Iowa State Fair

Hampton's Local Olympian

This week is full speed ahead as the Blue Ribbon Foundation prepares for the Iowa State Fair! Without the Corndog Kickoff or the volunteer reception, it is nice to be able to focus on our Iowans of the Day.

Last year’s Iowan of the Day winner, Dennis Carlson from Hampton, Iowa, is yet another outstanding example of Iowa’s local Olympians.

Paint the Fair!

Have you ever stood on Expo Hill, and looked in amazement at the beauty of the historic Iowa State Fairgrounds? If you haven’t, take a few moments during this Fair to breathe in the views and sign up for a time to paint those breath-taking sights at the painting class offered here at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Join Messy Missy’s at the 2016 Iowa State Fair for the first ever painting class held at the Fair.

Nothing Compares to My State Fair

As we wrap up the week and have calculated totals from the Corndog Kickoff, it is amazing to see the continuous support for the Blue Ribbon Foundation. This year we set a tremendous record of $684,600 and the Foundation wouldn’t have been able to do it without the 2,000 Fair-lovers that came out to join us. It was great to be a part of such an incredible event that was shared with so many people with a common interest, the love for the Iowa State Fair.

Iowa State Fair Painting Class

The office took a sigh of relief after the close of the Corndog Kickoff. It was amazing to see the success of an event after spending so many hours of preparation.

Exceeding Expectations

After many months of prep, planning and hard work, it is sad to say the 20th Annual Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction and Fair Food Grazing Party has come to a close. Beyond the eight staff members that worked countless hours to make the event a success, it was the volunteers and the patrons that truly made this year’s Corndog Kickoff the best yet!

The Story Behind a Hometown Tradition

I hope everyone enjoyed Independence Day and ate their fair share of hot dogs. This Saturday you can enjoy a corndog by attending the Corndog Kickoff! The office has been much busier this morning preparing for the event after the long weekend.

Investing in Our Volunteers

While the weather has cooled off a little the last couple of days, summer is most definitely upon us! With the all Fair staff meeting already a day behind us, plans are well underway for the Fair's busiest season.

Crossing Off Tasks on the Checklist

It’s hard to believe that even though the Corndog Kickoff is under two weeks away, the Blue Ribbon Foundation has already started preparing for the event!

The first task we crossed off our checklist is organizing the garage to take items to the Varied Industries building. Many hands truly do make light work, the task, with over 200 auction packages to prepare for, flew by.

Blue Ribbon Recipes

Driving past the Grandstand to get to work this morning was different than usual. There was a food vendor set up, getting ready for the Goodguys car show. While the Fair is so much more than food, the two have become synonimous. The first food stand is exciting, and now I want a tenderloin for lunch, but the Food Competition at the Iowa State Fair has been going on much longer than our obsession with deep fat fryers.

Runners and Volunteers

With all of the items coming in for the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction and all of the plans in full swing, it is hard to think about the Iowa State Fair! Only two months from today, the second Saturday of the Fair has a lot to offer. One of the best things about the Iowa State Fair is the Fairgrounds 5K! Running or volunteering for the Fairgrounds 5K gives you the unique opportunity to see the Fairgrounds without the 100,000 attendees.