Iowa State Fair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Iowa State Fair |
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"Nothing Compares"
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| Genre | State fair |
| Dates | 11 days |
| Location(s) | Iowa State Fairgrounds Des Moines, Iowa, United States |
| Coordinates | 41°35′44″N 93°32′55″W / 41.59556°N 93.54861°W |
| Years active | 1854–present (excluding 1898, 1942–1945, 2020) |
| Next event | August 7–17, 2025 |
| Attendance | 1,182,682 (Record) (2024) |
| Area | 445 acres (180 ha) |
| Website | Official Website: https://www.iowastatefair.org |
The Iowa State Fair is a big yearly event held in Des Moines, Iowa, every August. It started way back in 1854. Since 1886, it has taken place at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. This exciting fair lasts for 11 days in August. With more than a million visitors, it is one of the largest and most famous state fairs in the United States.
Contents
History of the Fair
The very first Iowa State Fair happened in Fairfield from October 25 to 27, 1854. Its budget was just $323! The fair was held in Fairfield again in 1855. For several years after that, it moved around to different towns, mostly in eastern Iowa.
The fair found a permanent home in Des Moines in 1878. In 1886, the Iowa State Legislature and the City of Des Moines provided money for the fair. This allowed it to move to its current location at East 30th and East Grand in Des Moines.
The fair did not happen in 1898 because of the Spanish–American War. It was also paused from 1942 to 1945 during World War II. During that time, the fairgrounds were used by the military as a supply base. In 2020, the fair was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a virtual fair was held online from August 13 to 23, 2020. The fair returned in person in 2021.
The Iowa State Fair was even featured in movies! It was the setting for the 1933 film State Fair and its musical version from 1945.
Fairgrounds: Where the Fun Happens
The fairgrounds cover a huge area of 450 acres (about 1.8 square kilometers). This includes 160 acres (about 0.65 square kilometers) for campsites. The fairgrounds are located at East 30th Street and East University Avenue. It is just a 10-minute drive east from downtown Des Moines. During the fair, the grounds are filled with exciting carnival rides and many food and game vendors.
Fun Contests and Competitions
Farm Animal Contests
The fair hosts many agricultural contests. These include competitions for the largest boar, ram, bull, and rabbit. Young people in 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) also show their sheep, pigs, cattle, horses, goats, llamas, rabbits, poultry, and dogs. Other fun contests include rooster crowing, hog calling, wood chopping, pie eating, and even cow chip throwing!
The Famous Butter Cow
One of the most famous attractions at the Iowa State Fair is the Butter Cow. It has been a fair favorite since 1911, when J.K. Daniels created the first one. The Butter Cow is located in the Agricultural Building.
From 1960, Norma "Duffy" Lyon sculpted the butter cow for 45 years. She created all six types of dairy cows. She also made butter sculptures of famous people like Garth Brooks and John Wayne. Other creations included the Peanuts characters and even a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
In 2006, Sarah Pratt, who had worked with Norma Lyon for a long time, took over. Her 2023 butter sculpture featured famous Iowa athletes Jack Trice, Kurt Warner, and Caitlin Clark.
Other Unique Contests
In the past, the Iowa State Fair held a "healthiest baby" contest for over 40 years. This contest aimed to give advice for healthy family living. It ran from 1911 until at least the 1950s.
Delicious Fair Food
The Iowa State Fair offers a huge variety of food from more than 200 food stands. You can find healthy options and even gluten-free choices. The fair is especially famous for its "food on a stick." In 2015, there were over 70 different foods on a stick!
Some of the most unique foods are deep-fried. These include deep-fried Snickers bars, Oreos, and cheesecake. The "pickle dawg" (pastrami or ham with cream cheese and pickle) is also popular. Deep-fried butter was a big hit when it was introduced in 2011. In 2020, apple egg rolls were voted the number one fair food. The 2023 People's Choice Best New Food was Deep-Fried Bacon Brisket Mac-n-Cheese Grilled Cheese.
Other popular meat-on-a-stick items include pork chops. Iowa is a top hog producer, so pork is a very common food at the fair. You can also find bacon-wrapped hot dogs dipped in cornmeal batter. The footlong corndog is another classic Iowa State Fair food.
Food Competitions
Food is also a big part of the friendly competition at the Iowa State Fair. The Elwell Family Food Center hosts contests for the best cooks and bakers in Iowa. From pies to cinnamon rolls, many delicious creations are shared every year.
Exciting Entertainment
The Grandstand
The Iowa State Fair Grandstand was built in 1909. It has been updated several times, including in 1927, 1997, and 2018, to add more and better seating. It is located on Grand Avenue, right near the main entrance. Many famous performers have played there. For example, the band Grateful Dead performed at the Grandstand on June 16, 1974.
The Bill Riley Talent Search
The Bill Riley Talent Search at the Iowa State Fair began in 1959. It features talented Iowans from ages 2 to 21. Bill Riley retired in 1996 after 50 fairs and 37 talent shows. The stage was then renamed the Anne and Bill Riley Stage. Bill Riley Jr. has hosted the show since 1997.
Nearly 100 local shows are held across the state to find contestants. There are seven days of preliminary competitions for "Sprouts" (ages 2–12) and "Seniors" (ages 13–21). These lead to semi-finals and then the final selection of a Sprout and Senior champion.
Past Fair Entertainment
The Iowa State Fair has hosted many different kinds of entertainment over the years. In 1932, Joseph Connolly arranged for two old trains to crash together in front of the Grandstand. The trains sped up to about 50 miles per hour and crashed in a fiery show for 45,000 fairgoers.
Other past entertainment included a plane crashing into a model house, a circus elephant, and even a human cannonball.
Iowa State Fair Parade
The Iowa State Fair Parade is considered Iowa's largest parade. It features around 200 floats, vehicles, and other performers. The parade happens the evening before the fair officially opens. It starts at the State Capitol Complex and travels west on Grand Avenue to 15th Street.
Political Soapbox
Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first president to visit the Iowa State Fair in 1954. Since then, many people running for president have visited the fair. The Des Moines Register newspaper now sponsors the "Political Soapbox." This gives candidates a place to speak to the public. Candidates have 20 minutes to talk and can answer questions from the crowd. The Iowa caucuses are often the first step in choosing presidential candidates. Because of this, the fair is a very important event for candidates before the caucuses.
Iowa State Fair Police Department
The Iowa State Fair Police Department was created in 2018. Before that, security was handled by private guards and local police. Now, officers wear a blue uniform with a special white cowboy hat. These police officers are state-certified. They work all year round, providing safety for the State Fair and other events held at the fairgrounds. There are six full-time officers and many part-time officers, including retired and active-duty police.
Future Fair Dates
- 2025: August 7–17
- 2026: August 13–23
