Volunteering for the 2024 Iowa State Fair: Our many behind-the-scenes volunteers and their helpful smiles are what keep the Foundation’s Fairtime tasks running smoothly at the Iowa State Fair. Each year, more than 600 Blue Ribbon Foundation volunteers donate their time and energy by helping sell merchandise and bottled water at the Foundation's many stands. Volunteers spent 5,050 hours volunteering at the 2023 Fair!
By utilizing volunteer workers, merchandise and water sales are more profitable, which allows the Foundation to put more profits toward the Fairground’s renovation projects rather than expenses.
WHAT WE ASK
• Responsibility options include:
o Selling merchandise
o Selling bottled water
o Working the BINGO tent
o Hospitality tasks
• All volunteers work 4- or 5-hour shifts.
• Share your Iowa State Fair enthusiasm with Fairgoers.
• Answer general questions about the Foundation's many fundraising programs.
WHAT VOLUNTEERS RECEIVE
• One complimentary admission ticket per person for each day they work.
• One complimentary parking pass (per person or per couple/pair working together) for each day they work.
• Official Blue Ribbon Foundation volunteer T-shirt.
• A FUN experience!
• Our gratitude!
Volunteers must be 16 years of age to volunteer individually or 12 years of age to volunteer with a parent or other adult. We ask that volunteers working merchandise sign up for a minimum of two shifts.
SEVERAL WAYS TO SIGN UP
1. Watch this web page – the VolunteerLocal portal link below will open at 8 am on Wednesday, May 22nd.
2. Instructions and the portal link will be included in the May issue of "The Buzz" volunteer-focused eNewsletter that will land in the email inbox of past volunteers and those who’ve indicated an interest in volunteering this year.
3. Email or call Meg if you prefer to avoid signing up online.
EXCITING NEWS FOR RETURNING 2023 VOLUNTEERS
2023 volunteers won’t have to fill out the online registration form again this year. When you click the link below, all you need to do is provide your first name and email address (be sure to use the same information you used in 2023) and you will go directly to the shift sign-up page.
If you have a new address, want to change your T-shirt size submitted last year, or need to change any other information in your profile, there are several chances to review and update that information.
Click Here to Sign Up - SIGN UP STARTING 8 AM ON WEDNESDAY MAY 22nd
Click Here for Volunteer Local Use Instructions
We look forward to another successful Iowa State Fair with our valued Blue Ribbon Foundation volunteers helping make it all work smoothly. Please contact Meg Courter with any questions.
Meg Courter, Development Manager
515-262-3111, ext. 370
Meg@BlueRibbonFoundation.org
--
Spring 2024 Volunteer Opportunities:
Updating Fairgrounds Benches: Have you noticed some of the park benches that grace the Iowa State Fairgrounds have been updated with a light tan composite slat material? To date, we have replaced the worn out wooden slats with this much longer-lasting material on more than 300 benches. But we have more work to do. In fact, we have the materials to redo 100+ benches between now and the Fair’s opening day in August. Want to lend a hand?
What We Need
• Your carpentry expertise
• June and July
What Volunteers Receive
• Meet fellow Fair fans
• Satisfaction in helping beautify the Fairgrounds
• One admission ticket and one parking pass to the Iowa State Fair per day volunteering