The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-12-21
SECRETARY gRooKE's REPORT

is apparently conceded to have been
the most satisfactory, all things con
sidered, of any fair held in the county
in many years last past This condi-
ton cannot be attributed to any
change in the policy of the fair nan
agemcnt, neither can it in whole BE-
attributed to any radical change in
forms of amusemcnts. But rather il
would seem to me that a combination
Of many things have produced feeling
regarding this years fair. 1t has al
ways been the aim Of those in charge
to try and give the people of the
county what they desired in the way
hat this year we have been lucky
enough to furnish that which has
pleased a large majority of our pa
irons. | will make no apology for any
past programs Of amusement which
have not pleased a great number of
people. for these programs were ar
ranged with the same object in view
that has always characterized the
work of the directors. to-wit: The
pleasing of the people, and if any pro
gram has been unfortunate enough to
cause criticism, the mistake on our
part has been one of the head and not
of the heart. The one thing to which
| attribute the success of the fair Of
this year, more than any other. is the
general feeling of good will that has
seemed to be in the hearts Of the peo-
pie throughout the who'll county, We
still have with us a few who never
viii be happy as long as they have to
come to Brookings to attend the coun-
~ fair. But this spirit of a|ntagonism
before any project that means for the
good of the whole county will meet
with unanimous support of every citi-
zen living within the county's borders.
In the matter of exhibits. this year
has surpassed any year III our history,
and as far as | can learn no other fair
in the state, and few in the northwest
have come anywhere to equaling it. In
the payment Of premiums We were call
ed upon to pay out more than $500
more than we ever did before. While
the number of exhibitors were twenty
less this year than last, the number of
exhibits exceeded any previous year
by more than twelve hundred articles.
One department which attracted great
attention. namely, the swine, was the
cause of great activity on the part Of
the superintendent, president and see
rotary on entry day, as it kept us busy
sending drays to the lumber yard for
more lumber to make additional pens.
However much worry it could have
given, this department was a source
of great pride to the fair, the exhibit
ors and the county.
The Women's department was great
ly benefited this year by the addition
al space provided by the building Of
the second floor of which two-thirds
was used by them, and one-third allot-
ted to the overflow from the Chill
dren's building. The women of Brook
ings county have always been staunch
and faithful friends of the fair and
they again brought us beautifully of
their work in different lines of house
hold industry. AS the years go by,
more men are seen to visit the Wo-
mems building, showing interest in the
exhibits and a desire to encourage the
work in this department by showing
their appreciation and interest.
The Children's department, which
might in truth be termed a school de-
partment, was this year so varied and
so plentiful that the Children's build
ing itself was not only crowded in
the new floor in the Women's building
was needed to house the work brought
in from the rural schools, from the
towns, and from the individual chill
dren. From the display Superintend-
ent Blakely selected a display for the
State Fair at Huron. and the week fol
lowing us, with this the first educa-
tional display ever shown from Brook
ings county, he took first place at the
State Fair in competition with oun
ties who have been exhibiting at
Huron year after year. AS an organ
iser, superintendent Blakely has few
equals, for enthusiasm he absolutely
has none and when it ome to hard
work, those are his Initials, III. w
There is one self evident fact, that he
who runs may read. that the school
and Juvenile department of this fair
must have larger quarters before the
fair. OF 1917. 1t should be n of the
first things that the new Board Of Di-
rectors considers, that is: ways and