Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 8.djvu/325

 HISTORY OF ORGANIZATION OF OREGON STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY By GEORGE H. HIMES. Properly to treat this subject, it has been necessary to go over a great deal of ground in order to secure information relating to the organization of county fairs in Oregon, in order to show how the idea of the formation of a State Agricultural Society came to be entertained. There is scarcely a doubt that the first act looking to the organization of a county agricultural society in Oregon was performed in Yamhill County, as I find in the Oregon States- man of October 4, 1853, the following notice : "Meeting of the Farmers of Yamhill County. "Pursuant to notice a number of the farmers of Yamhill County met in the court house at Lafayette, on the 17th inst. "F. B. Martin was called to the chair and W. B. Affleck appointed secretary. "On motion of J. G. Baker, Ahio S. Watt was requested to state the object of the meeting. "After numerous interesting remarks relative to the im- portance of the subject of agriculture, he stated that this meeting, being a primary one, preparatory to the perfect or- ganization of an Agricultural Society, and the formation of an Agricultural and Horticultural Library, etc., he recom- mended that a committee be appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws towards effecting said organization. "Motioned, that the chairman appoint said committee, when the following gentlemen were chosen : J. G. Baker, William Dawson, Miles Carey, Dr. Anson G. Henry, and Ahio S. Watt. "On motion, Ahio S. Watt was appointed chairman of said committee. ' ' Moved that a committee of three be appointed to select and request some competent person to deliver a lecture before the society, at their next meeting. Chair appointed Dr. Wester- field, Jacob Grozier, and W. B. Affleck said committee.