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.

The Illinois commission set apart $15,000 to make a duplication as far as possible of premiums won by the breeders of live stock exhibited in the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, less than $1,000 of which was reserved to provide for the necessary expenses incident to printing, allotting, and distributing the said prize fund.

The live stock from the State of Illinois won one-twentieth of the entire premiums offered by the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.