The Iowa State Fair - A Midwestern Staple
As an Iowa native, I have become immune to the copious misconceptions about my birthplace. No, it’s not Ohio, or Idaho, or the potato state. Those who assume it’s a simple “flyover state” with only farmland to see have never had the privilege of attending the Iowa State Fair.
The Iowa State Fair has been a staple for well over a century, bringing in over a million visitors annually. Although it comes with the usual fair menagerie of scrappy rides, fried foods, and endless people watching, it represents so much more than that. The Iowa State Fair is a cultural institution of midwestern pride, culinary adventures, educational opportunities, lighthearted fun.
I attended this year for the first time since my childhood and quickly realized that one could spend all 10 days at the fair and still not see it all. With activities spanning 275 acres, the diversity of opportunities was almost incomprehensible. For some, the ideal fair day includes a good snack and a lengthy stop at the infamous beer tent. For others, it could be the butter cow sculpture (yes, you heard that right), the produce growing competitions, the giant slide, or even the livestock auctions. With a schedule of events that rivals the Cheesecake Factory in length, everyone can find something that brings them excitement. For me that was baby livestock and floral arrangement contests.
The Iowa State Fair is full of unsuspecting surprises and experiences. We took a detour through the Varied Industries building in pursuit of air conditioning, but I was not expecting what I saw. There were colleges recruiting and vendors selling everything from fair-themed merchandise to in-home gyms. One minute you might be exploring an exhibit of exotic snakes and the next minute you might be attending the husband calling contest. For some of my cousins, it was a last-minute decision to see Pitbull perform at the grandstand. One of my favorite discoveries was the lecture hall style kitchen presentations that highlight local foods and offer demonstrations from Iowa-based culinary professionals (hence our self-proclaimed “nerdy fair tour”).
The food scoping alone is an Olympic sport. With so many delicious choices, one must plan effectively to avoid a premature full stomach. Each year a list of new and exciting foods is released, garnering long lines of eager folks. I was not patient enough to endure the lines myself, but I heard this year’s People’s Choice Best New Food Award went to a delicious bacon chicken ranch eggroll from Winn & Sara’s Kitchen. My favorite fair treats were the cheese curds and fried Oreos – healthy, I know. The pickle dog, a cold dill pickle smothered in cream cheese and wrapped in pastrami, seemed to be a divisive topic amongst my family. One bite was plenty for me. And don’t be fooled, the famous porkchop on a stick? It’s just a bone-in porkchop that you hold by the bone – no stick.
Although I don’t enjoy most rides, no fair is complete without a ride on the skyglider. After hours of walking and indulging in delicious treats, there is nothing better than people watching from the sky!
With a multitude of sights to see, foods to try, and activities to keep you entertained, everyone should attend the Iowa State Fair at least once in their lifetime. If nothing else, it's sure to deliver a one-of-a-kind cultural experience!