In one corner of our exhibit was erected a triangle of grain pictures, three in number, each 8 by 10 feet, and made entirely of seeds. One picture was that of Abraham Lincoln, another Governor Richard Yates, and a third represented the State seal.
Upon seven large tables were displayed more than 500 glass bottles of seeds, ranging from 8 ounces to 1 gallon each.
But the feature of the agricultural display that attracted more attention than anything else was the immense display of corn grown by the farmer boys of Illinois. The commission from the very start determined to make this display by the farmer boys a strong feature of the exhibit, and how well their efforts were rewarded is now known by millions of people who visited the Agricultural Building. The superintendent solicited special premiums to the amount of $3,500. Circulars describing the farmers boys' corn contest were placed in the hands of 120,000 farmer boys in Illinois. Eight thousand entered the contest.
Above the two vast pyramids of white and yellow corn, each 20 by 30 feet, was a handsome banner inscribed "Grown by the farmer boys of Illinois."
One of the most attractive and interesting sections of the dairy exhibit was that installed by the Illinois commission. The statuary in this exhibit consisted of a full-length ideal statue representing "Illinois," holding the shield of State with one hand, while the other grasps the shaft holding the streamer reading "Illinois" in large, clear, golden letters. On either side of this figure were large busts of Lincoln and Grant. These busts and the full-length figure were made of pure Illinois creamery butter.
The background for the statuary was arranged with the banner won by the Illinois creameries and two large United States flags, which were in keeping with the historical character of the two men represented.
At the sides and in front heavy draperies separated the statuary from the commercial exhibits, which consisted of print butter from the Elgin district and from the University of Illinois, arranged in various designs; also samples of condensed milk, malted milk, and evaporated cream.
There were also jars with samples showing the amounts of water, butter fat, casein, albumen, and other ingredients entering into the composition of a 30-pound tub of butter.
Tables showing the value of the great dairy industry of Illinois, the production of butter and cheese in the Elgin district, the butter and cheese market of Chicago, and large photographs portraying typical Illinois dairy cows and Illinois creameries and the condensing plants occupied prominent positions among the exhibits. Several bulletins from the University of Illinois agricultural experiment station, showing the importance of clean milk and pure butter and other information of value to dairymen, were distributed from the superintendent's desk. The cheese exhibited consisted of samples made by students at the University of Illinois, and a large collection installed by M. Uhlmann & Co., of Chicago, occupied a space in the cheese case directly opposite the butter exhibit.
The refrigerator which contained these exhibits had a glass front formed of three thicknesses of plate glass, with air spaces between. The temperature inside the case was kept close to the freezing point by an ice-making machine in constant operation.