2025 Iowa State Fair Recap: August 13, 14 & 15
Days 7, 8, and 9 of the Iowa State Fair fly by in a blur! Now past the halfway mark, the Blue Ribbon Foundation gears up for a busy final weekend. Each day brings something new and exciting. While the Foundation staff has been immersed in the Fair for several days, we know it might be someone’s very first visit — and we’re committed to making it just as memorable as it is for those who’ve been here every day.
The three Iowan of the Day winners:
Donna Brown - Cedar Falls (August 13): When she wasn't working as a substitute teacher or exercise instructor, Donna served as an active volunteer throughout Waterloo. Though she has since moved to Cedar Falls, she remains a deeply committed volunteer in both communities. Over the years, Donna has played instrumental roles in many organizations, including Waterloo First Methodist Church, Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity, The Job Foundation, Northeast Iowa Food Bank and Cedar Valley Sertoma Club, just to name a few. Donna led efforts to develop the Church Row Historic Neighborhood Association, a Waterloo leadership group dedicated to improving the community by working toward common goals.
Peggy Smith – Baxter (August 14): Peggy does everything she can to help her community flourish. When she noticed the disrepair of the picnic tables at the local Sports Complex, she and her husband provided the labor to replace all the wood and bolts. To address the issue of littering along downtown sidewalks, she worked with the Baxter Chamber of Commerce to obtain a grant that financed the installation of new trash cans. Peggy also recently introduced the concept of "Welcome Bags" to the Chamber of Commerce. These gift packages help welcome new residents to Baxter and provide information about the community. In addition to these projects, Peggy organized a breast cancer walk in Baxter that raised $4,000, which she donated to the Mercy Cancer Center in Des Moines.
Jean Saveraid – Huxley (August 15): For nearly thirty years, Jean led the Talented and Gifted program in the Gilbert Community School District. In retirement, she remains a substitute teacher and adjunct professor at Drake University. Her commitment to youth education has also translated to twenty-four years served on the Ballard School Board, during which she has held the roles of President and Vice President. Over the years, Jean has volunteered with organizations such as the American Heart Association, Story County Extension, Palestine Luther Church and the Blue Ribbon Foundation. She has also made significant impacts on the Iowa State Fair through her family's dedication to showing horses and her participation in the Fair's Military Tribute Band each year.
Playing BINGO on the Grand Concourse is one of our favorite activities for Wednesday and Thursday of the Fair. This year, Fairgoers played 152 games of BINGO raising $7,504! This is a record in the 7th year the Foundation has hosted the fundraiser.
On Thursday, the Blue Ribbon Foundation welcomed Iowa Legislators to the Fairgrounds. Approximately 150 Legislators and their families enjoyed the Iowa State Fair. The Foundation gave updates about future improvements to the historic Fairgrounds.
Painting with a Twist held 12 painting classes at the Youth Inn, where Fairgoers had a blast tapping into their creativity. A portion of the proceeds were donated to the Blue Ribbon Foundation.
The 2025 Sponsor Relations Intern, Maya Bruening, did an incredible job assisting the Sponsorship Director this year. She organized signage and concert tickets. She scheduled moving in/out coordination and tracked payments. Maya stocked merchandise booths and was the perfect helper for the chainsaw artists’ extra woodcarving game. Thank you, Maya!
Stay tuned for more 2025 Iowa State Fair highlights.