Welcome to the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation’s blog!
We are a non-profit organization with a mission to raise funds for the renovation and preservation of the historic Iowa State Fairgrounds. Since our inception in 1993, the Foundation has raised more than $200 million through individual contributions, state appropriations, in-kind services, and corporate, federal and state grants.
Please follow our blog to learn more about our organization.
Can you believe there are only seven days until the Iowa State Fair?! Time has flown by this summer and many hours have been put into making the Fair a great experience for all Fairgoers! The fairgrounds have been busy all summer with landscapers planting new flowers and trees, construction workers completing the new Midway project and updates being made in various buildings. We have also been busy at the Blue Ribbon Foundation scheduling volunteers to work at our various merchandise and water booth stations, organizing each of the recognition days for the Iowan of the Day recipients and tieing up loose ends before the Fair! The grounds are beginning to fill up with food stands and people who are also preparing to make your Fair experience one you won't forget!
During your Fair visit, don't forget to enjoy our well known Fair Squares, sold near the Administration Building. This year's new flavor is Birthday Cake in honor of our 25th Anniversary! You can also sign up for a painting class and paint an icon of the Iowa State Fair.
You won't want to miss out! We can't wait to see you in seven days!
-Emily
Food stands are beginning to be set up in preparation for the Fair.
Today we were busy placing ordered bricks around the Fairgrounds. I know that everyone has been anxiously waiting to see their newly placed bricks.
If you purchased a brick this winter or spring make sure you find it during the Fair!
Interested in ordering a brick? A new batch will be placed this fall. There are 15 different brick locations across the Fairgrounds.
-Abbi
Enjoy a ladies day out during the Iowa State Fair and join us for a painting class! Take home a painted icon of the Iowa State Fair painted by you! Each painting class takes place on the third floor of Pattie & Jim Cownie Cultural Center.
The paintings availabe are:
Honey Lemonade
Funky Chicken
DNR Crappie
Fireworks
Happy Camper
I love the State Fair
Funny Bunny
Wooly Lamb
To sign up for a painting class, contact Kennedy Plowman at 515-262-3111 ext. 377 or register online.
Only 14 more days until the Iowa State Fair! See you there!
-Emily
The Blue Ribbon Foundation is excited to be celebrating 25 years as a Foundation. The Iowa State Fair has been growing for over 160 years. The history that lies between times is remarkable. Prime examples are the changes taken place in events like the famous food competitions and the wine and beer making showcases.
Every year, over 9,000 entries compete in the food competition. The food competition began in the Family Center and moved to the Elwell Family Food Center, previously known as the Iowa Tourism Building. This change of location provided additional display and judging space.
The wine and beer making showcase takes place in Grandfathers barn. Iowa is able to showcase the wine and grape, and beer industry at the State Fair. With your help, the Blue Ribbon Foundation was able to renovate the barn in 2008 to continue the showcase.
The past 25 years have been enhancing and compelling thanks to your generosity. We invite you to continue to become more involved with the Fair you know and love by supporting the Blue Ribbon Foundation 25th anniversary campaign at www.BlueRibbonFoundation.org.
-Kennedy
There is something about pitching a tent or hanging out in a camper for a weekend that revives families from the outside world. Most of the time, you’d find a family at a state park or lake, but this year during August 10-20, you’ll be able to find MANY campers at the Iowa State Fairgrounds enjoying 11 full days of excitement.
The Blue Ribbon Foundation has played an active part in updating the campgrounds. We want fairgoers to have the best experience during their stay and create lasting memories.
Over the past 25 years we have had an incredible support system and we thank you for your continued support. You can continue to support the Blue Ribbon Foundation in preserving and restoring areas on the Fairgrounds such as the campground for years to come by donating to our 25th anniversary campaign at www.BlueRibbonFoundation.org. With your help we can continue to make our Fairgrounds a beautiful place.
-Kennedy
The 2017 Iowan of the Day recipients have been chosen! I am so excited to meet these individuals who have made an impressive impact on the state of Iowa. The recipients strongly represent the entire state, as the winners come from all regions.
From main streets receiving a remodel and a designation, libraries being updated and built, to U.S. Marine Corps veterans being honored for their service, these Iowans have truly demonstrated their love and passion for our state. Iowa is in good hands with these individuals whom are also working to better our environment with improved conservation methods and strategies.
Our youth have great leaders to look up to. The recipients are continuously creating sporting, educational and community events to get children involved. Each of the ten recipients brings a unique way of life to their community, and as a group they are exemplifying the qualities that Iowans possess!
I am pleased to present the ten Iowan of the Day recipients for the 2017 Iowa State Fair:
Carolyn Scott of Bloomfield, IA-Thursday, August 10
Shirley Geadelmann of Clarence, IA-Friday, August 11
Donald Bries of Dubuque, IA –Saturday, August 12
Ron Bell of Mondamin, IA-Sunday, August 13
Marian McQuaid of Guthrie Center, IA- Monday, August 14
Patricia Nelson of Winterset, IA – Tuesday, August 15
Mary Doak of Grundy Center, IA – Wednesday, August 16
Marty Braster of Centerville, IA- Thursday, August 17
Chris Fox of Johnston, IA-Friday, August 18
Bernard Becker of Lakota, IA- Saturday, August 19
Plan to attend each of the winner’s presentation at the 2017 Iowa State Fair, taking place on the Anne & Bill Riley stage at 2: 30 P.M. each day. Thank you to those who nominated an Iowan in their community! Each nomination is considered for three years. We will see you in 21 days!
-Emily
Nearly 2,000 Iowa State Fair supporters gathered for a night of fun, food and fundraising. The Blue Ribbon Foundation auctioned off 31 live and 231 silent auction packages for totals of $149,550 and $68,090, respectively. The Patron contributions totaled $282,350. The remaining funds consisted of tickets and merchandise sales.
The success of the Corndog Kickoff would not be possible without your help. Thank you to our attendees, volunteers, donors, and concessionaires for supporting our event. With your help, we will continue to renovate and preserve the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The Blue Ribbon Foundation thanks you for your continued support.
The Blue Ribbon Foundation was established by the State Fair Board in 1993 to conduct a major capital campaign for the renovation and preservation of the historic Iowa State Fairgrounds. Since its creation, the Foundation has been a key component of the Fair raising an amazing $135 million. The amazing journey the last 25 years is now being celebrated with a new book.
A Great State Fair: The Blue Ribbon Foundation and the Revival of the Iowa State Fair, by William B. Friedricks, takes you behind the scenes of the roller coaster ride of ups and downs of the Iowa State Fair’s long history, leading up to the Blue Ribbon Foundation and the remarkable revival it brought about the Iowa State Fairgrounds, now bigger and better than ever. The paperback book consists of 172 pages and includes over 40 photographs and illustrations. It will be sold for $20 at our merchandise booths during the Fair.
Along with the new book, the Foundation is also hosting a 25th Anniversary Campaign. The purpose of the campaign is to celebrate our history while creating awareness about our mission for the future. The proceeds of this campaign will be dedicated to Our Fair’s Future, the Blue Ribbon Foundation’s endowment fund. As the endowment grows, it will provide a reliable source of funding for future renovations, building enhancements and maintenance to the Fairgrounds, ensuring the Fair will be a grand tradition for generations to come.
The success of the Blue Ribbon Foundation the last 25 years would not be possible without all of you. Thank you for coming along this amazing journey with us, and being a part of the Fair that we all know and love.
-Taylor
The cover of A Great State Fair: The Blue Ribbon Foundation and the Revival of the Iowa State Fair
The Blue Ribbon Foundation began selling Fair Squares in 2010, and ever since the rice krispy treat on a stick has been a hit! Have you tried all of our flavors? From the original rice krispy flavor or peanut butter, to the Graham Champion with cocoa krispies and golden grahams, we have had a wide variety!
Our previous flavors have been Nothing Spared, the basic rice krispy treat with M&M’s, potato chips, Oreos, toffee and pretzels. Fair-berry Crunch consisted of crisp rice cereal, marshmallows and strawberry puree. Chocolate Marshmallow Malt was made with butter, marshmallows, chocolate chips, cocoa puffs and malted milk powder. Salted Caramel was a delicious mix of sweet and salty with regular rice krispy treat drizzled with chocolate, caramel and salty goodness.
In honor of the Blue Ribbon Foundation’s 25th Anniversary, we wanted to celebrate! Join us at the Fair to celebrate with a piece of “cake” with a Birthday Cake Fair Square!
You can find the Fair Square booth North West of the Administration building. Fair Squares are $2.50 each. We can’t wait to see you at the Fair to help us celebrate our 25th Anniversary!
-Emily
Iowa is known for agriculture. We are a state that prides ourselves on the contributions we make to agriculture in society. Stepping on to the Fairgrounds, that is clearly evident as seen in all 4H, FFA, and other exhibitor’s projects. Whether your work is showcased in a show ring, on a rack, on a plate, or in a vase, agriculture surrounds every corner of the Iowa State Fair. Many of these entries can be found in the John Deere Agriculture Building or Pioneer Hall.
Green thumb and beekeeper exhibitors showcase all of their hard work in the Agriculture Hall. This hall was one of the first buildings on the Fairgrounds to be renovated from wood frame to permanent brick and stone. The beautiful rotunda arks that preface each entrance have been restored and decorated with shells of stone. This building is quite popular during the fair because of what lies inside. The famous butter cow and jumbo vegetable displays can be found here. The Agriculture building is also home to my favorite display, the Iowa FFA Foundation. Multiple blue jackets from chapters all over the state of Iowa are hung each telling its own story.
Pioneer Hall is the only original building built for the 1886 Fair that still remains. The history comes alive from the inside. Many artifact and antiques are located here.
Each building has a purpose and a story. At the Blue Ribbon Foundation, we strive to keep the history and stories living on each year for fairgoers to experience by providing funding to restore and enhance the areas. Your support over the past 25 years has been extraordinary and we look forward to the years to come. Continue supporting the Blue Ribbon Foundation by donating to our 25th anniversary campaign at www.BlueRibbonFoundation.org.
-Kennedy
