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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Happy Monday everyone! Today we had our regular Monday staff meeting and it got me even more excited for the Corndog Kickoff. In two weeks we will have completed what is sure to be another fun and successful event, and will be moving our focus onto our great State Fair!
I am the intern that deals with the majority of ticket sales and organization before the big day, and I have noticed an increase in ticket orders the past week. I am assuming that people are scrambling to purchase their tickets to the event before they increase in price on July 1. So…take a hint from the very wise individuals who have been getting their tickets now, because the ticket price increases from $75 to $100 on Wednesday. That means one day left to save some money!
One of the many reasons that you should absolutely attend the 19th annual Corndog Kickoff is the “Rags to Riches” game. I am specifically excited for this part of the evening because it is a great break during the live auction!
If you’re wondering what “Rags to Riches” is, then allow me to explain. Before we reach package #19 at the event, everyone is encouraged to purchase a souvenir bandana, or “rag,” for $10. During the live auction, after auction package #20, all those who have purchased a rag are invited to stand. At the beginning of the game, you hold the rag in your hand and you will choose to hold your rag up or keep it down at your side. The auctioneer will flip a coin – heads is rags up and tails is down. If you chose correctly you remain standing and continue to play; when you’re wrong, you sit down. The game continues until only one participant is left standing. This person will receive half of the amount made from the rag sales. Sounds like a fun way to win some some cash and test your luck, huh?
Take a look at some of the pictures from last year that I have included to get a better sense of the game.
Hope to see everyone at the 2015 Corndog Kickoff, Saturday, July 11!
-Molly
Hi ya’ll! It’s been a pretty rainy week here in Des Moines. I feel like all its done is rain, which sometimes can bring down my mood. However, even though my drive to work can be sort of gloomy, one thing that always brightens my day up (no matter what it looks like outside) is sitting down at my desk and seeing all the emails and phone calls I’ve received from our wonderful volunteers!
This automatically makes my day better to see how many people care about the Iowa State Fair and the tradition and happiness it brings to so many people! We already have over 375 volunteers signed up to help out at the 2015 Iowa State Fair! Can you believe it?!? It’s amazing!
But....we can always use more! If you’re interested in donating your time and talents to help the Blue Ribbon Foundation, give me a call at (515) 262-3111 ext. 379 or email me at Maggie@BlueRibbonFoundation.org. I would love to chat about our volunteer opportunities and what it means to volunteer with the Blue Ribbon Foundation!
Since its inception, the Foundation has raised over $100 million to go towards renovations around the Fairgrounds. Volunteers are a HUGE part of this! So think about donating your time to help keep one of Iowa’s best traditions alive. I mean, it’s only four hours and you never know whose day you will brighten with the gift of volunteering…
That’s all I have for now, but have a great weekend! And try to stay dry!
Maggie J.
Below are some pictures of our wonderful volunteers!
Hi everyone!
With the Iowan of the Day deadline fast approaching, I wanted to talk about the program once more time before it closes for the year. In the past, I’ve talked about the perks of winning. While there are a lot of great things about being selected as an Iowan of the Day, the prizes aren’t really the point. What really matters in this program are the reasons people are nominated.
People ask me all the time, “Why should people submit a nomination?”. My answer is always along the same lines. Nominating an individual in your family, neighborhood or town is a way to show them you recognize and appreciate everything they do. Most of the nominations I see come through are for people who do essential work for their communities. They take on projects with enthusiasm. They don’t look for recognition, yet they are people who often deserve it most.
What’s more, going out of the way to show someone they are valued makes a big impact. Past winners have expressed how being a part of the program affected them.
“You made me feel special and overwhelmed at the wonderful treatment you showed to me. The Iowa State Fair is the best!” said Wilbur Cordes of Allison.
That’s the core of the Iowan of the Day program. Showing someone they are valued.
If you want to nominate someone, you have until July 1 to send in your information. If you have any questions, please contact me. I can be reached at 515-262-3111 ext. 378 or by email Anna@BlueRibbonFoundation.org.
Have a great day,
-Anna
Well it’s crazy at the office this week between our upcoming events and the National Junior High Finals Rodeo that is taking place here at the Fairgrounds. We’re in full swing working on the Corndog Kickoff and various Iowa State Fair preparations while more than 600 golf carts, in addition to trucks, trailers and horses, whirl by the office.
We have been talking about the Corndog Kickoff a lot lately so I want to switch it up today by telling y’all about the Fairgrounds 5K Fun Run that’s taking place during the Fair. The run is presented by West Bank and will be held on Saturday, August 22 at 7:30 a.m. on the Fairgrounds. The timed run is the perfect way for Fairgoers and race enthusiasts of all ages to take a unique running or jogging tour of the Fairgrounds and enjoy a day at our great Fair. While supporting the Blue Ribbon Foundation, runners will follow the 5K course down the Grand Concourse, through the hills of the Campgrounds and along Rock Island. Vendors, campers and livestock are just a few attractions you will pass along the route.
Registration for the 2015 Fairgrounds 5K is $40 and includes a race t-shirt, Fair admission ticket, $5 in food vouchers and a Fair Square coupon. I will definitely post more information about this fun event in the weeks to come, but I wanted to get it on everyone’s radar so you can start talking with friends and family about signing up.
Have a great week!
-Molly
Below are a few pictures from last year's event.
It’s almost July! I can’t believe that it’s already June 19. This week has been full of getting items ready for volunteer reception and the Corndog Kickoff! I’ve been designing the volunteer t-shirts, reception invitations, Kickoff merchandise signs and many other things. So, if you want a t-shirt and tasty meal catered by Campbell’s, then give me a call and sign up to volunteer! Or, if you want to attend what has been explained as “the Iowa State Fair in one exciting night” then call today to order your tickets to the Corndog Kickoff!
Speaking of the Corndog Kickoff, is it too early for Christmas carols? If you answered no to this question, then you should get yourself a Corndog Kickoff ticket because the Urbandale Community Theatre will be singing Christmas carols and songs from the musical “State Fair” at this year’s Kickoff! And on top of that, there will be a special Fair version of the song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” What could be better than that?!? It’s a Christmas song, remixed to match the Iowa State Fair! I’m so excited. Tickets for the Corndog Kickoff are on sale now for only $75. After July 1 and at the door, tickets will be $100. Call the office at (515) 262-3111 ext. 371 for more information or to order your ticket today!
That’s all I have for now, but I’ll be back! Have a fantastic weekend!
Maggie J.
Check out the crowd from last year's Corndog Kickoff!
Enjoy a SkyGlider ride at the 2015 Corndog Kickoff!
And you can't forget about the amazing fireworks display that will take place afterwards!
Hi everyone!
Can you believe it’s already mid-June? It feels like the month just started and it’s already half over. Maybe it just feels that way because we’ve been so busy over here. Corndog Kickoff is just a little over three weeks away. That means we’ve all been hard at work trying to make the event the best it can be.
Right now, I’m working on getting all of the paper work together for the auction packages. That means I’m checking and rechecking everything. Basically, I’m becoming very familiar with the auction booklet and all that it contains. If you’re curious, you can check it out online before the event.
There are tons of cool silent auction packages to bid on (205 to be exact). There’s everything from art to fitness classes, golf bags to get away packages and everything in between. I’m excited to see which packages are most popular, seeing as I’ve already picked out my favorites.
I’m even more excited to see the live auction happen. I’ve never been to one and I can’t wait to see how competitive people are. Just like the silent auction, there are awesome packages available. I’ll give a little sneak peek again. Sticks created a special piece for the auction. It’s one of a kind and showcases everything people love about the Fair. There’s the Sky Glider, livestock, the Giant Slide, Fair food and, of course, the butter cow. Check it out below.
Be sure to get your tickets soon so you can bid on this package and many more. They’re available online or by calling the Foundation at 515-262-3111 ext. 371. Get them before June 30 for $75! After that, they’re available for $100, even at the door.
Hope to see everyone there!
-Anna
Happy Monday Everyone! I am growing more and more excited about the upcoming Corndog Kickoff that is less than a month away! The 19th annual Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party is going to be epic. This year we are adding two more vendors to the event for your taste buds’ pleasure. In addition to the typical Fair foods from previous years, we will be including “Corn in a Cup,” which is sure to satisfy all us corn-happy Iowans. I'm also excited to try the new “Chocolate Dipped Strawberries and Brownies on a Stick.” I have included pictures of both of these items below so you can get a real idea of what these treats will consist of.
The new vendors are just a few of the reasons you should get tickets to the Corndog Kickoff if you haven’t done so already. Speaking of food, you can also score some delectable food items in the silent auction that begins at 6:30 p.m. A few examples of these food-related baskets include:
I don’t want to give away everything that the Corndog Kickoff has to offer in both its live and silent auctions, but I guarantee there is something for you in the more than 230 auction items! Check out the 2015 Auction Booklet to see the complete list of auction items or see some auction highlights on our auction page.
Bon Appétit,
Molly
Hey everyone!
Happy Friday. Hope everyone is looking forward to a great weekend. In the meantime, I’ll give you a little update from me to get you through the day.
Exciting things are happening with the Iowan of the Day program! This morning I was interviewed about it for KOEL radio in Waterloo. I ran a radio show at Drake University last year, but this was totally different. I talked with Roger King for about ten minutes today and gave him all the details on the program and the Foundation. Our prerecorded interview will run this weekend. Hopefully I’ll entice people to nominate for this year’s program. I’ve gotten a few nominations, but I always appreciate more!
While we’re on the topic, this is your reminder that the deadline is approaching. As strange as it seems, July 1 is right around the corner. That means you only have about 20 days to send a nomination in for the year. I know there are countless outstanding Iowans out there worthy of being nominated, so think about who you know that really makes a difference in your life or the lives of others. The committee would appreciate the opportunity to consider them for Iowan of the Day.
We also have a lot going on with Corndog Kickoff. Be on the lookout on our Facebook page and the website’s auction page for previews coming soon. You don’t want to miss out on all the fun. Better get your tickets soon!
See you all next week for another look into the Blue Ribbon Foundation.
-Anna
Hi everyone! My second week here at the Foundation is coming to a close, and I know this summer is going to go by way too fast. I have been jumping between a huge variety of projects every day and definitely never get bored! On Tuesday, Anna, Maggie and I met some of the other summer Fair interns from departments like marketing and competitive events during an intern ice cream social. It’s crazy to think about all the departments that work diligently to make the Iowa State Fair so great year after year. The team we met is sure to do great things this summer that will all pay off in August.
Yesterday we had another individual join our office. Elizabeth is a student at Drake University and will be helping us out throughout the summer so you may see her around or hear from her down the road. She has already been a huge help and will be an asset to the Foundation team.
I just finished Legislative Appreciation Day save the dates, which will hopefully be sent out yet tomorrow or early next week. Legislative Appreciation Day is Thursday, August 20 and is a day in which we invite our legislators to the Iowa State Fair to take in the sites. If you are at the Fair that day, you may just run across a senator or representative!
Until next time,
Molly
This just in - we just got to taste-test the new Fair Square flavor and I just have to say that it is delicious, so make you check it out once Fair rolls around.
Hi y’all! I hope everyone has had a great week so far! It’s been a busy one here at the office. It’s our second week with having everyone at the office, so it’s been pretty exciting talking and working on projects with the other interns and staff. Speaking of talking, yesterday Robin and I went to the Wellmark Volunteer Expo. It was from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and we were able to recruit Wellmark employees to help volunteer at the Fair. There were tons of different organizations there recruiting volunteers, which was really exciting to see all of the different opportunities!
We spoke with a lot of people so hopefully we will get some volunteer forms in the future! With that being said, I still have PLENTY of shifts available for people who are interested in volunteering. Just to give you a brief overview (which I got really good at yesterday), our volunteers help sell water, merchandise and Fair Squares. The profits from these sales go towards renovations for our beloved Fairgrounds. Any updates or new buildings you see on the Fairgrounds are in part thanks to our volunteers! So if you love the Fairgrounds and want to help us keep them beautiful for future generations, consider volunteering with the Blue Ribbon Foundation and give me a call at (515) 262-3111 ext. 379 or sign up online! It’s a great opportunity and only four hours of your time!
Anyways, that’s all I have for now! But I’ll be back soon!
Maggie J.
Here is the poster I made to use at the Wellmark Volunteer Expo.