Red Cliff State Fair

Red Cliff State Fair Exhibition

Bayfield County Press – September 21, 1917

Superintendent John W. Dady, of the Red Cliff Agency office, and all others in any way connected with him in the work of promoting agricultural development on the Reservation, are highly related with the results obtained at the Wisconsin State Fair at Milwaukee last week by the Indians of the Red Cliff reservation.

Mr. Dady returned Thursday from Milwaukee and has in his possession a large showing of ribbons designating the winning of first and second prizes by the agricultural produce shown, and also two silver cups, one for the first honors in the general agricultural exhibit, and the other for first honors for display.

This is a third-year that Mr. Dady has had direct charge of the exhibits at Milwaukee from this district, and general supervision of the exhibit of all Indian reservations of the state participating in the big show. The success with which he has met certainly is highly commendable of this interest in the work and the strides with which the Red Cliff people are making and producing agricultural and horticultural products is indeed remarkable.

The winning of the event by the produce of the Peninsula but demonstrates once more the fact that this section is superior to all others in the state for either agriculture or horticulture. More so, perhaps, this year, then at any previous time for the reason that there is still at least another month’s growing to be had by the vegetables of this region, whereas in most other sections of the state’s heavy frosts have cut down the growing period to a considerable extent. Such achievements as those obtained by the Peninsula exhibits at the state fair this year are going to attract more and more the eyes of the settler to this region and will ultimately result in more extensive settlement man could be obtained otherwise.

Indian Fair Was a Great Success

Bayfield County Press – September 28, 1917

Every one of the hundreds of people who attended the Red Cliff Indian fair last Friday and Saturday, are loud in their praise of the event and commendation of their efforts put forth by the persons in charge, superintendent  Dady and manager Sutton and their assistants.

In extent of exhibits that there perhaps did not exceed that of any of the three years, and but as to quality, tastefulness in the display and variety of produce, stock, handicraft, etc., the event far surpassed all others. In the line from amusement much entertainment was important to the fair visitors, many of whom had come from Washburn, Ashland and Bayfield, and the “squad dance” with the participants garbed in the raiment of the early days when the Indian was the only human being in these north woods, proved particularly attractive. Besides this event, there were the baseball games, the lacrosse games, the dancing “wigwam” and other interesting features.

The display on agricultural produce was exceptionally fine and we doubt very much if any other section of the country can produce vegetables equaling in size, color or quality that which was shown in the spacious hall devoted to this particular exhibit. Alongside the vegetable display was the horticulture exhibit, and truly this was a magnificent showing which presented an indisputable argument in favor of the peninsula district for horticultural purposes. To speak at length on either of these exhibits would be but to repeat what has so often been said on the subject in previous issues of the Press and most likely the expressions of astonishment, praise and interest made by the hundreds of visitors is the strongest mark of appreciation of the show which can be made.

This, the fourth Annual Red Cliff Indian Fair, with its great showing of farm produce, its livestock, its Indian dances and display of beaded woven rugs and adornments, is pleasured giving opportunities posed down in the annals of the reservation history as the greatest event of its kind ever staged on the peninsula.  It is the expressed desire of every person who attended that event be repeated each year in future with ever-increasing success.

In commenting on the fair, we must not overlook the display made by a few town of Russell agriculturists, whose produce was a first prize variety and occupied a small space in the exhibit hall. Those farmers are worthy of congratulations for the splendid quality of their produce and their very evident desire to demonstrate the advantages of their home district for agricultural purposes.

Special mention should be made of the showing made by the Red Cliff day school pupils, whose handicraft with needle, pen and spade caused much favorable comment. Sister Seraphica, and her very able assistants, are doing a most commendable work with the young people, and no stronger evidence of this could be had and that shown by the school exhibit at the fair.

Professor Bullock, of the State College of Agriculture, who was in attendance at the fair for the purpose of lecturing to the Indian people, was most agreeably surprised at what he would see in the exhibits. He was strong of commendation there, which is of particular value in as much as he speaks from the viewpoint of an agricultural expert.

This history brief was written by Robert J. Nelson. Generously sharing our local history through his research and writing.