Best Seat in the House

Some horse watchers know as much as the riders. Other rarely see a horse, so ask lots of questions. And if they’re lucky, they get to give one a pat before they move on to the rest of the Fair!

Which side are you on? Do you know your horse breeds? I know nothing about horses but I do enjoy walking through the barn during the Iowa State Fair.

Designed in 1907, with additions in 1909, 1912 and 1929, the two-acre Horse Barn contains box stalls and tie-out areas for horses. Brick and stone decorate its surfaces while a raised center area is flanked by shed roofs on the north and south.

After enduring several decades of harsh Iowa weather, the brick and mortar building was in need of restoration. The first phase of renovations included the replacement of the roof, and in 2002, the main east entrance had a facelift including brick repair and the replacement of the second story window.

In 2010, the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center project, located just west of the Horse Barn, constituted some additional construction to the Horse Barn. The finished project consists of a warm up arena connecting the original Horse Barn with the new Exhibition Center, which makes it a valuable venue for year round shows and events.

The Our State Fair – Iowa’s Blue Ribbon Story showcases “Those Beauties” in the Ag Extravaganza section of the book.

Horses always have been part of the Iowa State Fair, although they didn’t officially prance in front of judges until the fourth Fair in 1858. Even so, those beautiful animals have forever enthralled Fairgoers. Today, thousands of us wander through the horse barn just to look.

You can experience your favorite horse show during the Iowa State Fair from the comfort of the VIP area in the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center. Membership in Jake’s Club gives you the best seat in the house for the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Competition, Cowgirl Queen Contest, or other equestrian shows featuring multiple breeds. This is your chance to support the Blue Ribbon Foundation while enjoying the Iowa State Fair.

Jake's Club Members receive:

• Access for two into Jake’s Club for the 2018 Iowa State Fair.
• Admission for two to all of the evening shows.
• Opportunity to purchase guest passes for non-members.
• Air-conditioning, comfortable couches, and balcony box seating on the second level.
• Restaurant menu and full service bar available to purchase food & beverages.
• Video screens with live feedback from other shows taking place on the Fairgrounds.
• Private restrooms.

Join Jake’s Club today.

Your support allows for future developments and improvements needed to preserve our historic Iowa State Fairgrounds. Work is still needed on many buildings and all Iowans (horse experts or amateurs) can look forward to what the future will bring.