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.
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It’s already been one week since we’ve chosen our Iowans of the Day, and I’m so excited to meet each and every one of them at the Iowa State Fair! This year’s line-up includes outstanding Iowans who have contributed to their individual communities in diverse ways.
Our northern Iowa winners have truly done it all. Together, their list of accomplishments includes publishing 850 articles and six books about the history of Iowa’s Great Lakes, creating the Sturgis Falls Celebration, being a 4H leader for 40 years and organizing an annual celebration on the 4th of July for the community and veterans to enjoy.
Our other hometown heroes are equally as impressive. Their accomplishments include making 3,000 dresses for children in Africa, reopening the community’s closed theatre, being the previous national president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, helping to build a new Fairgrounds and dedicating their life to teaching the community about horticulture.
These individuals will be recognized with their own day at the Fair. He or she will be recognized on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage and presented as an Iowan of the Day daily at 2:30 p.m. Along with accommodations at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown, they will each receive a cash prize, Grandstand and Iowa State Fair admission tickets and use of the Iowan of the Day golf cart.
I am pleased to present the 2016 Iowans of the Day:
Randy Duncan of Des Moines – Thursday, August 11
Aubrey LaFoy of Arnolds Park – Friday, August 12
Cheryl Wessels of Anita – Saturday, August 13
Steve Smith of Algona – Sunday, August 14
Curt Schwanebeck of Knoxville – Monday, August 15
Richard Vorthmann of Treynor – Tuesday, August 16
Edna Schrandt of Decorah – Wednesday, August 17
Willard Larsen of Camanche – Thursday, August 18
Bob Clark of West Des Moines – Friday, August 19
Rosemary Beach of Cedar Falls – Saturday, August 20
Thank you to all of those who submitted an application, it’s because of you that this great program is able to continue. As a reminder, applications are reviewed for three years. Find out more about this year’s Iowans of the Day at the Iowa State Fair August 11-21!
-Audra
In twenty days, the gates of the Iowa State Fairgrounds will be flooded with people from all over the country; people that are excited to see what the 2016 Iowa State Fair has to offer. As people around the Fairgrounds have been working tirelessly around the clock to get this place looking fabulous, I know it’s going to be just as great as every other year.
All my years attending the Fair have been the basic; show up, show my livestock, camp and maybe walk around a day or two. I can honestly say I didn’t realize how much work actually goes into making an event this large run. I didn’t fully appreciate the wonderful place where I end my summer every year. We never show enough gratitude for the people working behind the scenes to make sure WE, as fairgoers, have an enjoyable time.
The Oman Family Youth Inn, just days away from being ready for the Fair, has an exciting addition this year. The concrete crews have been working exceptionally hard this week to make sure a big piece of the puzzle gets done, the pouring of the lot north of the building. Due to the large amounts of rain we have received in Des Moines earlier this week, they have had to be very flexible and patient. We are fortunate enough to have had sunny weather two days in a row now so the lot should be poured soon! The opening ceremonies will be held at the Oman Family Youth Inn on August 11th at 9:00 am. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend so be sure to come see the new parking lot plus the remodeled inside of the “Hilton on the Hilltop.”
Can’t wait to see you all at the great Iowa State Fair!
-Francesca
This week is full speed ahead as the Blue Ribbon Foundation prepares for the Iowa State Fair! Without the Corndog Kickoff or the volunteer reception, it is nice to be able to focus on our Iowans of the Day.
Last year’s Iowan of the Day winner, Dennis Carlson from Hampton, Iowa, is yet another outstanding example of Iowa’s local Olympians.
Dennis organized the “Join Hands Day,” at the Cub Cadet Childhood Center in Hampton. On this day, volunteers gathered to landscape a memorial garden for the center’s late board president, with Dennis donating the trees for the garden.
His deeds have not gone unnoticed by the community, with Dennis receiving awards such as an Honorary FFA Degree from the CAL FFA chapter and Volunteer of the Year in 2012.
Dennis is also involved in his church’s Vacation Bible School, organizing hay rides and gardening sessions for the kids. He also dresses up each year as Ben Franklin for the 5th grade history class during their section on the American Revolution. Dennis, or Ben Franklin, does science experiments for the students and shares Franklin’s many inventions and quotes.
Dennis is always more than willing to invite students to his tree farm to learn more about forestry and nature. After funding for kids’ programming was cut from the local conservation program, Dennis stepped in to fill the void. Dennis uses puppets to teach children about the animals found in Franklin County and brings furs for them to feel.
Dennis has been described by those in the community as a servant leader. Even though the deadline to submit Iowans of the Day has passed, keep in mind your communities servant leaders for next year’s consideration.
Keep in touch to find out this year’s Iowans of the Day or catch them at the Iowa State Fair August 11-21!
-Audra
As we wrap up the week and have calculated totals from the Corndog Kickoff, it is amazing to see the continuous support for the Blue Ribbon Foundation. This year we set a tremendous record of $684,600 and the Foundation wouldn’t have been able to do it without the 2,000 Fair-lovers that came out to join us. It was great to be a part of such an incredible event that was shared with so many people with a common interest, the love for the Iowa State Fair.
The countdown is on to the best time of the year as we are just 27 short days away from the opening day. The Iowa State Fair is one of the best in the country. It offers fun for everyone. Millions of eyes sat down to watch the TODAY show this morning and got a glimpse of one major reason why people love the Iowa State Fair, the food! Gary Slater, Manager/CEO of the Iowa State Fair, had the privilege to appear live on the show to showcase some of the new and upcoming foods for the 2016 Fair. There may be other state fairs that are great, but to me there are none comparable to the Iowa State Fair.
As the staff at the Blue Ribbon Foundation works hard to prepare for the State Fair, I am getting anxious to see what this year has in store. This year is going to be a bit different for me as I will be seeing the Fair from a different perspective. I am so excited to be a part of the team that helps this place run. Come out and enjoy the fair August 11-21.
(My Family and I at the Corndog Kickoff)
-Francesca
The office took a sigh of relief after the close of the Corndog Kickoff. It was amazing to see the success of an event after spending so many hours of preparation.
With the Corndog Kickoff behind us, we now look ahead to the Iowa State Fair! This year, Fairgoers can participate in a painting class that is taking place daily at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m on Expo Hill, with a rain location at the Oman Family Youth Inn.
Missy Pieters of Messy Missy’s in Marshalltown, Iowa, will be teaching the class every day during the fair except for Tuesday, August 16 and the morning of Thursday, August 18. The $35 registration fee includes the canvas, brushes and paints for the hour and a half class where you will learn to paint an aspect of the Iowa State Fair.
Classes hold up to 40 participants and on-site registration is available 30 minutes before each class. Fairgoers can also register for a class at the Blue Ribbon Foundation’s merchandise trailer located on Grand Avenue on the northwest corner of the Administration Building.
With so much to look forward to at the Fair, I am becoming more anxious to announce our Iowan of the Day winners! There is still so much to prepare for them and I appreciate each application I have received.
Thank you for all of your support and I’ll see you August 11-21 at the Iowa State Fair!
-Audra
