Gathering on Grand with Francesca

The office has been in full swing and the wheels have been turning. My passion for the Iowa State Fair continues to grow while being a part of the “inside” team. We are 83 days away from the fair, but who’s counting? I often get asked why my love for the Iowa State Fair is so great, and here are the top five reasons.

1. The People: The Iowa State Fair is an event that brings in nearly or over 100,000 people every single day. There are very diverse crowds, especially with attendance reaching a record breaking 115,959 one day, last year. Some may come from a small town farm, some may come from a large city, but they all share one thing in common, the love for the great Iowa State Fair. For most people the Fair is a learning experience. Whether it’s learning about agriculture or the newest trends in the William C. Knapp Varied Industries Building, there is always something new to take in. Sometimes my best conversations occur with people who are interested in knowing why we do what we do at the Fair.

2. Camping: This means 11 days with great people! One of my favorite childhood memories was living in our camper in the blazing, August heat on the Iowa State Fairgrounds right across from the Swine Barn and Youth Inn (until they moved exhibitor camping up the hill). Camping in the exhibitor lot with livestock friends was the highlight of my summer. I would pack my clothes mid-July and cry when it was time to leave the Fair. Since I knew the Fairgrounds like the back of my hand, my parents let me run around with friends that were the same way. We loved it. This was our style of vacationing.

3. Livestock Shows: Come August I was ready to show off what I had prepared all summer, my livestock. Late nights and early mornings were real at our house just to walk that animal. Iowa is blessed with the livestock quality at competitions. In order to compete, you have to put in the time to make that animal great. Blood, sweat and tears are definitely shed at least once during preparation days. Although winning is nice, it isn’t everything. The friends and memories that are made during these years of our lives are far above the trophy, banner or picture that will sit and collect dust. Without your livestock “family” the Fair wouldn’t be as congenial as it is. These people are special tools in a tool kit and are resources that you can use to better yourself and the livestock. Whether people realize it or not, they wouldn’t be who they are today without the people that helped them up yesterday from a bad day in the show ring.

4. Food on a Stick: Who doesn’t love food, especially on a stick? Food on a stick has become a staple to the Iowa State Fair. People don’t talk about the plain hamburger they got from a random stand, rather they usually talk about the food on a stick that they inhaled so fast they couldn’t enjoy it. There are nearly 75 different foods you can get on a stick at the Iowa State Fair. Every year they come up with a new item to feature, and it keeps getting better. One of my favorite foods on a stick is the pork chop. The Iowa Pork Producers do an excellent job preparing these. If you walk away from the fair hungry, you didn’t look hard enough. There are food stands for everyone.

5. Traditions: There are many traditions within the limits of the Iowa State Fairgrounds, including the nationally acclaimed butter cow. The talent that goes into sculpting something so unique is incredible. Along with the butter cow, other “must do” traditions include contests, riding the Ye Old Mill and cruising down the Giant Slide. Whether it’s the first or the fiftieth time people come to the Fair, a fun time is to be had. With a group of your best friends, roaring laughter can be heard by the Giant Slide. After cruising down the slide, annual contests are a great way to spend your day. They include everything from a cow chip throwing, yodeling, hog calling to a pie baking contest. The best part is that they accommodate every age and are open to the public.

Wow! It was tough deciding my top five reasons why I love the fair, because I know I could write many more. There is a reason why the Iowa State Fair is one of the top State Fair’s in the country: IT’S GREAT! The Blue Ribbon Foundation’s goal is to maintain the Fairgrounds so all of the things people love at the State Fair can be continued.  Well, I better get back to working on the media kit for the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction and Fair Food Grazing Party. Be sure to get your tickets!

-Francesca