Ringgold County Fair, 1896

KELLER, SHELDON, BEALL, THOMPSON, SHRIVER, SAVILLE, INGRAM, GLENDENNING, DUNNING, NEWTON

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 5/9/2010 at 00:26:38

Ringgold Record
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Friday, June 12, 1896

The County Fair.

Ringgold county fair is held annually at the fair grounds north-east of Mt. Ayr. Our society is in a prosperous condition and the exhibitions are creating an agricultural feeling that would not exist if we had no association for agricultural improvement. We have plenty of good grounds. Our receipts are sufficient to enable us to provide good premiums and pay 100 cents on the dollar. The premiums each year run from $1500 to $2000, and are always paid in full.

Exhibits include all kinds of stock and farm products. Last year the best display was in farm products.

Since the organization was completed eight years ago its history has been one of steady progress. Our citizens are awake to the importance of using the improvements of the day and at our annual exhibitions are improved breeds of stock of all classes and improved agricultural products, attributable in a great degree to the labors of our agricultural society, thus establishing its usefulness.

Our newspapers, public men, farmers and citizens generally have given their influence to the advancement of the society, and its members fell encouraged and are determined to increase their efforts.

During the last few years we have beenenabled to erect horse and cattle barns and hope in the near future to replace the main building with a new art hall of ample dimensions. It has been the air of the association to give equal attention to all departments without prejudice, that the farmers in all parts of the county may look upon this as their own enterprise. With a board and managers composed of gentlemen of acknowledged worth, knowledge and enery, its future success and usefulness are placed beyond all expectations.

I am proud to say the pledges of the society have always been completed in full.

The first agricultural society was organized June 18, 1859 with I. W. KELLER as president and Edgar SHELDON as vice-president. Both these gentlemen are still citizens of the county.

The first county fair was held Oct. 14 of the same year in the public square at Mt. Ayr. The first premium was awarded at this fair to Jesse THOMPSON and signed by I. W. KELLER, president, and A. G. BEALL, secretary. The association was changed to its present form as a stock company in 1888, with the following officers: president W. S. SHRIVER; vice president J. H. SAVILLE; secretary, J. S. [illegible]; tresurer, A. INGRAM. The officers at the present [1896] are J. [illegible], president; J. S. GLENDENNING, vice president; Clyde DUNNING, secretary; J. P. NEWTON, treasurer.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker May of 2010