1904 St. Louis World's Fair

Duroc Hog Show

The Duroc-Jerseys captured the attention of the public with their unique uniformity of Cherry-red color, which was said to be a big part of their market value.  This breed showed refinement of the head and ear, and made an impressive display at the 1904 World's Fair.  With twenty-nine exhibitors and 348 animals, there was a great deal of  competition! Durocs from the states of Missouri, Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, Nebraska, Kansas and Tennessee were exhibited.

The Duroc Jersey Bulletin noted that the number of Duroc Jersey's at the World's fair was not as large as the number shown at some state fairs.  However, the fair limited the number of hogs that could be shown by one exhibitor to two animals per class.  State fairs of that day did not have similar limits so exhibitors brought large numbers of hogs to those fairs to try to sell them.

No one line of Durocs captured all of the awards at the World's Fair.  However, most winning hogs carried blood of the Orion, Top Notcher, Ohio Chief, and/or Wonder families.  A single judge system was used and the Duroc judging went largely without controversy.  The pressure on World's Fair judges was extreme however, due to the great advertising value that a World's Fair ribbon carried.  The show started with some superstition because there there thirteen aged boars.  However, many felt that the class was the greatest display of aged boars that had every been shown up to that time.  Other classes ranged in size from twelve to thirty seven head. 

Tip Top Notcher

Tip Top Notcher was the largest hog at the 1904 World's Fair swine show.  He weighed in at a remarkable 1,120 pounds and was named Duroc breed champion.  Although remarkable, before long, the size of the boar was being exaggerated as he was compared to a pachyderm.

• Aged Boars: Ohio Chief won first place, owned by S. E. Morton & Co. of Ohio; second place went to Kruger, owned by G. W. Trone of Ill.

• Senior Yearling Boars: Tip Top Notcher was the champion, owned by George W. Seckman of Ripley, Illinois; second place was Commodore, owned by Thos. Bennett of Ill.

• Junior Yearling Boars division: Chief Orion won the blue ribbon, owned by Ira Jackson of Ohio; second place went to Goldie's Top Notcher, owned by Geo. W. Seckman of Ill.

• Senior Boar pigs: Joe won the class, but this decision was protested by other exhibitors. The Breeder's Gazette stated, "Joe won the blue ribbon, but he was ridiculously out of place.  How this came about we don't know, but this decision signals a movement of the exhibitors to protest."  Joe was owned by the McFarland Bros. of MO; the second place winner was Perfection Chief, owned by Chas. Van Patten of Neb.

• Junior Boar pigs: Top Notcher Chief won this class, owned by A. Teter of Ind.; second place was Checkmate, owned by Geo. W. Seckman of Ill.

• Aged Sow division: Dotie was first place for McFarland Brothers.  Second was Watt's Bell, from S. E. Morton

• Senior Yearling sow division: My Choice won first place, owned by Ira Jackson of Ohio; second place was Moss Rose, owned by the McFarland Bros. of MO.

• Junior Yearling sow division: Lady Orion won this class, owned by Ira Jackson of Ohio; second place went to Chic's Belle, owned by S. E. Morton & Co. of Ohio.

• Senior Sow pigs: Kant's Best was at the top of this class, owned by Watt & Foust of Ohio; second place went to Cedarvale Queen 8th, owned by Watt & Foust of Ohio.

• Junior Sow pigs: Crimson Lady won the blue ribbon, owned by J. E. Mendenhall & Son of Neb.; second place went to Top Notcher's Best, owned by J. Teter of Ind.

Dotie (Champion sow), shown at the fair by McFarland Brothers and sold to Marshal Brothers, Burdon, Kansas

1st prize sow 18 - 24 months.  Shown by Ira Jackson of Ohio and sold to John Jones of Delphos, Kansas

Note regarding Tip Top Notcher: The Breeder's Gazette magazine told that the boar was owned by C. Watt of Ohio. The Farmer Stockman magazine claimed that the boar was owned by George "Sackman" of Ripley, Illinois.  A descendant of Mr. Seckman has provided the definitive answer,   provided the correct spelling for his ancestor's name and verified ownership of the champion boar.  Follow this link for more definitive information on Tip Top Notcher.

References: 

• The Breeder's Gazette, October 12, 1904

• Farmer Stockman, October 20, 1904

• Duroc-Jersey Bulletin, November 15, 1904

Photos from Breeder's Gazette and Report to the Kansas World's Fair Commission.

This page was designed by Meridee K. Haworth and Lyndon Irwin and is maintained by Lyndon Irwin. 

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