The 2024 Iowa State Fair will be in full swing August 8-18, and the Blue Ribbon Foundation has come down with Fair Fever! We hope you will come to see our smiling faces at all our locations on the Fairgrounds.
- Merchandise:
- Pick up a special souvenir at one of seven merchandise stands open 9 AM - 8 PM. Locations: Agriculture Building, Cattle Barn, Little Hands on the Farm, Museum, Service Center, Elwell Family Food Center, and south Lobby of the Varied Industries Building.
- Pick up a special souvenir at one of seven merchandise stands open 9 AM - 8 PM. Locations: Agriculture Building, Cattle Barn, Little Hands on the Farm, Museum, Service Center, Elwell Family Food Center, and south Lobby of the Varied Industries Building.
- Water Booths:
- Quench your thirst with ice-cold water while supporting future renovations. Water stand locations: Agriculture Building, Cattle Barn, Heritage Village, Little Hands on the Farm, Riley Stage, Service Center, and Thrill Town.
- Quench your thirst with ice-cold water while supporting future renovations. Water stand locations: Agriculture Building, Cattle Barn, Heritage Village, Little Hands on the Farm, Riley Stage, Service Center, and Thrill Town.
- Iowan of the Day:
- Help us honor an outstanding Iowan by joining us at the Anne & Bill Riley Stage, August 8-17 at noon to recognize our Iowan of the Day winners.
- Help us honor an outstanding Iowan by joining us at the Anne & Bill Riley Stage, August 8-17 at noon to recognize our Iowan of the Day winners.
- Painting Class:
- Take a break from the heat and take an Iowa State Fair Painting Class. There are morning and afternoon workshops held throughout the Fair in the Oman Family Youth Inn. Each lesson features Fair-themed design, two hours of instruction, all necessary supplies, and your finished painting to take home. You can register here!
- Take a break from the heat and take an Iowa State Fair Painting Class. There are morning and afternoon workshops held throughout the Fair in the Oman Family Youth Inn. Each lesson features Fair-themed design, two hours of instruction, all necessary supplies, and your finished painting to take home. You can register here!
- Going, Going Gone!
- Stop by the Anne & Bill Riley stage on August 13 for the Iowa Auctioneer Association’s Iowa Bid Calling Championships. Starting at 9 AM, these talented auctioneers will show off their skills while raising funds for the Foundation.
- Stop by the Anne & Bill Riley stage on August 13 for the Iowa Auctioneer Association’s Iowa Bid Calling Championships. Starting at 9 AM, these talented auctioneers will show off their skills while raising funds for the Foundation.
- BINGO:
- You also can find us on Wednesday, August 14, and Thursday August 15 on the Grand Concourse for BINGO from 9 AM to 7 PM. Join in a game for the chance to win the 50/50 pot! Fifty percent of the proceeds from each game will go to the Blue Ribbon Foundation to support our mission to renovate and preserve the Fairgrounds, and the other half will go to the winner!
- Woodcarvers’ Auction:
- Our final event of the Fair is the 2024 Woodcarvers’ Auction, held August 18 at 3:30 PM at the Cattle Barn. The auction will be a hybrid event offering both online items and an in-person auction. A selection of the carvings will be available for online bidding here starting Saturday, August 17 at 10 AM and closing on Sunday, August 18 at 5:30 PM.
- Fairgoers can come and watch the wooden creations come to life four times throughout each day of the Fair, August 8 -18, at 10 AM, 12 PM, 3:30 PM, and 5:30 PM, on Expo Hill.
- The Blue Ribbon Foundation also partnered with Sticks to create the 1st place winner of the concrete statue contest and it will be sold at the Woodcarvers’ Auction as well.
- Our final event of the Fair is the 2024 Woodcarvers’ Auction, held August 18 at 3:30 PM at the Cattle Barn. The auction will be a hybrid event offering both online items and an in-person auction. A selection of the carvings will be available for online bidding here starting Saturday, August 17 at 10 AM and closing on Sunday, August 18 at 5:30 PM.
- Renovations:
- During this year’s Fair you will notice several new projects thanks to the generosity of so many Iowans. The livestock barns - sheep, horse, swine and cattle - are undergoing an extensive $25+ million restoration over the next few years. Each barn will have upgrades for specific needs. The sheep barn is the first to be completed with updated office space, new and remodeled restrooms, a repainted interior and brick restoration. The sheep barn is ready to host livestock shows. There is still time to join the “Back the Barns” fundraising campaign for livestock barn renovations. Learn more here
- Other projects include: the creation of Jacobson Square, improvements to the Agriculture Building doors and ramp, a new campgrounds restroom, Ye Old Mill renovations, and installation of water bottle filling stations.
- Thank You:
- And finally, thank you to all of the volunteers and donors that contribute to the Blue Ribbon Foundation. We couldn’t do it without each and every one of you. We’ll see you at the Iowa State Fair!
- And finally, thank you to all of the volunteers and donors that contribute to the Blue Ribbon Foundation. We couldn’t do it without each and every one of you. We’ll see you at the Iowa State Fair!
-Chloe Hamaker, Public Relations Intern