First County Fair was Very Successful Event

Proved to be Most Important and Elaborate Affair Ever held on the Great and Widely Known Standing Rock Reservation
Every Visitor who attended loud in praise of city and hospitality of its people-Nothing marred pleasure of occasion.

The first Annual Corson County Fair, which was held in this city last Thursday and Friday was without question, the most elaborate and largest public event ever held on the Standing Rock Reservation-one that will go down in history as one of the most important public gatherings in the early settlement of the best and most productive county in western South Dakota.
On Wednesday people from all parts of this and adjoining counties and the towns along the Puget Sound extension poured into the city all day and during the night to be on hand at the opening of the big fair the following day.
The Brisbane band arrived from that new town in Morton county early in the evening and after having their supper favored the people with several musical selections. This is an excellent band and during the entire two days furnished an abundance of music for the occasion.
On Wednesday weather indications were as favorable as could possibly be the case. Everyone went to bed Wednesday night with the fondest anticipation of perfect weather for the fair days. These anticipations were not blighted in the least, Thursday morning opening up without a cloud in the sky and a clear pleasant atmosphere characteristic of South Dakota. Early in the forenoon the festivities opened up before the eyes of about 4,000 enthusiastic Dakota people.
This vast throng of people had expected to see something grand in exhibits and sports, but the sight that met their eyes was a source of astonishment on every hand. While very little farming was done in the county this season, the exhibits of agricultural products was fine and some excellent samples of corn and other farm products were on exhibition. These showed the productive qualities of the soil and demonstrated the fact conclusively that this is one of the best farming countries in the state.
It is needless to say that the exhibitions of live stock were as good as has ever been seen anywhere. Livestock of all classes is in prime condition and the people of Corson and adjoining counties have a right to feel proud of the showing made at our first county fair.
The exhibit of Indian handiwork was the best which has ever been seen on exhibition on the reservation. This exhibit was large and complete and attracted the special attention of everyone who attended the fair. Many articles which had required months of patient labor lined the interior of the exhibit building.
The ladies department was complete in every detail. This exhibit showed the high character and refinement of the class of people who live in this part of the two states. There never was a fair held anywhere where the general class of this kind of work was superior to that on exhibit at our fair.
Probably the most entertaining feature of the event was the Indian parades. On Thursday the parade took place at an early hour in the forenoon. It was so good that the committee having this part of the program in charge decided to have it repeated at noon the next day as the coast passenger trains passed through the city. Accordingly, the parade formed at the head of Main Street on Friday shortly before No. 3 was due to pass through the city. Just as the long train pulled into the yards the parade moved down the street, where it remained until the train pulled out. After No. 3 left the Indians taking part came up to the intersection of the main business blocks where Loneman delivered an excellent speech, which was interpreted by Robert Higheagle of McLaughlin. Loneman assured the homesteaders and other white settlers that the Indians were pleased to see them come and settle the county up and that the right hand of fellowship is extended to their new neighbors. He also stated that the white people would have the cooperation of the Indians in every possible manner. Several other prominent Indians made appropriate remarks. No. 6 then pulled into the yards and those participating in the parade resumed their position on the street in front of the station grounds. The Chief does not believe that any more appropriate place could have been selected for this feature of the event. The gentle slope of the street is such that from the trains the costumes showed to the best possible advantage. Many comments of praise were heard from passengers on the trains and there is no question but that this feature of our fair was the topic of conversation on both trains as long as the passengers which witnessed it remained on the trains. This was one of the most effective things ever done to advertise the city. Not a person on those trains will ever forget the pretty sight which they saw that day.
The program of sports, races, games, etc., was the best that experts along those lines could formulate. Many of them were out of the ordinary and resulted in a great interest among spectators and participants. This part of the event kept the crowds well entertained.
Large delegations from several towns and localities attended, while the number of visitors from Lemmon and Hettinger was especially large. The people from the last two named cities came early and remained until the close of the event. They were loud in their praises of the fair, the city and people in general, the excellent hotel accommodations and McIntosh's ability for entertaining large crowds.
There never was a big event pulled off anywhere which equalled Corson County's maiden fair. The weather was perfect-just what would have been ordered for the occasion if such a thing were possible; there was not a sign of drunkenness or boisterous behavior; not a single fight or word of unpleasantness transpired to mar the enjoyment of the visitors; not the slightest accident of any kind took place, and nothing but the highest order of hospitality and good fellowship prevailed.
The people of the city without a single exception worked hard to make this fair the grandest public event ever held in the county. They realized that the success of our first fair was a forerunner of other great successes in the future. The result is most gratifying. The people of the city feel proud of the success attained and the result was such that this feeling of pride is properly placed. Not a person who attended this fair will fail to do so in the future if he can possibly attend; not a person left town at its close without saying a word of praise for the manner in which he was entertained. The people of the city added greatly to the reputation of the city when it comes to entertaining visitors. Go where you may since the fair and you will hear the people talking about "that great fair at McIntosh." In the future the mere mention of a fair at McIntosh will be all that will be necessary to insure large crowds. A city with this enviable reputation cannot help but be an important commercial center. this is just the class in which McIntosh stands today. Outsiders are talking about the city and that talk is the kind that it is a pleasure for our people to hear. The writer was at Lemmon on Saturday and heard considerable of this talk-just the kind that it is pleasure to sit back and listen to.
This fair was good; McIntosh established a reputation that will make future fairs the most important west of the Missouri River. The Chief wishes to congratulate every citizen of the city upon his or her part in bringing about this state of affairs. A list of premiums and purses awarded will be published next week.
Taken from Corson County Chief September 21, 1910