w r hole State have witnessed with high 
gratification the enthusiasm and energy with which you have 
engaged in this spirited contest for the peaceful honors of a 
superior industry, and they are proud of your success. 
