The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-09-10
FAIR IS COLLEGE
and PLAYGROUND
MicHIGAN'S OWN EXPOSITION
PEOPLES PROPERTY occU-
PIES FIRST PLACE AMONG
STATE FAIRS.
PROFITS GO BACK INTO
PREMIUMS. IMPROVEMENTS


are thrown open to the public Sept. 3,
the seventy-trst annual exposition OF
the largest state fair in America will
be under way. This statement may
cause surprise among many persons
in the state for there are many who
do not realize that in the Michigan
State Fair they have the most inhu-
entail institution Of its kind.
The nrst Michigan State Fair was
held in 1S49 and II mas been u promi
nent institution ever since. although
in the last II years its home has been
in several different cities. IL mas been
located on the big talr GROUNDS front.
ing on Woodward avenue in DelroIt
since 1905.
The organization OF the institution
which operates the talc Is not COM
pietely understood among ali or the
people OF the state ana there are
many persons VINO do not Understand
that the lair properly actually is the
properly Oh the leopie % LAe state.
Ine Michigan Agricultural society
which operates the Ialr, was created
by SPECIAL act Oh Inc legislature
Tor the purpose Or conducting Inc
state tair. Inc properly Is vested III
the soclety, TO which any person III the
state may become member by puf'
CHASING season llckeI 10 the Ialr.
Although the actual title or tho far Is
IN the name OF the society III case or
dIsbandmenI all OF the assets now
Grown into millions, would revert
pack 10 the state.
AL money taken in by the fair above
actual expenses goes back into prem
iums and permanent improvements. 1t
is through the surplus piled up an
nually that the fair property has been
built up to its present state.
Growth of the fair did not actually
start until eight years ago when mod.
ern business methods were installed
and when G. w. Dickinson was made
secretary manager.
When the fair was placed on the
basis OF self-supportiI institution,
depending almost wholly on it's in
come to meet expenses and make i'm
provements, it was forced to adopt
money making methods which in
many instances were directly opposed
to the fundamental purposes which it
was created to serve. Any shortcom-
ings it has had in the past, however,
have been overshadowed by the great
work it now is doing for the entire
state.
1t has become a great annual cele-
bration for the whole state of Michi-
gan. 1t is a vacation, a recreation
for the people of the state. 1t is in
structive, inspirational and entertain
ing. It's essential spirit is entirely for
eign to the morbidly serious purpose
which toiling forefathers had in view
when they brought fairs into exist.
hnce.
The Michigan State Fair is draw.
ing the interest of the youth of Mich.
igan to the farm. II las become a
great university of farming and big
school for the stud..' of many other
sciences and trades. And with it's CD
portunity for serious application to the
gaining of valuable knowledge 1t Of
fers entertainment and recreation to
hundreds of thousands of persons
each year. Last year the attendance
was 100000. This year it will reach
100000 1t is believed.
1t is the aim of the fair association
to offer something to each one of
these 100000 Persons. The purpose
of the management is to make the
Michigan State Fair, owned by the
people OF Michigan, and institution
from which all the people of Michi-
gan can obtain something of real
worth to themselves.