Love is in the Air

It’s February and in my calendar, it’s the month of love.

In elementary school, I would give every student in my class a paper Valentine on February 14. My class would eat conversation hearts and chocolate kisses. If you were lucky, your parents might buy you the heart shaped box full of chocolates. If you were me, you would take a bite out of each piece, giving the ones with weird filling to your dad. Over the years, my love for the holiday has only continued. I am a proud graduate of Iowa State. Many fellow Iowa Staters should remember a tradition - walk silently around Lake LaVerne with your loved one, and you are destined to be together. (If you are all dying to know, I never completed this tradition.)

The Iowa State Fair is full of traditions, one of the many reasons I enjoy my job. Any romantic would agree: Ye Old Mill is the perfect place for sweethearts to sneak off and escape the hustle and bustle of the Fair. First constructed in 1921, Ye Old Mill has since been a favorite ride for dating couples at the Fair. Located next to the Midway on Grand Avenue, its 1,500-foot-long canal offers riders the chance to relax on a smooth boat ride.

This February 14, show your Valentine how much you love them and the Iowa State Fair with a brick from the Blue Ribbon Foundation. Sweetheart Lane, located in front of the Ye Old Mill, provides the opportunity for lovers to leave a declaration for millions to see.

There are 14 other locations to place a brick. Maybe you and your sweetheart fell in love showing cattle, performing on the Bill Riley Stage, or spending summer nights in the campgrounds. Roses, chocolates, and a romantic dinner is probably what your significant other is expecting this year. Why not surprise them with a personal inscription to celebrate a couple’s fond Fair memories while helping to preserve the Fairgrounds.

For more information about purchasing a sweetheart brick for Valentine’s Day, or for any other occasion, contact the Blue Ribbon Foundation at (800) 450-3732 or order online. All brick orders must be received by March 31 in order to be placed prior to the 2014 Iowa State Fair.