Highlights from the Big Four Fair, September 1955; 100th year to be celebrated in June 2020

(Editor’s Note: With the Big Four Fair Celebrating its 100th anniversary in June, we will be highlighting information from past fairs in the next several months. Today I am sharing information from the 36th annual fair which was held September 2-5, 1955. I have gleaned the information from the Big-Four Fair Books, which have been generously loaned to me by the Big Four Fair Board.)

Officers for the Big Four Fair Society for 1955 were Kenneth Schultz, President; Ed Kozelka, Vice President; Charles Hoth, Secretary and Walter Brandt, Treasurer.

The Big-Four Fair, the show place of northeastern Iowa, is again preparing to open its gates for the 36th annual exhibit.

The Big Four Fair dates back to the organization of the Big Four Farmers Institute and has since grown to one of the leading fairs in the state. The fair is continuing successfully without the sale of stock, depending upon its continuance from the many patrons and friends of the locality.

We are extremely lucky in being located in Postville, the “Hub of the Four Counties”. This gives every exhibitor the privilege of competing only with entrants from the four county area.

F. W. Warwick Shows will be on the midway this year. A program of free acts has been booked to give a complete change of shows for the audience. Circus and vaudeville acts will be presented by the Barnes-Carruthers Theatrical Enterprises of Chicago. 

List of Premium Awards by Department include: 

Baby Beef Club

Beef Heifer Calves

Dairy Calf Club

Purebred Dairy Bull Class

Pig Club Department

Purebred Hogs

Market Lambs

Purebred Lambs

Awards for each breed are as follows:

First Prize: $25.00

Second Prize: $20.00

Third Prize: $17.50

Fourth Prize: $12.00

Fifth Prize: $10.00

Sixth Prize: $7.00

All other Entries: $3.00

Grand Champion of Show: $25.00

Reserve Champion: $15.00

Best Five Calves: Competing as a class from County: $5.00

Purebred Beef Heifer Calves

Class One: Heifer Calf born after July 1 of Previous year: Premiums: $11, $8, $6, $5 and all others $3.

Class Two: Yearling Heifer:  Premiums are the same

Class Three: Cows Two Years old or older: Must be previous club calf heifer or dam of a club heifer: Premiums are the same.

Class Four: Group of three to consist of one cow, two years or older, one yearling, and one bull or heifer calf. Premiums are the same.

4-H club demonstrations

Open to 4-H girls of the four counties between the ages of 12 to 21

4-H Club Booths: Two booths from each county: each booth shall contain a special feature, exhibit of work including a variety of articles, secretary’s book, poster of Kodak pictures of club activities, poster showing club organization.

Women’s Home Project

Booths. Educational exhibit to demonstrate work being done in each county by women’s study clubs.

Prizes to be awarded are as follows: First Prize, Second Prize, Third and Fourth Prize will all receive $5.00.

Hay, corn and grain exhibits, 

Home grown vegetables, fruits

Baked goods department: All baked goods must be wrapped in Cellophane or clear plastic to be entered.

Canned goods, preserves, pickles, canned meats, dried fruits and vegetables, flowers 

Entertainment

Larry Thompson is a combination of two difficult branches of the entetainment profession. He’s a juggler, but he does his juggling while on roller skates. Thompson will be one of the attractions to be presented from free acts stage.

The Kayettes form the line of dancers for the “Rollercade of 1955. They are a complete show on roller skates, which will be a feature attraction at the fair this year. The show is sparkling, gay, tuneful and packed with humor.

Comic cyclist, Spec Thomas, who is known to most as the Comic Cyclist will be one of the headlines of the “Rollercade of 1955”, featured from the free acts stage at the fair.

Baseball games

Games will be held in conjunction with the fair.

Saturday, September 3, 1 p.m. Monona vs Postville; Sunday, September 4, 1 p.m. St. Lucas vs Postville and Monday, September 5, 1 p.m. Festina vs Postville.