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It's Fair Time




County fairs are now in full swing across the state of Iowa!
Fair time around Iowa means food, fun, family, friends, animals, exhibits, competitions, royalty, concerts and so much more! Iowa 4-H members from all across the state prepare their projects, exhibits, and animals to head to their fairgrounds.

Fairground crews work around the clock to clean up the venue and make sure that it is in tip-top shape for opening day. Board and committee members add the final touches and details to all events to make sure that everything runs as smoothly as possible. They really dedicate all of their time to making each county fair the best it can be, and I am sure that I am speaking on behalf of all 4-H members when I say this, but I really appreciate all of their hard work!

One of the many things that I love about Iowa is that each fair is different and unique in its own way. Each fair has its own attributes that makes it one-of-a-kind no matter how big or small.

My hometown is in Linn County, Iowa. Over the last couple of years, the Linn County Fair has really grown and developed bringing in a record attendance number each year with this year being their 125thanniversary of the fair. This year, the fairground experienced a torrential downpour the evening of June 25th, which threatened the opening day activities on June 26th.

With the nearby river on the rise and approaching the fairgrounds, decisions had to be made quickly. While keeping safety a top priority, they were scrambling to find a solution and were determined that the fair must go on no matter what. Volunteers came to the rescue right away, clearing out the evacuated camping area and moving fair items.


Neighboring Delaware County came forward to host the 125thannual Linn County Fair. They opened up their fairgrounds with open arms so that the FFA/4-H shows could continue. Although the flood dampened the fairgrounds in Linn County, they didn’t let that ruin their fair spirit. This is just one of many great examples of how Iowans reach out to help their neighbors and other Iowans, especially 4-H’ers.

We want to hear from you! Shout out your county fair and what you love the most about it.

Also, as you head to your county fair this summer, send us your pictures! We would love to see all of the fun our friends are having from all across the state! You can share your pictures with us on Twitter and Instagram at @IA4hFoundation. Be sure to use #IA4HFair. We will share our favorite photos!

We hope that each one of you has the opportunity to experience your local fair this summer.

If you would like to share your 4-H story or news with our blog, email Brooke Young at brookey@iastate.edu


 
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