Welcome to the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation’s blog!
We are a non-profit organization with a mission to raise funds for the renovation and preservation of the historic Iowa State Fairgrounds. Since our inception in 1993, the Foundation has raised more than $200 million through individual contributions, state appropriations, in-kind services, and corporate, federal and state grants.
Please follow our blog to learn more about our organization.
When it comes to the Fair we all have our favorite foods, rides, contests, or events. In recent years one of the Fair favorites has become our annual painting class. With 2-3 classes every day it provides Fairgoers with a chance to paint their favorite scene at the Fair. This week I have been starting to get people signed up, and I know people are thrilled to paint again in August.
Join the Blue Ribbon Foundation and help us “Paint the Fair” at our 4th annual social painting class. Participating in one of the various classes gives you the opportunity to help ensure a colorful future for the Fair. All proceeds from the class will be dedicated to our endowment fund, “Our Fair’s Future.” As this endowment continues to grow, it provides a reliable source of funding for future renovation and restoration to the Fairgrounds.
Classes will be offered each day of the Fair at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the Patty and Jim Cownie Cultural Center on the 3rd floor. There will be no classes held on Tuesday, August 13 and the mornings of Sunday, August 11 and Sunday, August 18. Nightly session will be held on August 10,11,15,16 at 6:00 p.m.
For the cost of $35 you will receive a canvas, paint, brushes, and instructions to paint your favorite scene. The class will be taught by Missy Pieters, owner and artist at Messy Missy’s Studio & Gallery in Marshalltown.
If you are interested in signing up please take the time to complete our online Painting Class Registration Form. On-site registration will be available half an hour before each class starts. Each class has space for 50 painters, so sign up today! Please see below for dates, times, and the different pieces of art that can be created.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at DonorRelations@BlueRibbonFoundation.org or (515) 262-3111 ext. 377.
- Maggie Mathiasen
The Fairgrounds is still a busy place during the off-season. Due to the devastating spread of the African Swine Fever, the decision was made cancel the 2019 Pork Expo on the Fairgrounds. Instead, the Fairgrounds held a diversified swine livestock show. The swine barn was hustling and bustling with action as entries from all across the continental U.S. participated in the livestock show. The Iowa State Fair Special Events team does a fantastic job utilizing the grounds for a variety of shows and events. There are multiple events coming up during June and into July. On Friday June 28- 30, the 2019 Gun Trade Show will be happening in the 4-H Building, hosted by Trade Show Productions. All firearm lovers and enthusiasts—this is not something you will want to miss! Overlapping into the same weekend, the 2019 ArtFest Midwest will be taking place on June 29 and 30 in the Varied Industries Building. Crafts, arts, and design galore¬¬ this craft show features both local Iowan artists and regional vendors. Stay busy browsing over 250 entries while your kids create their own art in the “Kids Craft” booth. Mark your calendars for the famous Goodguys Car Show taking place July 5-7. This extravagant car show features over 5,000 cars with everything any gear-head would want to see.
With all the different shows occurring on the Fairgrounds, time will soon start to fly and the 2019 Iowa State Fair will be among us!
-Joy Van Wyngarden
Food is one of the main attractions at the Iowa State Fair! Because of this, many Iowans, me included, look forward to the new food options that will be added to the concessions every year. What will the best food on-a-stick be and what will be my new favorite? However, with nearly 200 food stands and over 80 items available on-a-stick, one problem that I have found over the years is that I never could find the foods that I was looking for. In the past few years, the Iowa State Fair and the Des Moines Register have partnered to find a solution to food finding with their Fair Food Finder app. This app is compatible with all devices and can be downloaded from the app store on your phone.
The Iowa State Fair Food Finder app is separated into foods, vendors, and events. When clicking on a specific section you can then choose what you are looking for. If you want a 4-leaf Clover Cooler you would click on this item. The app then brings up a map with red dots marking where the item can be found. Now you know that you can get your 4-leaf Clover Cooler at the Ag Building or the Cultural Center.
Another app to download for this year’s Fair is the new Official Iowa State Fair App which will be available to download in July. This new app will let you access the daily schedule, Grandstand shows, purchase admission tickets, and participate in the photo hunt. You don’t want to miss out on any of the Iowa State Fair action!
Lastly, to stay up to date with the latest Iowa State Fair news, you can receive text alerts.
Text FAIR to 75782 for special offers, updates on concerts and daily activities, weather alerts and more.
Text BABY to 75782 to receive updates when new babies are born at the Animal Learning Center.
There is only 62 days until the 2019 Iowa State Fair and I am so excited. Get prepared by downloading these apps and signing up to receive text alerts. By doing these things you will make the most out of your Fair experience!
I hope all of you are enjoying this great weather. The sun is shining on the Fairgrounds, and I can’t help myself from being so excited for what lies ahead this August. This is my 4th week at the foundation and time keeps flying by!
Today, all of the interns had the opportunity to leave our desks and work outside. We spent the morning laying engraved bricks that were donated to the Foundation all across the Fairgrounds, and it was a gorgeous day to do so! Investing in an engraved brick is a great way to restore a century of memories at the Iowa State Fair. These bricks have proven to be a crowd favorite as you have the opportunity to leave a permanent legacy, while still supporting the renovation and preservation of the historic State Fairgrounds.
The bricks are used to complete various walkways in 15 different locations on the Fairgrounds including: 4-H Exhibit Building, Anne & Bill Riley Stage, Campgrounds Gate Five, Maytag Family Theatres, Elwell Family Food Center, Administration Building, Agriculture Building, Dairy Parlor, Livestock Show Pavilion, Pioneer Hall, Ye Old Mill, and the Cattle, Horse, Sheep and Swine Barns.
With the purchase of a brick, you can choose the inscription and location of your personalized brick. Options include:
• Standard bricks are available for $100 and inscription allows for up to three lines using a maximum of 14 spaces per line.
• Special logo bricks are available for $125. Please enclose or email a black and white copy of your business or personal logo with your order form.
• Gift cards are also available by request
Bricks are placed twice a year, once in the fall and once in the summer. If you are interested in giving to the Blue Ribbon Foundation and the future of the Fair, consider buying a brick! Please use our secure online order form or download our brick brochure for more details.
If you have any further questions regarding our programs or giving opportunities, please call us at (515) 262-3111 ext. 371 or email us at Info@BlueRibbonFoundation.org.
Pictured below you can see a sample brick from our morning.
- Maggie Mathiasen
Happy Tuesday everyone! I have jumped right in during my second week at the Foundation and I could not be more excited. One way that hundreds of people get to experience the Fair each year is through volunteering. Each year the Foundation has around 1,400 volunteer positions to fill throughout the 11-day extravaganza that is the Iowa State Fair. The majority of these positions consist of selling bottled water at various locations across the Fairgrounds, as well as running our multiple souvenir stores. This year volunteers are also able to be a part of our 2nd annual State Fair Bingo. On August 14th, Fairgoers can swing by the Better Business Bureau tent on the Grand Concourse from 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. and participate in a fun game of Bingo and have a chance to win some money. Who doesn’t love that?
Something new with volunteering this year is our sign up process. In the past we have mailed out forms and hand created a master schedule for everyone. Gone are the days of mailing forms and say a big hello to our online sign up system. With our new process each available shift is listed and sorted out by day, job, location, and time. We are so excited to begin our new process and we hope that it takes some stress off of our wonderful volunteer’s shoulders as well.
Volunteers are the living and breathing glue that hold many of the Blue Ribbon Foundation’s programs together. The Iowa State Fair would not be able to happen without them. Our participants range from people who have been helping for 15+ years to people who are joining us for their first time. Each person receives a free 2019 Iowa State Fair volunteer t-shirt, admission into the fair for the day, as well as a single day parking pass. In order to work with the Blue Ribbon Foundation you must be at least 16 years of age, pass a background check and you must work at least one four hour shift throughout the Fair. Some favorite memories that keep them coming back for more each year include the high class people watching, getting to try the new fair food every year, and the stories they get to hear from each person they interact with.
This incredible 11-day marathon could not be made possible without these dedicated and outstanding individuals. Are you interested in experiencing the Fair through the eyes of a volunteer? Sign up will be available starting June 11th, 2019 at http://www.blueribbonfoundation.org/events/iowa-state-fair/volunteer. We hope to see you in just a short 64 days on our beautiful Fairgrounds, and don’t forget, next time you walk by a water booth souvenir store be sure to say hi!
There’s still time to be a Patron at the 2019 Corndog Kickoff!
The Corndog Kickoff is a mere 45 days away and my desire for delicious, fried Fair food is getting stronger by the minute. This year’s Kickoff will feature several new exciting auction items and events that you definitely won’t want to miss. Did I mention a 9-foot-tall Bigfoot statue?! If you haven’t already signed up to be a patron, there’s still time! There are multiple different Patron levels, so you can choose whichever options suits your needs the best!
Best of Show- $10,000
Exclusive Early Admittance
24 Admission Tickets
3 Reserved Tables
Logo recognition in Auction Books
Grand Champion- $7,500
Exclusive Early Admittance
16 Admission Tickets
2 Reserved Tables
Logo Recognition in Auction Books
Champion- $5,000
Exclusive Early Admittance
8 Admission Tickets
Reserved Table
Logo Recognition in Auction Book
Purple Ribbon- $2,500
Exclusive Early Admittance
8 Admission Tickets
Reserved Table
Name recognition in Auction Book
Blue Ribbon- $1,000
Exclusive Early Admittance
8 Admission Tickets
Reserved Table
Name recognition in Auction Book
Red Ribbon- $500
4 Admission Tickets
Name recognition in Auction Book
White Ribbon- $250
2 Admission Tickets
Name recognition in Auction Book
If you would rather purchase tickets individually, you can do so online, by calling the Blue Ribbon Foundation at 515-262-3111 or by stopping in to our office on the Fairgrounds today. If you purchase tickets before June 30, tickets are priced at $100. After June 30, tickets are priced at $125. Get yours today!
It’s almost a month until Iowan of the Day nominations are due! Make sure to nominate your outstanding Iowans before July 1. We need your help in finding Iowans from across the state that demonstrate an honest work ethic, while showing a sense of Iowa pride.
When choosing the Iowans of the Day for the 2019 Iowa State Fair, the committee looks for volunteer service, community/youth involvement, awards/honors, and the personal qualities of an individual. While nominating your great Iowan, remember to include and list all of the great work that individual has done in your community. It is also recommended to send in extra materials to show how awesome this Iowan is! These materials can include pictures, newspaper clippings and letters of recommendation.
Along with all of the extra materials, the most important piece is to send in an application with your name, the individual’s name, and references. This nomination form can be found on the Blue Ribbon Foundation’s website, attached in this blog post, or I would be happy to mail you a physical copy if you email me at publicrelations@blueribbonfoundation.org.
By nominating someone for the Iowan of the Day you give them the opportunity to be chosen for a chance at making life-long memories at the Fair. Ron Hunerdosse from Fairfield was chosen for the Iowan of the Day in 2018. He recently called to say how honored he was and what great memories he was able to make with his now grown-up daughters at the Reba McEntire concert. You could do the same for a member in your community!
Each Iowan of the Day receives:
- A day of recognition at the 2019 Iowa State Fair
- Introduction of the Anne and Bill Riley stage
- $200 cash
- Use of a golf cart for the day
- VIP parking
- Gate admission
- Hotel accommodations at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown
- Four tickets to the evening Grandstand concert
I look forward to receiving your nominations!
- Gabrielle Gerke, PR intern
Hello everyone, my name is Lucia Ruppert and I am serving as the 2019 Volunteer Relations Intern for the 2019 Iowa State Fair! I am in the midst of my first week at the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation and I am absolutely loving it. I grew up in Norwalk, Iowa and have worked and attended the fair with my family’s booth for as long as I can remember. I have loved coming and interacting with the public, selling Rada Cutlery knives for all 10 days since I was little. My favorite part of the fair continues to be when I can sneak away and catch a ride on the Big Yellow Slide and the Sky Glider.
I just finished up my senior year at Colorado State University where I am double majoring in Equine Science and Natural Resource Tourism and minoring in Business Administration. I will be returning to Fort Collins to finish up my last semester at CSU which is starting to become bittersweet. In Fort Collins, I am very involved. I am an Admissions Ambassador for the University where I give campus tours to more than 1,200 prospective students and their families a year. I am also an Equine Science Steward, we are a group of high achieving Equine Science students who serve as ambassadors for our major and the College of Ag to help with a lot of outreach and events for students. With the Equine Science Stewards I am the Communications Director, where I am in charge of all of the social media and outreach, and the Recruitment and Tours Director where I design our tours to make sure families have the best representation of the Equine Science major and facilities as possible. I also run my own pet and ranch sitting business to ensure that the Fort Collins area has some of the best pet services around.
When I get to enjoy some free time, I love to explore the incredible outdoors and natural areas in Colorado. My favorite is to go hiking at Horsetooth Reservoir with my dog and my friends. I also enjoy riding my horse around trails in Fort Collins.
Summer has finally started and I am so excited to take my first steps down the grand concourse with a bag of mini doughnuts in my hand and an army of volunteers behind me. Get ready everyone it’s State Fair season!
I’m not sure if all this rain and dreary weather has got me in a funk, but I could not be more excited for sunny weather and the State Fair this year. Nothing sounds better right now than a warm summer night, riding the sky glider, and munching on some classic Fair food. This year’s Fair theme is #fairfavorites, focusing on everyone’s personal fair food must-haves. Most Fair-goers have their personal favorite food item that they have to get at least once a year while they’re at the Fair. Two of my all-time favorites are Iowa State Fair corndogs and cotton candy. It doesn’t get any more iconic than this classic combo of fried goodness and sugary sweetness. I’m hoping to make some new favorites at this year’s Fair with the continuing list of fun new foods every year.
Don’t forget to use the hashtag, #fairfavorites when posting pictures on social media at the Fair! And download the Iowa State Fair and the Food Finder App to help navigate through all the activities, events, and fabulous foods throughout the Fairgrounds. I’m excited to see everyone with their #fairfavorites at the 2019 Iowa State Fair!
-Joy Van Wyngarden
“Since 1854, the Iowa State Fair has celebrated the best of Iowa – its quality food, its fertile land, and its hard-working people. The State Fair was designed to educate Iowa’s farmers about the very best ways to raise food and livestock. As a result, Iowa has evolved to a world leadership level in agricultural production. Today, the Iowa State Fair provides a showcase for Iowa as the Food Capital of the World.” – Governor Thomas J. Vilsack.
The Iowa State Fair began as an experiment in Fairfield, Iowa on just six acres of land. Since then, the Fair has expanded and grown and become a tradition for nearly 1 million people every August. Our State Fair is known for so many things including the famous butter cow, the Avenue of Breeds, riding the Ferris wheel, attending great concerts in the grandstands and eating food on sticks with real lemonade.
A huge aspect of the Fair for me growing up was 4-H. Almost every year I succeeded in having a non-livestock project be chosen for the Iowa State Fair and was so excited to have the opportunity to see my projects or give a presentation. Giving these presentations and having success in the visual arts project area is what actually led me to my career choice as a communicator. The goal of the 4-H program was to help rural youth by encouraging public school teacher to establish boys’ and girls’ clubs. From the beginning, members worked on projects, but the goal of 4-H has evolved from projects being demonstrations that centered around how to do something and now having the club member also talk about why they did the project and what they learned.
4-H has been a huge part of many young people’s lives and the Blue Ribbon Foundation plays a big part in raising the funds for a great building to showcase 4-Her’s work. After the 2019 Iowa State Fair a six million dollar renovation of the 4-H building will begin thanks to a donation from the Richard O. Jacobson Foundation. The building will be renovated from top to bottom with new lighting and floors, updated facilities and restrooms, construction of a new kitchen facility, and creating additional classroom space. This donation will allow many more generations to show off their projects at the great Iowa State Fair.
- Gabrielle Gerke, PR intern
