ANNUAL MEETING Of the State Board of Agriculture at Lindell Hotel, Lincoln, Neb., Tuesday, January 17, 1911, between 2 and 6 p. m. EVENING SESSION Of Nebraska Association of County, District, and State Fair Managers, at Commercial Club Rooms, Lincoln, Neb., Tuesday, January 17, 1911, between 6:30 and 10:30 p. m. REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS At State Farm, Lincoln, Wednesday, January 18, 1911, between 10 and 12 a. m. PROCEEDINGS ANNUAL MEETING LINDELL HOTEL, LINCOLN, NEB., TUESDAY, January 17, 1911. The annual meeting of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture was called to order by President Hendershot at 2:00 p. m. President Hendershot: The members will all take badges as long as they last. I guess there are enough. Secretary Mellor: There are enough. President Hendershot: We will come to order, gentlemen. The Secretary will please read the call. Secretary Mellor (reading): ANNOUNCEMENT. The annual meeting of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture will be held at the Lindell Hotel, Lincoln, on Tuesday, January 17, 1911, at 2 o'clock P. M. At this meeting will be considered the revision of the Premium list, rules and regulations, the election of officers, membership, and such other business as may legally come before said meeting. Presidents of regularly organized, live County Agricultural Societies, which have filed their report prior to this meeting, are ex-officio members of the Board. If the President cannot attend, the Society must elect a delegate, and file authenticated credentials. No proxies are admitted. The following committees have been appointed by the President: REVISION OF PREMIUM LIST, RULES AND REGULATIONS C. H. Rudge, Chairman, Lincoln; Robert Mousel, Cambridge; William James, Dorchester; Charles McLeod, Stanton; I. W. Haws, Minden. This Committee to report Monday, January 16, 1911, at 2 P. M. at Secretary's office. CREDENTIALS AND RETURNS. John F. McArdle, Chairman, Washington; J. D. Ream, Broken Bow; Joseph Roberts, Fremont. This Committee to report Monday, January 16, 7 P: M. AUDITING. E. Z. Russell, Chairman, Blair; W. F. Johnson, Harvard; E. von Forell, Scottsbluff. This Committee to report Monday, January 16, at 3 P. M. at Secretary's office. MEMBERS WHOSE TERMS EX- C. H. Rudge, Lancaster County. MEMBERS WHOSE TERMS EX- The Secretary called the roll and announced that there was a quorum present. Secretary Mellor: I have here a letter from Mr. E. Z. Russell, who is now in Crystal City, Texas. He says: "CRYSTAL CITY, TEXAS, Jan. 11, 1911. "Mr. W. R. Mellor, Secy., Lincoln, Neb. Dear Sir-Last October I was compelled on account of ill health to go to a different climate. I came down here, and have been here since that time. I have completely recovered my health, but physicians advise that I don't return north while the weather is so cold. For this reason, I must ask to be excused from attending this annual meeting. "I assure you that I regret not being able to be present, and personally meet my many friends on the State Board. "Yours truly, E. Z. RUSSELL." Secretary Mellor: Mr. Russell has been supplanted on the Auditing Committee by Mr William Foster. All present except Mr. Howe and Mr. Russell. I move that Mr. Russell be excused. Motion seconded. President Hendershot: It has been moved and seconded that we excuse Mr. Russell. You have all heard the motion. All in favor of the motion signify by saying Aye; contrary, No.. The ayes have it. Mr. Russell is excused. Are there any other regrets in your hands, Mr. Sec retary? Secretary Mellor:: No; Mr. Arnold sent a letter, but he is here. President Hendershot: That is good; I am glad he is here. I suppose the next thing is the "President's Message," as we term it. You know, these big people write messages, and why not I? Instead of calling it a "report," it will be a "message," for the simple reason that it isn't a report. We will call it by its right name. President Hendershot read his message, as follows: PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL MESSAGE. To the Officers and Members of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture: GENTLEMEN: I feel justified in saying that there is no better agency for developing the agricultural, live stock, social and educational interests of our state than the annual State Fair, which gathers together the highest achievements of our people. No other state can boast of such rapid advancement in improved live stock and advanced ideas in scientific farming as Nebraska; much of this advancement has been brought about by object lessons demonstrated on our Fair grounds from year to year, showing what improved breeding and improved seeding will accomplish. It is our aim to bring together the best in types and blood lines in all breeds of stock and to show the results from the selections of the best seeds coupled with scientific farming. From object lessons received at the Nebraska State Fair the young man from the farm resolves to improve his live stock, after comparing the splendid specimens his eyes feast upon at our State Fair with the scrub animal at home, and in other lines, improved machinery, etc. From these resolutions put into execution Nebraska today is boasting of having won an enviable position on many breeds at our national exhibitions; among these exhibitors of national reputation I know personally some of the most successful who get their incentive at our fair. I can name a number of such cases. We reach the farmer direct; no other educational institution can take the place of the State Fair. We are the only organization dealing directly with the tillers of the soil, therefore the main feeder of primary incentive to bring the farmer boy to our Agricultural School. No If time permitted I would be glad to take you, back twenty-five years and present the facts and figures of the Nebraska State Fair. Its growth has been in keeping with the demands of our people and the best interests of our state. Nebraska's rich soil with her varied climatic conditions give her the lead of all other states in diversified farming, placing our agricultural exhibits far in advance of any state in America. other state fairs dare make comparisons with Nebraska's agricultural exhibit, we outclass all of them. Nebraska is geographically in about the center of the United States. Located as we are, on the western border of the corn belt and on the eastern edge of the really good alfalfa country we enjoy a combination of the most useful and profitable products of the soil. Combined as we have them, Nebraska is yielding larger returns per acre from alfalfa and corn for the cost of producing than any other known crops; producing pork and beef at a less cost per pound than from any other animal food; with three and four cuttings of alfalfa per season, yielding from three to five tons of hay per acre each season. The same kind of land producing from fifty to eighty bushels of A-1 corn per acre, is it any wonder lands are advancing so rapidly and that the Nebraska farmers own 65 per cent of all bank deposits in our state? Nebraska has the scil, and her citizens have the push that wins. I might go on and tell you of her fruits, her flowers, her never-failing supply of the purest and best of water, her never-failing streams, etc., but to a Nebraskan it is unnecessary. Gentleman, do we appreciate our stewardship? If you are fortunate enough to own a Nebraska farm you are a lord. To enumerate our resources would surprise many, if not all. We are, of all countries, richly blessed in Nebraska. One of the duties of the State Board of Agriculture is the holding of the annual fair to give the people of our state good wholesome amusements, and to this end the Board of Managers has from time to time drawn the lines more closely in selecting attractions that would elevate instead of degenerate the morals of our patrons. At one time in the history of the Nebraska State Fair the fakirs and grafters were a financial asset, helping to pay the premiums, etc. It was necessary at that time to make ends meet. Not so today. In the year just past your Board of Managers contracted for amusement features costing $18,147.00; offered in premiums $26,333.00 other than speed; paid for repairs and labor $12,000.00. These amounts necessarily must be increased from year to year, adding to our expenses materially. With the loyal support of our citizens we have been able to pay these expenses and add to our surplus sufficient funds to insure all exhibitors payment of premiums, should a rainy week prevent the attendance sufficient to pay the expenses. In summing up our needs I find we are about in the same predicament of the over-grown boy, "nothing big enough." We are obliged to make repairs of old buildings, build sidewalks, put in sewers, grade the streets, put in crossings, add to our water system, put lights in the buildings, with numberless other growing needs; and must ask the state to build the permanent buildings. At this time I recommend we ask for an appropriation of $150,000 of the legislature now in session. Our present amphitheatre is inadequate, unsafe and must be replaced before our next annual Fair. We require seating capacity for 8,000 to 10,000 people who desire to witness the races and other attractions, in front of the grandstand; we owe it to our patrons to furnish them with a comfortable place to see these attractions, besides such a grandstand will pay big dividends on the investment, and we need the revenue. Such a building will cost approximately $100,000, (Iowa's cost about that much) to build of steel and concrete, and will pay the State $20,000 revenue per annum from the sale |