February 25, 2015
Last week, I filed my federal and state taxes. It was easy. I know as my life gets more complicated in the next few years the process will likely get more difficult. There is one very simple way to support the Blue Ribbon Foundation during tax season, no matter how complex or
confusing your taxes may be – the Corndog Checkoff.
By simply checking line 58b of Iowa Tax Form 1040 or line 14 of 1040A, a portion of your return will go straight to the Blue Ribbon Foundation to be used for renovation on the Fairgrounds. New projects like the MidAmerican Energy Stage, phase one of Ruan Plaza and updates to the Youth Inn will all be complete by this year's Fair. It doesn't have to be a large amount of your return. The minimum amount you're able to check-off is $1. If avid Fair-goers across the state each gave a small donation, it could turn out to be a great fundraising effort for the Foundation. In its 21st year, the Corndog Checkoff has raised more than $1.7 million.
Since January, Jenna has been working on promoting the Corndog Checkoff with press releases, postcard mailings, and radio interviews. I’ll be completely honest, before working for the Blue Ribbon Foundation I didn't know a lot about the program. What I’ve learned and tried to share with others is that the Corndog Checkoff is an easy way for Iowa residents to make a huge impact for the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
Now as I patiently wait for my tax return, I’ve been thinking about what I might do with the extra money making its way into my bank account. I know the responsible thing is to put the money in my savings account or toward my students loans. Right now with the cold weather and potential snow flurries, I’m thinking about a Mexico vacation.
I encourage you to keep the Corndog Checkoff in mind as you're filing your taxes in the next month. If you are a Corndog Checkoff supporter - spread the word! Remember, it only takes $1 to make a huge difference. The more people that are aware of the Checkoff, the more people will donate. If you are a tax preparer, we have information that you can make available to your clients.
Email Jenna with any questions.
Corndog Checkoff contributions are anonymous to the Foundation, therefore making it impossible to recognize those individuals. Although the gifts are nameless, they are extremely significant and greatly appreciated.
A Corndog Checkoff billboard from when the program first started:
Work on the first phase of Ruan Plaza:
Construction continues on the MidAmerican Energy Stage:
February 18, 2015
January was filled with intern interviews as we searched for college students to join the Blue Ribbon Foundation’s team. This February, we’ve been planning their individual projects and dividing the work that needs to be accomplished this summer. One intern will join the team part-time in the month of March and the others will jump on board in May.
Last year was my first time promoting the
internship program, collecting the applications, and interviewing potential students. I was a bit nervous about being on the other side of the Foundation's internship.
Thinking about last summer, I came up with the top 5 moments from my first group of interns.
5. Placing more than 100 bricks across the Fairgrounds and rewarding ourselves with ice cream bars from Dairy Zone.
4. Working late nights and weekends, only to see the interns contribute to auction ideas, create unique promotional materials, and organize volunteers for our record breaking Corndog Kickoff.
3. Having three people ready to jump in on any given task, even if I didn’t know what exactly I was doing.
2. Introducing the interns to one of my favorite food places during the Fair (The Rib Shack) and convincing one of them to join me at least 7 of the 11 days of the Fair.
1. Watching three talented young women grow professionally in the real world.
The Blue Ribbon Foundation internship program is hard work and a great learning experience, wrapped in a lot of fun. The new interns have big shoes to fill because last year’s crew was top notch.
We had more applications this year than ever before. I was impressed with the talent level of the students that applied for the position. I enjoyed talking and learning more about each of the applicants we interviewed. They were all very motivated and involved in a wide range of activities. Several students expressed how they were goal-oriented and dedicated to their work. Whether it was excelling in the classroom or serving as a leader within a campus organization, these students seemed up to the challenge of working for the Iowa State Fair. Each of the interviewees spoke of their individual experience with the Fair and how much it meant to them. It was a difficult decision to choose the best fit for our internship needs.
We are pleased to welcome Delaney Howell (Northwest Missouri State), Maggie Jennett (Iowa State), Molly Schmitt (Wartburg College) and Anna Van Waardhuizen (Drake) to the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation. Look for more information about all four of these ladies in our Spring newsletter and throughout the summer. These women will be busying organizing the
Iowan of the Day program, preparing for the
Fairgrounds 5K, coordinating all of the summer’s volunteers, planning special events, and of course “other duties as assigned” – meaning pretty much any and everything that helps make the Foundation a success.
Again this year, I will do my very best to help make their internship experience rewarding. There is no doubt I will learn something from each of them throughout the summer. With a year under my belt – I feel more confident I’ll be able to help the interns succeed.
2014 Blue Ribbon Foundation Team:
February 11, 2015
This week, volunteers are staffing the Blue Ribbon Foundation’s merchandise booth during the
Iowa Beef Expo. Some of the items for sale include the
Sky Glider ornament,
State Fair plaques and the
17th Edition Cookbook. It's safe to say, these are the most popular items. Each year the Blue Ribbon Foundation creates a new ornament, pottery piece, and plaque to sell during the Fair. The cookbook is published every two years with new recipes. Several Blue Ribbon Foundation supporters purchase the souvenir items each year to add to their personal collections.
That got me thinking about collecting things in general. People collect stamps, coins, baseball cards, comic books, or almost anything.
As a kid, my sisters and I had hundreds of beanie babies, keychains, and Barbie dolls. My stuffed animal collection filled my closet. At one point, I think I even collected the little shampoo bottles from hotels. I thought my parents collected everything. Thimbles, Hard Rock Café guitar pins, Oreo cookie tins, Red Wing crocks, rare beer bottles, Depression glassware, football memorabilia, and the list goes on.
Each year, my mom buys one of the mini crocks sold from a booth in Pioneer Hall. It’s become a tradition that Pioneer Hall is the first building they explore on their trip to the Fair. I'd be willing to bet there are other Fairgoers that have State Fair collections. Maybe it’s a collection of the ribbons won during competitions, a yearly design made from the Spin Art booth or ticket stubs from a favorite Grandstand concert.
One reason I think people collect things is to keep their favorite memories alive. The Foundation is perfect for helping Fairgoers do just that. Each year, new merchandise items can be added to your collection - ornaments, lapel pins, postcards, cookbooks, pottery pieces and State Fair plaques. Check out the
State Fair Store for all our merchandise items. If you have a special memory at the Iowa State Fair, we can help you keep that moment for years to come with one of our
giving programs.
The engraved bricks, pavers and plaques are part of a bigger collection on the Fairgrounds. They represent individual memories that together make the State Fair special to so many Iowans.
For all Fair-lovers, keep adding to your collection. We appreciate your continued support of our work to preserve the Fairgrounds for future generations and all the memories in the making.
February 4, 2015
Like most of Iowa right now, the Fairgrounds are under a white blanket. As much as I hate to admit, the snow covered buildings and trees make for a pretty view. There are pops of color on certain buildings that stand out when the ground is cover with snow that you don’t see when the area is filled with people in the summer.
There is something about the blue sky and sunshine on the snow, that make the Fairgrounds seem calm and peaceful. Two words that aren’t normally used to describe the Iowa State Fair. The month of January went fast with unusually high temperatures. With the month of February in full swing and the groundhog’s predication, I know there will be more snow in our future. (Although I’m still counting the 44 days until spring.)
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. This year – forget the flowers, balloons, or candy and stick to the jewelry. The Foundation is offering a 10-20% discount on our jewelry in the
State Fair Store for the month of February. Give your sweetheart a special Iowa State Fair
necklace,
charm bracelet or
corndog ring.
Maybe your sweetie enjoys the Grandstand Concerts during the Fair. Surprise them with the opportunity to purchase tickets before they go on sale to the general public by joining our
Fan Fair program.
Don’t forget about the gift that will last a lifetime – an
engraved brick on the Fairgrounds. This is a classic way to show your love. You can even commemorate your annual ride through the “tunnel of love” by placing a brick at Ye Old Mill. Check out all of the Foundation’s
giving programs for new Valentine’s Day gift ideas.
My Valentine doesn’t need to go overboard, but a nice surprise would be appreciated. I bet your Valentine would say the same. And let’s be honest - who wouldn’t want to an extra special Iowa State Fair inspired Valentine this year?
January 27, 2015
The Blue Ribbon Foundation is dedicated to preserving Iowa State Fair traditions. Contributions to the Foundation help improve the beauty of the Fairgrounds and enable building renovations. We have unique and creative ways to make a donation, whether you want to leave a lasting legacy or be a part of this year's Fair. Gifts can take many forms and are welcome at every level.
Our most popular giving programs are the
bricks,
lamp posts, and
trees. These programs have been around since the BRF started and are definitely favorites among Fair fans. I want to highlight a few of our other giving programs that are a perfect way to celebrate a State Fair memory, preserve a blue ribbon achievement or leave a personal legacy.
The Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center features a donor wall inspired by the barn quilts that hang on the exterior of the building. These barn quilts represent Iowa’s heritage and strength in agriculture. For a donation to the
Block by Block program, you can have your name on an individual block of the display. Also part of Jacobson is our
Building for the Future program. There are granite pavers and seat plaques available for donors to display a special inscription.
During the Fair, Grand Avenue becomes the busiest street on the Fairgrounds. It’s prime real estate for our
Legacy Terrace giving program. Whether it is a cast-bronze plaque at the base of a tree or a granite paver – these things are sure to be noticed by all.
I’d like to introduce our newest giving program: the
Courtyard of Celebration. The renovation of the Patty & Jim Cownie Cultural Center included a courtyard on the east side of the building. The courtyard was home to Art Attack during the 2014 Fair. It’s a great place to relax while your kids enjoy hands-on crafts and artistic activities.
The Cultural Center’s courtyard features charcoal, concrete pavers ready for personalized engravings. With 8x8” and 8x16” pavers available – the unique design adds to the existing Cultural Center’s purpose of showcasing Iowa artists' work in fine arts, photography, creative arts and wood projects.
If your favorite part of the Fair is the agricultural, art, food, entertainment, history or just the overall atmosphere of the Fair – you can support the Blue Ribbon Foundation’s work to preserve and improve the Fairgrounds while leaving a personal touch.
My favorite part about managing the
giving programs is seeing Fairgoers’ creativity with the inscriptions. There are plenty of inside jokes among families and friends that I wouldn’t mind hearing the story of what happened. First dates, favorite foods, and prize winning livestock – there are so many memories being captured across the Fairgrounds with our giving programs. From a child’s first Fair to a memorial for a 75 year camper, the Iowa State Fair is filled with things to reminiscence. The giving programs are a perfect way to preserve history and share your love for the Iowa State Fair.
The deadline to have a giving program in place by the 2015 Fair is March 31. Check out the Blue Ribbon Foundation’s
website or
email me with any questions.
January 23, 2015
The cold temperature and lack of sunshine can put a damper on anyone’s day. Even the Blue Ribbon Foundation office can suffer from those winter blues every once in a while.
I put together a quick list - "5 Ways to Beat those Winter Blues: Iowa State Fair Style".
1. Take a cruise around the Fairgrounds. The gates are open to the public throughout the year and it’s a perfect opportunity to check out construction projects. The new MidAmerican Energy stage is coming along nicely. Crews are currently constructing the new restrooms. Renovations are continuing with the Youth Inn. Plans for more spring/summer projects are being finalized.
2. Turn up the music. Tickets are on sale now for the upcoming
Hairball concert in the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center on Friday, January 30. Spend a night on the Fairgrounds with friends enjoying all your favorite hits from the 80s. It’s also a good time of year to start planning your State Fair concert schedule. Take advantage of the Foundation’s
Fan Fair program. For a $150 donation, you can purchase two Grandstand concert tickets during a special presale.
3. Get a jump start on your taxes. This year, all it takes is one little checkmark on your state tax form to help the Foundation continue to renovate and preserve the Fairgrounds’ beloved structures. The
Corndog Checkoff has raised nearly $1.7 million, and has supplemented restoration projects from the Agricultural Building to Ye Old Mill.
4. Make your own blue ribbon winning recipe! The
Iowa State Fair Cookbook is filled with prize winning food from the 2012 and 2013 Fairs. Try a classic family favorite or new tasty treat from one of the Fair’s 226 food divisions and 883 classes. The recipes in the cookbook are the first place winners out of nearly 700 exhibitors and more than 9,800 entries. Get your own copy of the 17th Edition Cookbook in the
State Fair Store.
5. Start the countdown. Only 201 days until the Iowa State Fair and (maybe even better) only 170 days until the
Corndog Kickoff. Now is the time to think about attending the event, being a
Kickoff Patron, or donating to the
auction. If you are interested in volunteering on the Advisory or Auction committees,
email me for more details.
I hope this helps you get through the next few months. The Foundation is beating those winter blues by staying busy preparing for the summer. We will be ready and hope you are too!
January 14, 2015
I could easy claim the last 12 months as my “Year of Concerts”. I started in January by seeing Florida Georgia Line and Jason Aldean. A couple weeks later, I went to the Hairball concert at the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center on the Fairgrounds.
Over Memorial Day weekend, I attended my first outdoor country music festival. Lots of up and coming country artists took the stage with headliners Brad Paisley and Toby Keith.
During the Fair, I had the chance to see Florida Georgia Line again during their Grandstand show. I finished the year by seeing Eric Church in September, Garth Brooks in November, and Cole Swindell in December. I’d say my favorite show was seeing Garth Brooks because he is a country music legend. FGL was a close second because the duo puts on such an entertaining show.
The Iowa State Fair is a combination of great free and ticketed entertainment, outdoor venues, and 11 days full of entertaining music. Although the hot sunshine of August might seem far off in the distance, the musical acts are already being booked for the 2015 Fair. Taking the
free stages across the Fairgrounds are acts like: Vocal Trash, The Nadas, and The Blue Band. I’m looking forward to what entertainment will perform on the new MidAmerican Energy Stage.
Kicking off the
Grandstand line-up for 2015 is Casting Crowns. The Foundation offers a special program for Fair-goers wanting to attend Grandstand Concerts.
Fan Fair is your chance to support the Foundation’s work while being able to purchase Grandstand concert tickets before the general public. For each $150 contribution made to the Fan Fair program, you become eligible to purchase two tickets during a special presale.
Email me with any questions.
Starting of my 2015 “concert tour” will be
Hairball. Despite my love for country music, I had a great time last year at the 80’s rock impersonation act. It wasn’t just the old classic songs to sing along with, but the costume changes, light show, and high energy crowd made for a fun night. The Jacobson Exhibition Center transforms from the prestigious horse show arena to a perfect concert space.
Buy your tickets by January 29 to take advantage of the early-bird admission discount.
Over the next year, there are several big music concerts coming to the Des Moines area. Right now, my calendar is looking pretty open. The State Fair will be announcing other free entertainment and the remaining Grandstand line-up in the next few months. As low man on the totem pole, I’m just as excited as other Fair-goers to hear who’s coming in August.
January 9, 2015
The first full week of 2015 has been bitterly cold. With negative and single digit temperatures, it’s not a surprise that frozen pipes have been the struggle of my week. First thing Monday morning, the Blue Ribbon Foundation office had no running water. Fortunately we had heat and electricity, so work could still get accomplished. The lack of water wasn’t a huge problem for us. (Unless you are someone like me that drinks three cups of coffee in the morning.) It only took our outstanding maintenance staff a few hours to heat the pipes and get things fixed. We had running water before I had to travel down to the Administration Building to use the bathroom.
The construction across the road from our office has been depending on our water supply. The crew has been struggling all week to get the outdoor faucet to work but the cold temperatures haven’t stopped their efforts on the renovations. Every day there is some new aspect of the future MidAmerican Energy stage going into place. It’s hard to tell what exactly is being done on site but it’s exciting to know that in six months a brand new stage will be ready for free entertainment during the Fair.
This week, I’ve also had trouble with frozen pipes at my own home. Strangely enough, only the cold water pipe in the kitchen was frozen. After space heaters, added installation, and the hairdryer - I’ve got running water. Again, it wasn’t a huge issue but more of an inconvenience. Luckily the pipes never burst.
To say I’m wishing for warmer temperatures is an understatement! I know we are only getting started with winter weather but I’m already looking ahead to spring and summer. This week, we’ve started interviewing candidates for our summer internship positions. In the next few weeks, we will hire our new interns. Knowing that we will have talented college students join our team for the summer, gets me excited!
The interns will take on projects like the
Iowan of the Day program, recruiting/organizing volunteers,
Corndog Kickoff promotions – the list goes on and on. New to the task list is the
Fairgrounds 5K. One of our interns will help with the planning and executing of a 5K race during the Iowa State Fair! It’s a huge event to add to our busy Fair schedule but I’m ready to see how the 5K can grow into an even bigger fundraiser for the Foundation.
I hope everyone (pipes included) stay warm over the next few days. I’ll be keeping busy and warm at my desk.
The stack of internship applications on my desk:
Snow covered construction:
December 30, 2014
Let the countdown begin! Tomorrow evening, people all around the world will countdown to the New Year. Whether you are out on the town or wearing your pajamas on the couch – New Year’s Eve is a time to celebrate! I will be hosting my first gathering at the new place. I’m looking forward to ringing in 2015 with friends. Hopefully my guests enjoy my Fair food inspired appetizers.
The Blue Ribbon Foundation has so much to be proud of over the past year. Below are a few of the highlights that stuck out in my mind.
January: Hired three (amazing) interns for the summer. Thanks again Stephanie, Paris and Emily for joining our team.
February: With help from volunteers, we sold merchandise at the annual Iowa Beef Expo.
March: Bid farewell to long time BRF Executive Director, John Putney. (While celebrating his 70th birthday!)
May: Started recruiting, organizing and scheduling our 440 summer
volunteers.
June: With help from the interns, I placed 126
bricks across the Fairgrounds
July: Held another record breaking
Corndog Kickoff with $424,000 raised for future renovations to the Fairgrounds.
August: Celebrated the Amazingly Amusing Iowa State Fair!
September: Recovered from the Fair and returned to our quiet office of four employees.
October: We placed another round of bricks across the Fairgrounds.
The Blue Ribbon Foundation staff was busy year round and will be again during 2015. There is one countdown that is always on my mind… only 225 days until the 2015 Iowa State Fair. There is plenty to do between now and August. The Foundation is grateful for every volunteer and donor that supports our work. We wish only the best to you and your family in 2015!
December 3, 2014
Make sure you check your mailbox this week! Coming your way are membership program renewal letters for 2015. All Fan Fair, 1854 Society and Jake’s Club members should be receiving details soon. The deadline for membership program renewals isn’t until March 1, but often people like to contribute before the end of the year for tax purposes.
If you aren’t currently a member, check out our programs below and see if you might be interested in joining. Donations to the Blue Ribbon Foundation help preserve and improve the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
Fan Fair: For each $150 contribution made to the
Fan Fair program, you become eligible to purchase 2 Grandstand concert tickets during a special presale. This gives you the opportunity to reserve your seats before the general public! Casting Crowns will be kicking off the
Grandstand line-up in August. More acts will be announced in the spring.
1854 Society: Funds raised by the
1854 Society helped renovate the Richard L. Easter Museum Complex. In the next year, work will continue on documenting Fair history with new archiving software. Future projects include creating a directory of families that have shown livestock for generations, and dedicating a new display to showcase their contributions to the Fair’s agricultural tradition. Another goal is to restore the old entrance gate from the late 1950's and have it displayed in Heritage Village. The initial fee of $1,854 gives you a number of exclusive benefits during the Fair, and the renewal each subsequent year is just $395 for those same benefits.
Jake's Club: Experience the VIP lounge in the Jacobson Exhibition Center during the Iowa State Fair. Balcony box seating, comfortable couches, live video feeds from shows around the Fairgrounds and a full bar are a few of the perks. The initial enrollment fee for
Jake's Club is $500, and the renewal fee is $100 each year.
If you're a renewing member for any of the programs, be sure to get your donations in by March 1, and if you're looking to join any of the programs above, feel free to contact
Drew with questions!
Side note: There are only three weeks to Christmas. Do you have someone on your list that has it all?
Help them leave their legacy on the Iowa State Fairgrounds by purchasing the gift of a brick, lamp post, tree, granite paver, a plaque on the donor wall or a gift from one of our other giving programs. For a full list of giving program options, visit www.BlueRibbonFoundation.org.
The Foundation held a special brunch for 1854 Society members during the 2014 Fair:
The Cowboy Mounted Shooting Demonstration was just one of the events held in the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center during the Fair:
The crowd before one of last year’s Grandstand shows:
