The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-12-17
Especial to Farm Magazine.)

patronlzing public all conceded
the Washington State Fair, held
at North Yakima September 21-26, to
be n Of the most successful of any
of the Northwest fairs held last sea-
son. Not only this, but the Depart
ment of Agriculture, under the direc-
ton of which the Fair is held, is
highly elated at Its success finan-
cially, as the fair ended without a
deficit.
Knowing ones interested in fairs
have analysed it and pronounced first
n thing and then another as the
probable cause OF the marked sue
cess, but in all probability a combin-
alton of circumstances, into which
the element of luck entered, was the
chief contributing feature. 1t vas
not luck alone, but good manage
ment in grasping the opportunities
that presented themselves.
To begin with, the 1914 Washing
ton State Fair had two experienced
fair men at the helm. e. Shannon,
of North Yakima, as secretary, who
had served in the same capacity be-
fore, and DR.. H. T. Graves, who has
been a close observer at all the fairs
of the state for the past five years.
In either an official or professional
capacity.
A Real Problem.
The fair of the previous year, while
an admitted success from the stand
point of an exhibition, could hardly
be classed as a financial success, re-
quiring some $4,000 of the appro-
priation calculated to be used for
the 1914 fair to meet its obligations.
So, the problem that confronted the
Department of Agriculture was-can
this fair be held again, without weak
ening 1t as a state exhibition and
without making it purely a county or
local fair? The answer was, after
the department had carefully checked
up all its accounts, YES" II the
enormous administration expenses
hitherto piled up could be cut out
altogether.
At first this did not seem possible,
but when a report was submitted to
Governor Lister, showing that the
major portion Of administrative ex-
penses could be taken care Of by the
Department II started early, he Is
said to have laconically remarked:
I'VE can do better than that" went
the Department one better by pledg-
ing the support Of all departments
under the chief executive and took
it up in person with the Commercial
Club and other citizens organizations
of North Yakima. They liked his
plan; said so with actions, and prom
Used to take care Of all the admins
tration work that the Department
could not manage.
Public Spirit Helps.
Services on the part Of public
spirited men Of the Yakima Valley
we're donated, and an advertising
campaign commenced that thoroughly
covered the valley and reached to the
larger cities. The newspapers OF
North Yakima led the way and the
Department Of Agriculture went to
work on arrangements so that In q
very short time preparations far ir
advance Of previous years we're un'
der way.
Early in the year an opinion based
upon the large amount Of the appro
priation used by the 1913 fair wen,
abroad that no fair could be held II
1914, and this was the one big oh
stacle that the combination working
on the fair had to overcome, buI
preparations went forth so rapidly
that it took but a short time to re
gain the confidence of the public.
DR.. Graves, who formerly wa!
State Veterinarian, had a hobby fol
livestock, and thought this was thu
largest industry represented at an!
fair, and when he got the chance Il
feature his hobby. took 1t In goot
measure. Those who know him init
mately claim that he also has
hobby for trotting races, in place o
automobile Or running races, so m
bore down hard on these two fea
lures, arguing that they were the at
fractions that would bring the re
turns at the gates. The events tina
have t~ranspired proved he was cor
rect, for while the number of peopl
who actually passed through tn
turnstiles during the past season doe
not quite reach that of the 1913 fail
everyone connected with the institr
ton admits that without these de
partments featured the 1914 attend
ance would hardly have been half tina
of 1913, and reports of other stat
fairs throughout the country bea
out the statement.