The agricultural booth was similar in its construction to the "Corn Hall" of the State building, although different in design. The place assigned this exhibit in the Palace of Agriculture covered a space 35 by 45 feet 6 inches, with aisles on three sides. The façade fronted on the three aisles and in its architectural lines presented a solidity characteristic of the State's exhibits. Cane stalk and corn in red colors were used to form the base of the façade, being put on in transverse sections, which gave at a distance as well as by close inspection a very pleasing effect. It was, however, to the interior decoration and exhibit that great labor and skill were devoted in making it especially attractive. Grains in the native straw, grasses, and clover were worked out in many fantastic shapes and beautiful designs. In the center of the booth, rising to a height of 15 feet, was a large octagonal pyramid, used almost exclusively for the display of grain in the straw; the bright yellow being in strong contrast with a red burlap background, made it naturally attractive. On the south wall or side a like exhibit of grains and grasses was shown; four large display tables, also in pyramid shape, occupied the space surrounding the centerpiece above described. On this table were several hundred glass jars, globes, and bottles for the display of grains and seeds of every description grown in South Dakota. It was, however, to the corn exhibits that special care and attention were given. Twelve large show cases were used for the display of this exhibit, besides a large quantity displayed in bulk, both in the ear and shelled. Over 100 bushels of corn was used in this exhibit alone.
The exhibit attracted much attention from the corn growers of other States, and was conceded to be one of great merit considering the newness of the State, and, as one Illinois farmer said, "It is better corn by long odds than I raised when I first went to Illinois."
The display of horticultural products was in the Palace of Agriculture instead of the Palace of Horticulture. Twenty-five barrels of apples of some 15 different varieties were collected early in the fall of 1903 and placed in cold storage at St. Louis, thus supplying a continual display until the fruit season of 1904. The fact that 10 medals were awarded to the horticultural display demonstrates the merit of this exhibit.
The State's representation in the dairy department was both unique and so different from that of other States that it attracted much attention. The space assigned for this exhibit in the refrigerator section of the Agricultural Building was 8 by 8 feet. The artistic feature, aside from the display of butter in bulk, was a profusion of flowers, buds, leaves in the form of bouquets, wreaths, garlands, and festoons made out of butter. They were artistically displayed on plates, baskets, and various sized vases, some of which were made of butter and others of painted chinaware. At the back of the exhibit the name of South Dakota appeared in leaf-work letters, as well as statistics of the annual production of butter, milk, and cream, all worked out in butter also.
About the 1st of June the educational exhibit was put in place. The walls were covered with art work, maps, and industrial work. The cabinets were filled with mounted specimens of written lessons, drawing, music, maps, and industrial work. The bases of the cabinets contained the remainder of the written work, neatly bound in volumes and labeled; specimens of basketry and woodwork, and a collection of zoological and botanical specimens. A number of the schools were represented by photographs alone, others by written work, photographs, and industrial work, and a few by written work alone. In subject-matter and original thought, South Dakota's work compared favorably with that of other schools of like age and conditions, especially in simplicity and originality.
The arrangement of the mineral exhibit in the Mines and Metallurgy Building was along practical commercial lines rather than on specimen, spectacular, or on purely scientific lines, though rich specimens and beautiful pictures were displayed, and the State School of Mines had a most excellent scientific collection of ores, rocks, and fossils that was awarded a gold medal.
The location obtained for the exhibit was most favorable, and by many was considered one of the choicest in the building, having three full fronts on main aisles, two 44 feet and one 52 feet long, and was surrounded by the most attractive State exhibits in the building.
The installation was with stone walls 2 feet high, built of rough ashlar and surmounted by a dressed coping. On the two 44-foot sides this was of the celebrated Sioux Falls red jasper. The 52-foot wall was of Hot Springs sandstone.
On the face of each lintel the name of the State had been cut and gilded. In the center of the exhibit on tables were two relief maps of the Black Hills, one of these showing the whole geological uplift 120 miles long north and south and 100 miles east and west, the other showing the mineralized portion of the hills as now known, 55 miles northwest and southeast and 25 miles wide. The larger was about 12 feet long and 6 feet wide.
Across the exhibit from east to west and above the heads were displayed a series of panoramic views and pictures, transparencies on glass, being reproductions in color of the finest photographs obtainable, showing the scenic beauty and material conditions of our Black Hills country. The varied ores were exhibited in large piles.