Only 125 More Days!

The countdown is officially on to the best time of the year…the Iowa State Fair! We are just 125 days out from the first official day of the 2023 Iowa State Fair. I could not be any more excited than I am for this awesome event to start! In honor of the 125 days mark, here are 25 things you can participate in with the Blue Ribbon Foundation in preparation for and at the Fair this year!

1. Save the Date for the Corndog Kickoff

The Corndog Kickoff is one of the Foundation's biggest fundraising events and is a great way to get involved in preparation for the Fair to get that first taste of all the excitement leading up to the Fair. You can participate in the benefit auction, Fair Food Grazing Party, and a fun night at the Fair. The Corndog Kickoff is set to take place on July 8, in the Varied Industries Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds, with doors opening at 6:30 pm!

2. Become a Patron for the Corndog Kickoff

In addition to the great Corndog Kickoff event, you can become an official Kickoff Patron. As a patron, you can choose from seven patron levels to donate and choose the benefits you would like to receive. With this donation, you will receive admission tickets and recognition in the event publicity material. If you want to start the Fair excitement early, consider becoming a patron today!

3. Stop and See the Pioneer Hall Renovations

Renovations are a key attribute of the Foundation's mission, and many renovations have been in progress for the 2023 Iowa State Fair. One of the projects has been updating the exterior of Pioneer Hall. The repairs have finished for each of the sides of the building, and the project will be wrapping up with rebuilding the main doors. Make sure to stop and see the updates at the Fair this year!

4. Donate Auction Items to the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction

Each year, the Benefit Auction features many magnificent packages of assorted items that include artwork, event tickets, weekend getaways, and so much more. You today can donate an item from your business, home, career, or personal life that would promote your item as well as go towards supporting the Fairgrounds renovation projects

5. Sit and Sip While Checking out the Renovations of the Fairview Tap

The Fairview Tap is a popular spot for Fairgoers to sip on a wide selection of beers and wine while sitting on top of the hill. This area will receive renovation to expand its patio to provide more outside seating to take advantage of the amazing scenery and space. Sit and sip while you check out these renovations.

6. Dining Delights at the Corndog Kickoff

Dining Delights is an activity that takes place at the Corndog Kickoff each year, which highlights restaurants all across the state of Iowa! Do you have a favorite restaurant that you think should be featured at this event? You can donate a gift certificate from your favorite restaurant today!

7. Buy Tickets to the Corndog Kickoff

Do you want to attend a pre-Fair event to start the excitement of the 2023 Iowa State Fair? If so, you can buy tickets to the Corndog Kickoff for $100 each, but you better get your tickets fast, as on July 1, they will increase to $125. You can purchase these tickets online or at the doors the night of the event!

8. Nominate Someone For Iowan of the Day

Do you know someone who demonstrates a strong work ethic, loyalty, dependability, and passion for bettering their community? The Foundation is seeking nominations for 'Iowan of the Day' to individuals who showcase their greatness in Iowa through volunteering, community involvement, and bettering the environment around them. Make sure to get your nominations in, as they are due July 1!

9. Volunteer at the Iowa State Fair with the Blue Ribbon Foundation

To make the Iowa State Fair a success, the Foundation needs volunteers to help make sure everything runs smoothly. As a volunteer, you are a key part of the success the Fair and Foundation see each year. Volunteers will help run merchandise booths and water sales during the Fair at the Foundation's many stands. Learn how you can become a volunteer during the Fair at www.blueribbonfoundation.org/events/iowa-state-fair/volunteer. We can't do any of this without you!

10. Check out the T.A.G. Team Renovation

The 2023 T.A.G. Team has been filled and is working hard to make renovations for the 2023 Iowa State Fair. For 2023 the money raised will be used to renovate the Agriculture Building's north and east exterior doors. Thank you to these donors for making this renovation project come to life; this could not have happened without you!

11. Check out the Renovations of the Elwell Family Park

Another renovation you can check out at the Fair this year is the Elwell Family Park. This park is in the third stage of its multi-phase project, which entails adding permanent restroom facilities. The restrooms will be a great addition to the Fairgoers watching all the events in the park.

12. Volunteer with Blue Ribbon Foundation During the Spring

Are you an avid gardener and want to show off your skills for every Fairgoer to see? If so, volunteer to help the Fair's grounds crew tidy up all things landscaping to prepare the Fairgrounds for the busy summer! You contact meg@blueribbonfoundation.org to receive dates, options, and details.

13. Enter a Design in the 2023 T-shirt Design Contest

The Blue Ribbon Foundation is sponsoring a T-shirt design contest for one lucky winner to showcase their creative design that captures the essence of the Fair at the 2023 Iowa State Fair. The winning design will be for sale in the official Iowa State Fair store. Send your designs in by May 1 to Info@blueribbonfoundation.org or by mail to the following address:

Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation
P.O. Box 57130
Des Moines, IA 50317

14. Mark your Calendars for the Iowan of the Day Presentation

Every day during the Fair at noon, the Iowan of the Day will be introduced on the Anne and Billy Riley Stage. Each individual has showcased outstanding characteristics that have helped them better their communities and showcase the greatness of Iowa.

15. Volunteer at the Corndog Kickoff 

The Corndog Kickoff event is a major event that needs all hands on deck to be successful. If you want to experience the pre-Fair excitement, volunteer today to be an essential part of the Corndog Kickoff. If you want to be a volunteer for this event, call 515-262-3111 Ext. 370 or email meg@blueribbonfoundation.org.

16. Save the Date for the Woodcarvers' Auction

The annual Woodcarvers' Auction will occur on Sunday, August 20, at 3:30 pm in the Penningroth Media Center in the John and Emily Putney Cattle Barn. There will also be an online auction consisting of different items than the live in-person auction that will open at 10 am Saturday, August 19, and close at 5 pm on Sunday, August 20.

17. All Things Merchandise 

The Blue Ribbon Foundation has many items for sale on can purchase to showcase their love for the Fair. These include apparel, jewelry, books, hats, collectibles, and more. At the Fair, there are various booths throughout the grounds where one can shop and purchase items. You can also purchase items today online at www.BlueRibbonFoundation.org.  

18. Back the Barns Fundraising Campaign

The Iowa State Fair livestock barns as a whole will undergo a major $25 million renovation starting this spring. Each structure will have dedicated restorations in areas that are vitally needed such as roofing, flooring, electrical, restrooms and tuck-pointing. The 'Back the Barns' campaign was created for anyone passionate about youth in agriculture to support the renovation project. If you would like to become a member and donate to the ‘Back the Barns’ campaign, you can donate online at www.BlueRibbonFoundation.org, or call the Foundation's office at (515) 262-3111 Ext. 371.

19. Join the 2024 T.A.G. Team

Are you wanting to be a part of a team that has a sole helping hand in renovation and bettering the Iowa State Fair fairgrounds? Then you should consider joining the 2024 T.A.G. Team to help keep the fairground up to date and functioning safely and effectively. If you wish to join, please contact the Foundation's office at 515-262-3111 Ext. 371 or check online at www.blueribbonfoundation.org/ways-give/tag-team periodically throughout the coming year.

20. Cooking with the Fair

Are you an avid baker and Fair food lover? What better way to combine the two than with an Iowa State Fair cookbook? The Blue Ribbon Foundation offers many different edition cookbooks featuring ribbon-winning recipes for different years. The Baking Blue Ribbons cookbook also highlights the history, stories, and recipes from the first Fair in 1854 to the 2021 Fair! You can check out and purchase all these items by ordering online at www.BlueRibbonFoundation.org or calling the Foundation's office at (515) 262-3111 Ext. 371.

21. Keep up with the Foundation's Blog

Through the Foundation's website, you can keep up with the blog to stay updated on what is happening at the Foundation and the preparation going into the 2023 Iowa State Fair. There are reminders, highlights, and updates from the 2023 Foundation interns. You can stay up to date with them each week through the blog.  

22. Catch up with the Foundation in the Monthly ENews

Each month, an electronic newsletter is sent out that highlights events, updates, reminders, projects, and so much more. If you would like to keep up with the Foundation each month by receiving these newsletters, you can sign up by emailing your email address to Info@BlueRibbonFoundation.org.

23. Make Sure to Check the Renovation of the Public Safety Building

Safety is a huge aspect of the Iowa State Fair and the Blue Ribbon Foundation, so ensuring all aspects are up to date is super important. The public safety building is being updated to ensure the facility is up to the high standards of the Iowa State Fair Police Department. At this year's Fair, you can check out the new two-story addition.

24. Look for Ways to Give for the 2024 Iowa State Fair

Are you looking for a way to give to the 2024 Iowa State Fair? You are in luck because the Blue Ribbon Foundation offers many ways for you to give to the Fair. These gifts could be through buying and engraving a brick on the fairgrounds, donating to the many fundraising campaigns and events the Foundation holds, buying a tree on the grounds, and so much more. If you want to learn more about how to give through the Foundation, you can go to www.blueribbonfoundation.org/ways-to-give, call the Foundation's office at 515-262-3111 Ext. 371, or stop by the Foundation's office at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

25. Keep up with the 2023 Foundation Interns

The 2023 Blue Ribbon Foundation Interns are all hard at work preparing for the Fair. Regan, Macy, and Faith all have different tasks they are working hard on to help prepare for the upcoming Fair. Check out their introduction blog posts to learn more about them! Leading up to and during the Fair, you can keep up with them through the Foundation's Blog and see them at the Fair this year!

Now that is a lot of things you can do in preparation for and at the Fair with the Blue Ribbon Foundation! Through all of these events, projects, and activities, none of this would be able to happen without our amazing supporters, donors, volunteers, fairgoers, and so many more. We want to truly thank each and every one of you for making this all happen and having a successful Fair each year! We cannot wait to see what the 2023 State Fair has in store!

- Faith Kuehl, Business Relations Intern