Celebrate 25 Years of the Blue Ribbon Foundation with New Book

July 13, 2017
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The Blue Ribbon Foundation was established by the State Fair Board in 1993 to conduct a major capital campaign for the renovation and preservation of the historic Iowa State Fairgrounds. Since its creation, the Foundation has been a key component of the Fair raising an amazing $135 million. The amazing journey the last 25 years is now being celebrated with a new book.

A Great State Fair: The Blue Ribbon Foundation and the Revival of the Iowa State Fair, by William B. Friedricks, takes you behind the scenes of the roller coaster ride of ups and downs of the Iowa State Fair’s long history, leading up to the Blue Ribbon Foundation and the remarkable revival it brought about the Iowa State Fairgrounds, now bigger and better than ever. The paperback book consists of 172 pages and includes over 40 photographs and illustrations. It will be sold for $20 at our merchandise booths during the Fair.

Along with the new book, the Foundation is also hosting a 25th Anniversary Campaign. The purpose of the campaign is to celebrate our history while creating awareness about our mission for the future. The proceeds of this campaign will be dedicated to Our Fair’s Future, the Blue Ribbon Foundation’s endowment fund. As the endowment grows, it will provide a reliable source of funding for future renovations, building enhancements and maintenance to the Fairgrounds, ensuring the Fair will be a grand tradition for generations to come. 

The success of the Blue Ribbon Foundation the last 25 years would not be possible without all of you. Thank you for coming along this amazing journey with us, and being a part of the Fair that we all know and love.

-Taylor

 

The cover of A Great State Fair: The Blue Ribbon Foundation and the Revival of the Iowa State Fair