Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-10-12
The County Fair.

The Fair of the Buchanan County
Agricultural Society, that closed last
Saturday, was the most successful and
satisfactory, both in the number anc
variety of the articles on exhibition
and in the financial results, ever held
under the auspices of the society In
deed it may be called the first success
full fair under the present management
the weather, hard times and other Diet
,rimental causes conspiring heretofore
to detract from the interest and success
of the exhibitions.
The stock department was very full
and the displays of cattle and hogs were
especially satisfactory. In the line Of
blooded cattle, large number Of Shor1
Horns were on exhibition, from
the splendid herd of S. T. Spangler, Of
Buffalo township. Animals in this hert
carried off the sweepstakes premiums
E. Miller 4 Sons, j. H. Sheridan, Geo
Brooks and others, exhibited very fine
animals of this breed. w. M. Young
exhibited some fine Devon cattle.
In the sheep department, we noticed
some very fine Leicesters exhibited by
JAS. Young, of Westburg, better known
as the "Westburg poet" Mr.. Young is
as successful as sheperd as in court
ing the muses.. He has been at some
pains and expense in testing the profit
ableness of sheep husbandry in this sec.
ton, and thinks he has found the solu
ton of the problem in the Leicesters
which he declares will thrive in oul
winters, even without shelter, if giver
enough to eat. The specimens he ex
hibited were splendid.
The array of hogs on exhibition, most
ly by breeders in this immediate vicini.
ty, were a most gratifying indication OF
the growing Importance of this branch
Of husbandry, and the intelligent and
successful efforts our farmers are max
ing to improve the quality of the stock
First on the list comes A. McGowen
of Jefferson township, who had 40 hogs
of the Poland China breed on exhibition
Is of which he sold during the fair, fol
remunerative prices. An object Of
special interest in one of his pens, was
Miss Moore" sow, 3 years and )
months old, who has raised Al pigs, &c
of which sold for $3.50
Mr.. C. H. Potter, breeder from
Vinto n, Benton County, had couple
of pens of very fine Poland China
swine, mostly young, and showing the
best points of that favorite breed. Mr.
Potters exhibit attracted much atten-
ton and favorable comment, and he sold
number of pigs at prices ranging from
$15 to $35 Mr.. Potter took the sweep
stakes premium for best pigs of any
breed under 6 months old.
NJ. & V. w. Davis, of Westburg, were
on hand with their splendid specimens
of Berkshire swine Their entries were
all splendid specimens, but that attract
ing the most attention was sow and
pigs, that took the first premium of this
breed, the SOW also, taking the sweep
stakes prize Of so, for best SOW of any
breed. G.. S. Dean, E. Miller, j. p
Hale and Chas. Udall, had very fine
stock of the breed, and took premiums
The Chester Whites were also in force,
and shove some very fine specimens,
among them boar, by G. NJ Miller,
which took the first premium. We no.
ticed also, some excellent Cheshire, and
Short faced Lancashire. Taken all in
ALL the hog department was equal to
the blooded cattle show, and both were
as good as the State Fair.
There were some thirty coops of fowls
on exhibition, comprising all the best
breeds of poultry, and making very
attractive show, Our prominent breed
ers were all represented, and all carried
off share of the premiums, the premi-
UNI on largest display and best pair of
fowls being given to c. B. Handy.
The Floral Hall was especially bril-
liant this year, and was filled with a
profusion of fancy, useful and artistic
articles; domestic manufactures, musi,
cal instruments. sewing machines, &c.,
all arranged in style that did credit to
the ladies in charge, and presenting an
attraction which drew the crowd in ever
admiring numbers. Our space would
not admit of a description of 1.-THE of the
articles and decorations in this depart
ment. The ladies came out in strong
force, with all sorts of tasteful exhibits,
the large display of paintings from the
artistic hand of Miss Hattie Freeman
coming in for especial attention and adj
miration. In the decoration of the hall,
we cannot refrain also, from mentioning
the large inscription, Buchanan County
Agricultural Fair" in evergreens and
ferns, by Mrs E Leach, most tastefully
executed.
In the wing of the same building, de-
voted to fruits, vegetables, dairy and
farm products and pantry stores, there
was very full and tasteful display
The list of premiums awarded, printed
in another place, will give very fair
idea of the variety found in this depart
ment
The display of fruits, though credita-
BILE, was not so complete as at former
fairs, but the vegetables and grains were
never better, and afforded a very fair
illustration of the rich products of this
prolific year j. j. Travis, of this city,
took the first premium on corn, j. A.
Miller on the best wheat, j. S. Bouck
On best display of apples, A. Beels on
best display of vegetables
The display of implements was not
large, but that of manufactures was
fair and creditablc to our mechanics.