Iowa State Fair
iowa state fair annual state fair held de moines iowa august began held iowa state fairground since based state capital de moines iowa day period august million visitor one largest best known state fair united state first iowa state fair staged fairfield october – budget fair held fairfield next several year moved town town remaining mostly eastern iowa fair held muscatine – oskaloosa – iowa city – dubuque – burlington – clinton – keokuk – – cedar rapid – – fair moved permanently within de moines city limit iowa state legislature city de moines appropriated fund fair moved current location east th east grand de moines fair held due celebration world fair nearby omaha nebraska well spanish–american war – due world war ii state allowed military personnel use ground supply depot postponed due covid pandemic however august – virtual fair held place fair returned fair setting film state fair musical adaptation fairground spread acre km including acre km campsite located east th street east university avenue minute drive east downtown de moines fairground filled carnival ride vendor fair agricultural contest held largest boar ram bull rabbit h future farmer america ffa openclass show sheep swine beef dairy cattle horse goat llama rabbit poultry dog contest include rooster crowing hog calling wood chopping pie eating monster arm wrestling outhouse racing cow chip throwing butter cow iowa state fair staple since jk daniel sculpted first one located agricultural building sculpting first butter cow norma duffy lyon sculpted six breed dairy cow next year well garth brook butter version grant wood american gothic peanut character iowa native john wayne elvis presley harleydavidson motorcycle various animal butter rendition leonardo da vincis last supper lyon succeeded longtime apprentice sarah pratt pratts butter sculpture featured iconic iowa athlete jack trice kurt warner caitlin clark past iowa state fair hosted healthiest baby contest year stated goal contest dispense advice healthy family living believe also outlet promotion eugenics contest ran least iowa state fair variety food including healthy glutenfree offering food stand fair known food stick numbered offering distinctive deep fried including snicker oreo cheesecake pickle dawg pastrami ham cream cheese pickle butter popular addition introduced state fair known many different wild dish new addition popular apple egg roll voted fair food people choice best new food deepfried bacon brisket macncheese grilled cheese what’s cheez meatona stick product include pork chop endemic food fair given state status country top hog producer baconwrapped hot dog dipped cornmeal batter footlong corndog classic iowa state fair food item food also part friendly competition iowa state fair gathered elwell family food center best cook baker iowa offer pie cinnamon roll fair see many delicious creation every year iowa state fair grandstand built renovated add improved seating located grand ave main gate grateful dead played grandstand part show released road trip volume number bill riley iowa state fair talent search debuted feature iowan age riley retired fair fair talent show plaza stage renamed anne bill riley stage died december succeeded bill riley jr host since nearly local qualifying show held across state seven day preliminary competition sprout age – senior age – followed semifinal ultimately selection sprout senior champion iowa state fair home many form entertainment year notably fair hired joseph connolly crash two outdated locomotive together front grandstand connolly named one hoover one roosevelt honor presidential candidate day presaging state fair role presidential nomination train accelerated approximately mile per hour smashed fiery spectacle fairgoers past entertainment includes plane intentionally crashing model house circus elephant human cannonball iowa state fair parade considered iowa largest parade around float vehicle performer occurs evening opening state fair parade begin state capitol complex travel west grand th street dwight eisenhower first president visit iowa state fair since presidential candidate visited fair de moines register currently sponsor political soapbox” provides space candidate speak public candidate minute speak take question crowd well historically iowa caucus first contest presidential nomination process fair preceding caucus high visibility event candidate iowa state fair police department established replacing combination private security guard local law enforcement agency previously provided security policing service fairground officer wear blue uniform distinctive white cowboy hat police officer statecertified officer funded iowa state fair authority officer work yearround providing service state fair event held fairground six fulltime police officer number parttime officer made retired activeduty officer people arrested fair booked site transported polk county jail de moines police department iowa state patrol august august rasmussen chris carnival countryside history iowa state fair university iowa press x pp rasmussen chris progress catastrophe public history iowa state fair annals iowa official site de moines register iowa state fair page