Wisconsin. State Board of Agriculture

The State Board of Agriculture was created in 1897 (Chap. 301, Laws 1897), assuming the duties of the State Agricultural Society. In 1915, the Board was abolished as a separate agency and consolidated with several others to form the Department of Agriculture (WIHV85-A353) (Laws 1915, Ch. 413). The Board of Agriculture reappeared in 1939 as the policy-making body for the Department of Agriculture. It did not directly exercise any Department functions. Chapter 29, Laws of 1977, changed the name of the unit to the Board of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (WIHV85-A483).

Chapter 60, Laws of 1898 directed the Board of Agriculture to promote the interests of agriculture, dairying, horticulture, manufactures and the domestic arts. An important part of its promotion activities was the organization and adminstration of an agricultural fair. In addition, beginning in 1901, the Board sponsored annual agriculture conventions at which a variety of topics and issues important to farmers received attention. The Board annually issued a farm crop report and published crop and live stock statistics.