Potato Exposition
Waupaca Post
STATE POTATO
EXPOSITION IN
COUNTY AGENT DANCE AND YORKSON BOTH MAKE REPORT
(Jas. H. Dance)
The State
Potato Show and Markets Exposition held in connection with the Implement
Dealers’ Convention in the Auditorium at Milwaukee last week, was much more
successful from the standpoint of attendance and number of exhibits than was
last year’s show. While only about eight
counties had competitive exhibits of potatoes this year, a number of others
including Waupaca,
The nature of this exposition seems to be gradually changing to that of a big Midwinter State Fair where the various counties of the state, as well as commercial interests, may display the agricultural products of greatest importance to them. This change will be of a great benefit especially to central and southern counties of the State which will also make the exhibits more general, which will undoubtedly attract a larger attendance.
At a meeting held the last day of the snow, plans were started for a bigger and better exposition for 1922, in which the Wisconsin Department of Markets will be expected to take a leading part.
(Lee I. Yorkson)
The Wisconsin Potato Exposition, which was held at the Milwaukee Auditorium, Dec. 5 to 10, in connection with the Wisconsin Markets Exposition and Wisconsin Implement Dealers’ 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 opned Tuesday night by Mayor Hoan of
Waupaca county was represented at the exposition. A model potato car, with potato stove, liming and potatoes stacked as is done in cars, made up the exhibit. The --- 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 of the 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 Northwester, “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
“Gentlemen – The first indoor Market Exhibition 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 of 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 of your county.
“May I again take the liberty to congratulate your committee on its enterprise.
Very truly yours,
J.S. Smith.