August 14, 16, 17, 2023
IOWA STATE FAIR
State Fairgrounds, Des Moines, IA
“The Iowa State Fair is an annual state fair held in Des Moines, Iowa in August. It began in 1854 and has been held on the Iowa State Fairgrounds since 1886. It is based in the state capital Des Moines, Iowa over an 11 day period in August.” - Wikipedia
I LOVE the Iowa State Fair. There is so much to see and do, not to mention the food. My must-see things are the Cultural Center (photography, wood-working, creative arts, etc), the Agriculture Building (the Butter Cow), the livestock barns (the Super Bull and Big Boar), and the draft horse shows.
This year I also took my camera along to photograph my favorite spots and also some of the iconic places/events of the fair.
My Fair Highlights
The Super Bull
The Big Boar
4-H/FFA cattle judging
Picking a breed winner.
One of my favorite foods...Pork Chop on a Stick.
Entertainment everywhere...this mobile piano entertained people daily.
One of the FFA tractors on display.
A musky in the DNR exhibit.
The Butter Cow
One of three special butter sculptures...University of Iowa basketball player Caitlyn Clark.
Best of Show in the pottery division. I thought this looked like it belonged in a museum.
Best of Show in Wood Carving.
Wood-Working projects.
I loved this display of wood cariving.
Entertainment in Pioneer Hall.
The youth division of the Cow Chip Throwing Contest.
The crowd on the Grand Concourse as seen from the Sky Ride.
Want something "on-a-stick"...this is where you would find it.
Sand sculpture (in progress)
Artists working on the Sand Sculpture.
A young calf in the Animal Learning Center
This lamb was only days old in the Animal Learning Center
A State Fair Staple: The Bill Riley Talent competition.
Quilts in the Fabric and Threads area.
Crocheted work in the Fabric and Threads area.
Fudge and other candies.
Thrill Town (midway for younger people)
Thrillville (for more adventurous people)
Thrill Town
Thrill Town at night
Thrill Town
Thrill Town
Another staple of the fair...The Giant Slide...where there is always a line. This was taken at 10:00 pm.
Thrillville
Thrillville
The scariest ride on this planet, in my opinion.
Have no idea who these people are, but they saw my camera and begged to have their picture taken.
Food stands late at night.
Belgian & Percheron Draft Horse Show
August 14, 2023
Clydesdale & Shire Draft Horse Show
August 17, 2023
My Favorite Picture of the Fair.
Taken during the Clydesdale & Shire Draft Horse Show. I saw these two young passengers and thought they were cute. Decided I wanted to take their picture while the entry was in the line-up (standing still). While focusing I noticed the young man picking on the young lady…soon she had had enough and I was lucky enough to capture her reaction.
