The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-17

that the exhibits of practically every
thing needed the farm and in the
house may be found on the grounds, the
very best horses, cattle, sheep, swine,
poultry. vehicles. improved implements
and appliance of every description,
seeds of the best varieties of farm
crops, fruits. plumbing and lighting
systems house furnishings stoves,
musical instruments: everything, in
fact. needed on an up-to-date farm or
of use in well ordered home. The
man who makes anything to sell that
will tighten the work of the farm, i'm
prove his condition or contribute to the
comfort of his family, has found that
wares than at the Iowa state fair.
Farmers are quick to recognize and ap-
preclate anything of real merit.
AN advance step was taken last
year by the Iowa fair in regard to the
exhibits space in our agricultural
building. For years past the agricul-
ture of the enterprising west, north
west and southwest has been domin-
ant These bright-minded, breezy
men from those sections know a good
thing when they see it; they realize
the advertising possibilities of an ex-
hibit where they could come in touch
with thousands and thousands of
good Iowa farmers. They were not
to be blamed for displaying. their
products of the soil in the most de-
v
building But home first is good
motto and was adopted by the Iowa
fair management the past season.
The purpose of the Iowa state fair Is
to demonstrate the great resources
and possibilities of Iowa-not of Wy
The purpose of the Iowa-not of Wy
oming, Texas, or any other state.
Foreign exhibits were therefore bar
red from showing in our agricultural
building. If they desired to exhibit
ct yo1 ~
foot. the management putting it on
a strictly commercial basis, not even
excepting Uncle Sam.
Spent $4,000 for Hog Stables.
If the state of Iowa is known for
any one thing it is for the number of
hogs upon her farms. If the Iowa
state fair leads in any particular de-
partment it is in the annual exhibit
of hogs. When I tell you that it takes
from six to eight trains of twenty cars
each to bring in the hogs for the
Iowa show I know you will think I
when I tell you the size and cost of
the building it takes to house this
great show you will begin to sit up
and take notice. The average num-
Der of hogs brought to the Iowa state
fair varies from twenty-five hundred
to thirty-two hundred. Three years
ago we recommended to the general
assembly of our state that an appro-
priation of SIS, 600 be made to build
a hog barn. They thought we were
| crazy; SO did many other people. But
the appropriation was forthcoming
and the building was erected at an
| aggregate cost of about $4,000. 1t
| covers three acres and will comfort
| ably house three thousand hogs at
| that the very first fair after it was
| built more than one thousand hogs
were turned away for lack of room
Criticism has been made that
many of the hogs are brought to the
fair for sale. We admit this is true
and ask, Why not?' What are our
The number and quality of hogs an
nually shown at the Iowa fair makes
| it necessary that only animals of su-
perior quality be brought if they ex-
| pect to sell. With more than two
| hundred of Iowa's best swine breeders
| filling the pens with the best hogs
! they can raise the Iowa state fair has
grown to be a clearing house for the
| trading of pure bred hogs. Thou
sands of farmers annually come to
! the fair for no other purpose than to
| select few good young hogs for their
| herds.
An Educational Value.
] ''Fairs have educational value. Il
is conceded that a man. woman Of
| child will learn more of practical anC
i lasting value at a fair in day thar
can possibly be learned elsewhere il
I the same length of time. A fail
! (when I say fair I mean real fail
| with a diversified exhibit) with an at
tendance of two hundred thousand IL
a week gives more days of instruction
than schoo! with an average of one
thousand per day running nint
months in year. 1t reaches both thu