25th of October, 1854. A committee was appointed to memorialize the General Assembly for pecuniary aid. In February the president, Judge Clagett, issued an address to the farmers, mechanics and others to become members of the society and coöperate in holding the First Annual Fair. Among the active members of the society were James W. Grimes, James F. Wilson, T. S. Parvin, Thomas H. Benton and Lauren Dewey.
The First Annual Fair was largely attended and was successful in every respect. Not less than 8,000 visitors came from every settled portion of the State. When it is remembered that there were no railroads in the State at that time and the population was but 326,500—that first fair was a remarkable success, having no State aid. The premiums paid amounted to about $1,000. Aid to the society was finally given by acts of the General Assembly and for the following decade the receipts averaged $2,680 per year and the premiums paid during the same period averaged $2,026 per annum. For the second decade from 1864 to 1873 the receipts averaged $11,612, and the premiums paid averaged $5,240. The third decade, from 1874 to 1883, the receipts had increased to $26,418 and the premiums to $11,292. The fourth decade, from 1884 to 1893, the average receipts had advanced to $44,067, and the premiums to $21,055. The Annual Fairs were for twenty-four years held in various cities of the State; but since 1878, have been held continuously at Des Moines where the State owns permanent grounds and buildings. In 1894 the grounds embraced an area of two hundred sixty-six acres while the buildings and improvements had cost about $180,000. From time to time the General Assembly has made appropriations to aid the society, in addition to its various revenues.
After forty years of work and growth the State Agricultural Society ceased to exist and was succeeded by a Department of Agriculture established in 1900, by act of the Twenty-eighth General Assembly.
