October 29, 1857 – Arkansas Gazette
The agricultural societies of White and Prairie counties opened “on the fair grounds at Des Arc the first annual fair of these societies” for an exhibition of the farm products of the two counties. “The Des Arc brass band, although it has been organized but a short time,” wrote a reporter of the event,” discoursed excellent music at intervals during the day.” Captain C.C. Danley of the Arkansas Gazette and Democrat made the principal address. The business meeting was presided over by R. McIver, president of the White county society. The fair lasted two ays and it was attended by several thousand people. The first and second prizes of $8 and $5 for the best and second best bales of cotton were awarded to B.F. Ford, who also won the first prize $1 for the best quarter acre of sweet potatoes. D.W. Hood had the best bushel of stock peas; G.W. Vaden, the best tobacco. Mrs. Simeon Horne took first prize for egg plant; Mrs. B. Hayley, for onions; Dr. W.L. Moore, best garden peas; Thomas Watkins, best beets; Mrs. W.W. Wair, best parsnips; Mrs. J.C. Rawlings, best turnips. In the live stock exhibit, W.W. Wair’s ram, “Fred Stanton,” took first prize as “the finest wool buck,” Wair’s ewe, “Jenney Hills,” and his lamb, “Carrie Pitman,” also took prizes. In the Ladies’ Department, Mrs. Hannah Ford took first prize for her cotton counter pant; Mrs. D. Harshaw, for best cotton patch quilt; Mrs. Hannah Ford, best wool hose; Mrs. E.A. Sanders, best candle mat; Mrs. M.C. Hancock and Mrs. A.M. Jackson, best infant’s dresses; Miss M.T. Nichelson, best embroidery; Mrs. M.M. Shelby, best table covers; Miss Fanny Fleming, best infant’s hat; Mrs. E. Lawrence, best embroidered linen dress. Other prizes were awarded for cooking and dairy products, painting and drawing, carriage and buggy making, domestic stock, harness stock, saddle stock, mule stock, throroughbreds, blacksmithing, tinsmithing, wood work, native cattle, fat cattle, work oxen, “ladies’ equestrianism” and “gentlemen’s equestrianism.”
Note from ArkansasTies: I found the contest categories interesting compared to todays contest categories.
