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.
As the spring newsletter hits mailboxes, here is a brief flashback to what the Blue Ribbon Foundation was doing 10 and 20 years ago.
The 1997 spring newsletter announced the beginning of an amazing relationship. William Knapp gave his first donation to the Blue Ribbon Foundation, a $1 million gift to renovate the Varied Industries Building. Knapp wanted to give back in a way that the entire state of Iowa could benefit. “His gesture is invaluable and precious in the context in which it is given – a spirit of genuine appreciate for his state and her people,” said John Putney, Executive Director at the time of the donation.
The Blue Ribbon Foundation also received a $470,000 gift from the Penningroth Family from their willed estate. In the spring of 1997, construction projects included updates on the east side of the Horse Barn, Grandstand seating area and the interior of the Administration Building.
The first Corndog Kickoff was promoted for a Friday night in Pioneer Hall. The top item in the auction: the privilege of being first in line at the Iowa Pork Producers Tent! The 1997 donor profile highlighted Joyce Lock and Dee Witmack as co-chairs for the Corndog Kickoff. Readers got a sneak peek of the new campgrounds lapel pin and the pie dish pottery piece.
Jennifer Cannon, the Sponsorship Director at the time, wrote the editorial in the 2007 spring newsletter. She wrote about her personal experience with livestock. She went from living in an apartment in the city to a farm in the country. With the 2007 construction of the Animal Learning Center, kids from across the state would have the opportunity to experience the birth of baby animals and have a taste of living on a farm.
The State Fair museum was in the process of being updated with a new basement, an addition, new roof and windows. The building continues to hold Fair artifacts and memorabilia. Four interns were announced to join the staff in the summer months. The 2007 donor profile featured Barksdale’s Concessions. Joe Barksdale was the creator of the warm chocolate chip cookies in a cup. Equally important, Barksdale’s was a loyal contributor to the Foundation and still is today.
In the 2017 spring newsletter, Robin reflects on the Foundation’s 25 years of improvements across the Fairgrounds. Included is information about volunteering for the Corndog Kickoff and the Iowa State Fair. And as in previous years, we are excited to welcome summer interns to our team.
Donation opportunities include becoming a Corndog Kickoff patron, donating an auction item or participating in the Principal Charity Classic’s Birdies for Charity program. There is a update of current projects underway – the midway, west plaza expansion, east 33rd street, stalling barn… the list goes on and on.
The Blue Ribbon Foundation is successful because of its supporters – the donors, volunteers, and the Iowans that love the State Fair. This 2017 spring newsletter highlights some of those people - Governor Branstad, the Iowan of the Day program and the donor profile: the Bohling family.
Check out the Blue Ribbon Foundation’s spring newsletter. You can also join our E-News mailing list to get the inside scoop on Blue Ribbon Foundation activities delivered right to your inbox every month.
They say April showers bring May flowers, and with all the recent rainfall, I hope that is the case!
Signs of Spring are all around us and along with those come the preparation for the summer ahead. Every day that passes is another day closer to the Corndog Kickoff and then the Fair! That means the days are getting busier every day. With only three full weeks until finals week, my schedule is jam packed with final projects and studying to do! Donations are rolling in for the Corndog Kickoff and I am excited for the auction because there are some cool donations! Get excited for some great experiences ahead! I am starting to prepare for the Iowan of the Day so be thinking of an outstanding Iowan in your community that deserves to be the Iowan of the Day and put together their nomination packets.
I recently had the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. for the 97th Annual Block and Bridle Convention. While on the plane ride there, I sat by a gentleman from Maryland who attended the Iowa State Fair last summer. I was fascinated and so excited to hear him say how much he loved it! That only got me more excited for the Fair and to meet all the people that attend from all around the country!
From writing nomination letters to organizing donations, I am keeping busy! I am anxious for summer to be here and to see the preparation for the Corndog Kickoff and Fair come together. Just about four more weeks until the rest of the interns are in the office and we will be off to the races!
-Emily
Hi everyone!
I’m Emily Blum! My summer has begun early and I am the first intern in the office jumping in full swing preparing for the summer ahead! I grew up on a diversified grain and livestock farm in Western Iowa near Denison and grew up loving the Fair, so there is no doubt that I’m excited to embark on this journey at the Iowa State Fair this spring and summer! Being born and raised on a farm has taught me to love agriculture and the fair atmosphere. Showing pigs through 4-H and FFA, exhibiting non-livestock projects and hanging out in the barns during the county fair was my favorite part of the summer and now I get so spend my whole summer at the great, Iowa State Fair!
My passion for agriculture leaded me to Iowa State University, where I am currently a junior majoring in Agriculture Communications. I stay very busy with club activities and responsibilities, as I serve as a public relations tri-chair for the 2017 Bacon Expo, as well as a member of the Block and Bridle club serving on multiple committees. I am also a member of the Agriculture Communicators of Tomorrow club and a contributing writer for the College of Ag and Life Sciences publication, CALS Connections. As you can tell I love being involved in as many things that I can handle!
This summer I am excited to be the public relations intern. I will be in charge of the Iowan of the Day program and will be a member of the selection committee for the winners of each day of the Fair! I will also be assisting with the Corndog Kickoff. My first week in the office has left me excited and ready to take on my role as the public relations intern for the Blue Ribbon Foundation!
Me (right) at the 2016 Bacon Expo with my favorite mascot, Cy!
My family and I posing for a picture during harvest, my favorite time of year!
Today is the first day of spring but the Blue Ribbon Foundation staff started our spring cleaning around the office weeks ago. With the clutter cleaned up, a few treasures were discovered. Stored in the back of a closet were two merchandise items, a tote bag and sweatshirt - Iowa State Fair swag from 1994!
The canvas tote bag has the Blue Ribbon Foundation’s first campaign logo, “Treasure Our Fair” while the crew neck sweatshirt highlights Fairgrounds’ buildings. Merchandise sales have been a successful avenue of fundraising for the Foundation from the very beginning.
You can buy almost anything during the Iowa State Fair – a mattress, a hot tub, a mop that will change the way you clean. But remember when you purchase a souvenir from the Blue Ribbon Foundation; you are supporting the Iowa State Fair’s future. The proceeds from merchandise sales go right back into Fairgrounds’ renovation projects.
The Foundation has sold series of merchandise items – cookbooks, pottery pieces, lapel pins, and Christmas ornaments. Each year there are t-shirts, charms, hats, prints – some commemorate the year and specific Fair theme. With the State Fair more than 100 days away, we are already searching for new souvenirs to sell in August.
Broken Arrow Wear created and printed the sweatshirt in 1994. The Foundation still partners with this Des Moines company for t-shirt designs - remember the Butter Cow Security shirts? Thank you Broken Arrow Wear for your continued creativity! The Blue Ribbon Foundation has partnered with several other Iowa businesses for merchandise.
The State Fair Plaques are created by Sticks. John Bosley, Bozz Prints, produced a print of the Iowa State Fair fireworks sold during the 2016 Fair. The Blue Ribbon Foundation will continue our partnership with Isabel Bloom to sell a custom piece. Willow Avenue Pottery from Panora makes our annual pottery piece. Competitive Edge prints t-shirts and Sigler produced the latest edition of the cookbook. Our lapel pins are made in Mt. Pleasant Hill by Staats. There is something incredible valuable about supporting a business from your home state. It makes the merchandise even more special.
If you have a merchandise suggestion, please share it with us! We want to know what Iowa State Fair swag is your favorite.
Check out the State Fair Store online or stop by our office if you are around Des Moines. We are located in the Earth Home (under the wind turbine, by the Cultural Center and Fun Forest). We are open Monday – Friday from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.
