And the Winners are...

It’s already been one week since we’ve chosen our Iowans of the Day, and I’m so excited to meet each and every one of them at the Iowa State Fair! This year’s line-up includes outstanding Iowans who have contributed to their individual communities in diverse ways.

Our northern Iowa winners have truly done it all. Together, their list of accomplishments includes publishing 850 articles and six books about the history of Iowa’s Great Lakes, creating the Sturgis Falls Celebration, being a 4H leader for 40 years and organizing an annual celebration on the 4^th of July for the community and veterans to enjoy.

Our other hometown heroes are equally as impressive. Their accomplishments include making 3,000 dresses for children in Africa, reopening the community’s closed theatre, being the previous national president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, helping to build a new Fairgrounds and dedicating their life to teaching the community about horticulture.

These individuals will be recognized with their own day at the Fair. He or she will be recognized on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage and presented as an Iowan of the Day daily at 2:30 p.m. Along with accommodations at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown, they will each receive a cash prize, Grandstand and Iowa State Fair admission tickets and use of the Iowan of the Day golf cart.

I am pleased to present the 2016 Iowans of the Day:

Randy Duncan of Des Moines – Thursday, August 11

Aubrey LaFoy of Arnolds Park – Friday, August 12

Cheryl Wessels of Anita – Saturday, August 13

Steve Smith of Algona – Sunday, August 14

Curt Schwanebeck of Knoxville – Monday, August 15

Richard Vorthmann of Treynor – Tuesday, August 16

Edna Schrandt of Decorah – Wednesday, August 17

Willard Larsen of Camanche – Thursday, August 18

Bob Clark of West Des Moines – Friday, August 19

Rosemary Beach of Cedar Falls – Saturday, August 20

Thank you to all of those who submitted an application, it’s because of you that this great program is able to continue. As a reminder, applications are reviewed for three years. Find out more about this year’s Iowans of the Day at the Iowa State Fair August 11-21!

-Audra