The Iowa State Fair took place Aug. 8-18 in Des Moines. It was the largest Fair in its 170 year-old history, with attendance of 1,182,682 fairgoers, exceeding the previous record set in 2019 by over 12,000, thanks to perfect weather.
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Edie Kemp and April Tidwell are dependable volunteers at the Kalona booth inside the Varied Industries Building every year, always happy to checkout customers and answer questions about our community.
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The butter cow, sculpted by Sarah Pratt and named in honor of Brogan Malcolm this year, was difficult to get close to; everyone inside the Agriculture Building wanted a photo.
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Goats and handlers lined up for the 4-H Meat Goat Skillathon on Wednesday morning, Aug. 14.
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Inside the Swine Barn, most animals crashed in their pens, a lot like this guy.
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Faced with some down-time, these kids brought out their toys and played farm inside the Swine Barn.
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Arches were lined with FFA jackets upstairs in the Agriculture Building.
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Hundreds of award-winning vegetables, along with crowds of people, filled the lower level of the Agriculture Building.
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Pork, beef, chicken, and turkey battled it out for the hearts and bellies of fairgoers, all served on a stick (or bone). Walleye, however, could be purchased in a boat.
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The 4-H Exhibits Building was filled with award-winning entries made by kids in Washington and Johnson County 4-H groups. The range of skill was impressive.
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Hattie Longbine’s barn quilt ladder earned a blue ribbon.
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Mason Schneider’s turkey fan display earned a blue ribbon.
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Elijah Statler’s river charcuterie board earned a blue ribbon.
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Caedyn Huston’s “Washington County Iowa Heroes Who Died in Service” portfolio earned both a blue ribbon and an ISU Future Discovery Award ($500 scholarship).
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Adlei Marek’s cow quilt (left) and Reese Conrad’s family tree quilt (top right) both earned blue ribbons.
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Eve Stoutner’s pastel green baby blanket earned a blue ribbon.
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Jordan Thorius’s boy peering through cornstalks photo earned a blue ribbon.
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Madison Gent’s pumpkin muffins earned a blue ribbon.
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