By the Numbers

The Blue Ribbon Foundation spends each fall reviewing what worked well and where we can improve. We strive to continue to grow each and every year.

A few 2024 Iowa State Fair highlights and fun facts to share:

  • The Blue Ribbon Foundation sold Iowa State Fair souvenirs as a fundraiser.
    • Total merchandise revenue: $679,000. This was a record breaking year!
    • Top items by revenue: t-shirts, sweatshirts and Butter Cow stuffed animals. Sold more Butter Cow stuffed animals than ever before.
    • Did you miss your ISF souvenir? Check out the online State Fair Store.
  • The Foundation also sold bottles of water at seven water booths across the Fairgrounds. Sales were $86,275. 
  • Volunteers:
    • Volunteers staff the merchandise stands and water booths. They help with the golf cart shuttle, Jake’s Club Hospitality Suite and BINGO.
    • 647 volunteers filled 1,371 shifts over the course of the 11 day Fair. That’s 5,254 hours!
    • This year, about 40 new people jumped in to volunteer for the Blue Ribbon Foundation. Thank you!
  • Iowan of the Day:
    • These outstanding Iowans from across the state make their individual communities better places to live!
    • Honored 10 Iowans from across the state. It's never too early to start working on a nomination. 
  • BINGO: 
    • We hosted 2 days of BINGO this year along Grand Avenue.
    • An average of 80 games were played each day with about 40 Fairgoers playing each game.
    • Raised a total of $5,286.50!
  • Woodcarvers’ Auction:
    • A nice crowd filled the Penningroth Media Center inside the Cattle Barn. 
    • Raising a total of $78,146 from the in-person and online auctions.
    • The creative piece - "Eagle with the Flag" sold for $5,300!
  • Painting Class:
    • Painting with a Twist hosted 10 painting classes in the Youth Inn. A portion of the proceeds were donated to the Blue Ribbon Foundation - $1,734.
  • Vacation Raffle:
    • The special Turks & Caicos vacation raffle sold 350 tickets, raising $35,000!
  • Interns:
    • The Blue Ribbon Foundation had 3 incredible interns over the summer. Thank you Lauren, Chloe and Jayce for working so hard. Join us for the summer of 2025.

Continuing to Grow:

  • Back the Barns: 
    • 134 donors have joined this fundraising campaign. Raising $530,000 to improving the historic Livestock Barns.
    • “Back the Barns” is a way for anyone with a passion for agriculture to support the renovation of the barns on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Providing youth with exceptional facilities in which to compete and showcase their hard work and skills every August is central to the Fair’s mission. 
    • Members of the campaign are those generous donors who have pledged $1,000 per year for 3 years in support of the project.  Donors receive a special belt buckle to celebrate their investment.
  • Capital Improvements:
    • Top improvements from 2024:
      • Ye Old Mill, Public Safety Building, Agriculture Building Ramp, Sheep Barn, Jacobson Square
    • Crews have already started on new improvements this fall!

Thank you for supporting the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation.  All of the numbers are just part of our story. It takes each and every donor, volunteer and advocate to make our organization successful - thank you.