WAUPACA COUNTY NEWS

December 15, 1921

WAUPACA EXHIBIT

AT WISCONSIN POTATO EXPOSITION AT MILWAUKEE LAST WEEK

SHOW MODEL POTATO CAR

Was Work of Lee I. Yorkson and County Agent Dance

Waupaca Was Well Advertised

What Others Said of Local Exhibit

            The Wisconsin Potato Exposition, which was held at he Milwaukee Auditorium on Dec. 5 to 10, in connection with the Wisconsin Markets Exposition, was a big success and drew thousands of people each day and evening to see the exhibits.

            The Exposition was known as the “Indoor State Fair.”  Monday was the day for erection of exhibits and the show was formally opened Tuesday night by Mayor Hoan of Milwaukee.  Special carnival programs were held Wednesday and Thursday nights.  The Mauston Boys’ Band furnished music each day and evening.  Chas. Carroll of Waupaca is director of this band, and Alden Dutton, Irving Feragen and Tom Temple were among the band members.

            Waupaca County was represented at the exposition.  A model potato car, with potato stove, lining and potatoes stacked as is done in cars, made up the exhibit.  The entire outside of the car was covered with potatoes cut in half.  Ten bushels of potatoes were used and twelve pounds of nails in tacking the “spuds to the side of the car.”  Wheels, brake, rods, were reproduced in very realistic form.  James H. Dance, county agricultural agent, and Lee I. Yorkson, secretary Waupaca Civic and Commerce Association were in charge of the Waupaca exhibit.  Folders and cards telling about Waupaca county were distributed.  Each day school children were shown through the big hall and when Waupaca’s booth was reached all stopped to admire and ask questions.  Lectures were given by those in charge as to the method of loading cars, etc.  All day and evening crowds gathered at the Waupaca exhibit.

            Mr. A.L. King, secretary of the Winnebago County Farm Bureau, attended the exposition and says in the Oshkosh Northwestern, “It is an education to any man.  Winnebago County lost a great opportunity when it was not represented at the exposition.  Waupaca county had a fine showing of potatoes and by visible means demonstrated its superiority in that line of farm activity.  By charts it was shown that the potatoes grown in Waupaca county would require a train thirty miles long to move them.”

            The committee in charge of the Waupaca County exhibit received the following letter from the Joseph S. Smith Publishing Co., of Milwaukee:

            “Gentlemen:  The first indoor Market Exposition is a thing of the past, and the writer was keenly interested in its success because of the fact that he prepared all advance publicity in behalf of the Milwaukee Association of Commerce.

            It would be a gross oversight on my part if I did not take this occasion to congratulate Waupaca County on its original and clever potato exhibit which was staged at the Milwaukee auditorium under the direction of Lee I. Yorkson, Secretary Waupaca Civic and Commerce Association and James H. Dance, Waupaca County Agricultural Agent.  Waupaca came into the show with an extremely novel display and thousands of people commented on its novelty and effectiveness.  Knowing publicity, I appreciate that this novel exhibit on the part of Waupaca County, did considerable to call attention to one of the leading industries in your county.

            May I again take the liberty to congratulate your committee on its enterprise.   Yours truly yours – J.S. Smith.”