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 hard to believe that even though the Corndog Kickoff is under two weeks away, the Blue Ribbon Foundation has already started preparing for the event!
The first task we crossed off our checklist is organizing the garage to take items to the Varied Industries building. Many hands truly do make light work, the task, with over 200 auction packages to prepare for, flew by.
Throughout this, we were able to see the Fairgrounds a little more full as other people prepare for the GoodGuy’s car show this Friday.
Plus we got to see all of our awesome auction packages available for bid! One live auction package is a visit to the North Caroline State Fair October 13-23. A box of state fair merchandise came in the mail today that even got me excited to go to their fair! The auction package includes four gate admission tickets, an on-grounds parking pass, two plane tickets and a four night stay at the Summit Hospitality hotel.
The trip also has $200 worth of food certificates and passes to several museums near Raleigh, North Carolina.
Another vacation available through the silent auction is a trip to the Wonderful World of Disney! The package includes four one-day passes to Walt Disney World in Florida as well as Disney souvenirs.
If traveling isn’t your cup of tea, come to the Corndog Kickoff to bid on a package that is! Tickets are still available, so order yours today. Even though my first Corndog Kickoff will be as an employee, I can’t wait to see everything the event has to offer. See you July 9 at the Varied Industries Building!
-Audra
The Corndog Kickoff is only 15 days away. Can you believe it?! Everyone in the office, including myself, has been busy bees working to get everything prepared for the big event. It is incredible the amount of support the Blue Ribbon Foundation has received in auction donations. They are phenomenal and you won’t want to miss the opportunity to land one of the amazing packages available at the Corndog Kickoff.
New at the Corndog Kickoff this year is the Winner’s Choice raffle and it’s as good as it sounds. This is your chance to claim a live auction package before the bidding even begins. There are five spectacular live auction packages that the lucky winner will get to choose from.
#1 An ironic feature of the Iowa State Fair, take home one of the Sky Glider’s chairs. This chair is a cheerful red. Donated by the Blue Ribbon Foundation
#2 Release your creative side with a painting class for 10 at the Iowa State Fair. Top of the Vine will provide the location and 20 drink tickets. Donated by Messy Missy’s and Top of the Vine
#3 Roam the countryside in a 24’ Class C motorhome for a week with 500 miles and $200 in Casey’s gift cards included in the package. Donated by Ed Garner’s Autorama RV Center, Inc and Casey’s General Stores
#4 This vibrant quilt was made using the Jack and Jill pattern. Long-arm quilted, this piece of art is perfect for a queensized bed as it is 86”x 95”. Donated by Ginny Freyermuth
#5 A handcrafted table with narrow, but taller center support, holding a shorter, cantilevered top. The top is locally cut Walnut, with Oak and Canary wood in the base. Donated by Schwartzkopf Fine Woodworking
Winner’s Choice raffle tickets are $100 each and only 100 tickets will be sold! This is your chance to take home an auction package at an unbelievable value. What a deal! Winner’s Choice Raffle tickets can be purchased by calling the Blue Ribbon Foundation at (800) 450-3732 or at the event. You must be present to claim your package. What are you waiting for, call today to reserve your ticket!
Yesterday was the first day of summer and we sure felt it at the Blue Ribbon Foundation! Now that summer has started, people are getting prepared for the Iowa State Fair and our office saw more visitors than it has since I’ve been an intern.
As summer progresses, the deadline to submit Iowan of the Day nominations is approaching fast! Nominations are due a week from Friday and I can’t wait to read all about Iowa’s local Olympians.
One gold medalist was last year’s Iowan of the Day, Bret Mace, from Estherville, Iowa. Mace is known as a family man, dedicated employee, church member, 4H supporter and volunteer.
Mace has been a lifelong member of his church and expanded his role by becoming an usher, greeter and volunteer where he works on the church’s garage sale. Mace also serves on the church’s board of trustees.
Also active in the community, Mace is a member of the Kiwanis and Elk’s Club and supports education through serving on the scholarship selection committee. Mace works as a foreman for the Estherville Power Plant and is said to just be one call away. As if this wasn’t enough, Mace also served as a volunteer firefighter for 25 years.
Mace is heavily involved in 4H as the president of the 4H Youth Committee and vice president of the Emmet County Fair Board. Through these positions, Mace contributes his skills as grounds maintenance and off-season events volunteer.
There are countless Iowans who go above and beyond to make their communities a better place. If you know someone who exemplifies a strong work ethic, dedication to their hometown and a strong sense of Iowa pride, nominate them today for Iowan of the Day!
-Audra
No matter what time of year you step foot onto the fairgrounds, it always looks fabulous. There are many people behind the scenes that work to make the Iowa State Fairgrounds presentable for every person to enjoy. The Discovery Garden is one of the newly renovated areas of the Fair that you are going to want to check out. Located near the Agriculture Building, The Discovery Garden is maintained by the Polk County Master Gardeners.
Recently the Blue Ribbon Foundation received a Prairie Meadows $30,000 Community Betterment Grant toward The Discovery Garden improvements. Since 1995, Prairie Meadows has provided more than $68 million in Community Betterment Grants. This program is geared towards non-profit organizations located in the state of Iowa, and they also have to meet one of the many requirements listed on their application.
The Master Gardeners have been working hard to get the area planted and in tip-top shape for all Fairgoers. Be sure to stop by and see the fascinating scenery that is in the heart of the Fairgrounds. While the gardeners have been busy in The Discovery Garden, I’ve been busy completing media kits for the Corndog Kickoff.
Meanwhile, the office has seen a lot of activity with people dropping off Corndog Kickoff auction packages. I can’t wait to see you all on July 9th at the 20th annual Corndog Kickoff. Be sure to purchase your tickets!
-Francesca
This week marks a much calmer week without the World Pork Expo on the Fairgrounds. As strange as it was to see the Fairgrounds filled, it’s just as strange to see the Fairgrounds bare again too.
Two weeks from this Friday marks the last day to submit Iowan of the Day nominations. As much as I’ve loved reading through old nominations, I can’t wait to see this year’s Iowan of the Day winners.
Caroline Lehman of New London, Iowa is the fifth and halfway point of my 2015 Iowan of the Day spotlights.
Lehman is best known for her work as curator for the Dover Museum in New London. Lehman creates exhibits and goes above and beyond to educate the New London community about Iowa’s history. Through the State Historical Society of Iowa, Lehman worked to bring a traveling exhibit about Iowa’s involvement in the Civil War to New London. Lehman was also influential in getting a railroad depot moved across Iowa to place in the Dover Museum’s railroad collection.
If this wasn’t enough, Lehman served as a committee chair for the 175th annual celebration of New London’s founding. During the celebration, the event honored local veterans and brought the community together.
Lehman also volunteers with her church, works with the local wellness center, serves as secretary of the Henry County Historic Preservation Commission and prepares food for shut-ins and funeral dinners. Lehman’s work has not gone unnoticed by the community as she was recognized as Citizen of the Year in 2009.
People from across Iowa do outstanding things for their community and through this program we’re striving to “celebrate local Olympians.” If you know of someone who deserves recognition, consider nominating them as Iowan of the Day! I would love to see more applications than I have been receiving and would appreciate your help in spreading the word. Tell your friends, family and coworkers to nominate a community member today!
-Audra
With World Pork Expo in full swing, the fairgrounds have been a bit crazy. Coming from a livestock background, events like this get me fired up. I love seeing people from all over the world come to the east side of Des Moines to learn and partake in all the activities the World Pork Expo has to offer. With a large event like this and the State Fair of course, the Fairgrounds use an unbelievable amount of energy.
Recently, the Fairgrounds electrical department was fortunate enough to participate in a rebate program through MidAmerican Energy and received a $71,300 check. The Fair was able to accept 568 LED two inch by four inch troughers that have little to no maintenance and last up to 8 years. To be considered for this program, the fixtures had to be bought by December 2015. The troughers don’t have light bulbs so they don’t require a great amount of upkeep. The William C. Knapp Varied Industries Building will be the home for all 568 of the lights. In order to be able to put the LED lights in a building, they have a requirement that the lights have to burn for 1,000 hours. Since the William C. Knapp Varied Industries Building is highly used, it qualified for the program.
The William C. Knapp Varied Industries is also where the Blue Ribbon Foundation holds their upcoming Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction and Fair Food Grazing Party. Be sure to check out the new lights that MidAmerican Energy has supplied to the Fair. If you haven’t purchased your tickets, be sure to do that at http://blueribbonfoundation.org/events/corndog-kickoff, by calling (800)450-3732 or at the door the night of the event.
Charlie Crawford, Robin, and Mitch Frazier - Key Account Manager for MidAmerican
(Inside the Varied Industries Building at the World Pork Expo)
-Francesca