By far the largest and most significant part of the exhibit was the collection of samples of corn planted, cultivated, and harvested by boys. The League of Corn Growers numbered 8,000 members, and there were 1,100 prizes each year, the first being $500. Each boy submitted 10 ears of corn from his own patch, together with an account of his experiences and method. The prize winners attached their photographs to the little pyramids of 10 ears of fine corn. For the farming industry of the State it was felt that nothing could possibly be better than this annual contest. The boy is taught to look upon the scientific cultivation of the soil as something worthy his best effort. That in which he takes a personal pride ceases to be drudgery. As a result of this corn contest much of the danger that all the farmer boys will seek the great cities may be averted, and it was felt that the great exposition should encourage the boys in their worthy enterprise. There were installed by the Illinois commission 14 separate and distinct exhibits, including that of live stock. Each exhibit was in charge of a superintendent and a committee of the commission. As soon as the Illinois commission had been appointed the members of the Illinois State Historical Society felt that the society should make an exhibit. As the appropriation of $2,000 was small and the time brief for the preparation of the exhibit, the trustee decided that no better and more appropriate exhibit could be made than a manuscript and pictorial life of Abraham Lincoln, these manuscripts and pictures to be arranged so plainly that they could be understood and appreciated by all. The plan of the exhibit was to utilize all the space possible, and as this was the only exhibit in the Illinois Building it was made as handsome in appearance as possible. Accordingly 16 large wall frames handsomely labeled in gold letters were prepared. The labels read as follows: (1) Ancestry of Lincoln. (2) Youth of Lincoln. (3) Lincoln at New Salem. (4) Lincoln as a Surveyor. (5) Lincoln in the Black Hawk War. (6) Lincoln as a Lawyer (two cases). (7) Lincoln in Congress. (8) Domestic Life of Lincoln. (9) Lincoln and Douglas. (10) Lincoln and Douglas Debates. (11) Lincoln and the Foundation of the Republican Party. (12) The Campaign of 1860. (13) Lincoln in Washington, The Cabinet. (14) The War of Rebellion. (15) Assassination and Death. The titles indicate the character of the contents. The agricultural committee was organized, and the scope and character of the exhibit to be made by Illinois was carefully considered.