Iowa State Fair to Host Array of Contests to See and Do
Wednesday, August 3, 2011 Des Moines, IA
With over 60 contests to compete in and watch, the Iowa State Fair has something for everyone. “Nothing Compares” to competition at the Fair, which will feature several new, exciting contests in addition to Fairgoers’ favorite returning contests. The Iowa State Fair is set August 11-21.
New this year, the Fair will feature Battle of the Butter, a contest to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Butter Cow. Contestants will create a dairy masterpiece from a 55 lb. block of butter, and the winning sculpture daily will be featured alongside the world-famous Butter Cow. Entry forms are available now at iowastatefair.org.
Also joining the Fair’s lineup of contests, the Farmer’s Challenge and Young Farmer’s Challenge will have farmers throwing hay, hanging gates and running an obstacle course to prove they are the top farmer. And youngsters will hold on tight as they ride sheep in Mutton Bustin’, a youth version of stock riding.
The complete schedule of contests follows. Rules and additional information are available at iowastatefair.org.
DAILY
Bill Riley’s Talent Search
Anne and Bill Riley Stage, Noon, August 11-20; Championships 1:30 p.m. August 21; open only to contestants who have won local contests
Battle of the Butter brought to you by AMPI
Anne and Bill Riley Stage, 4 p.m., August 11-21; pre-registration suggested
Thursday, August 11
Twins, Triplets and More
Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi, 9 a.m.; registration begins at 8:15 a.m.
Turkey Calling
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 10:30 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Duck Calling
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 11 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Youth Rooster Crowing
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 1 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Ladies’ Chicken Calling
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 1:30 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Friday, August 12
Youth Spelling Bee, Grades 1 & 2
Penningroth Media Center, Cattle Barn, 9 a.m.; registration has closed
Weed Identification
Outside John Deere Agriculture Building, 9-11:30 a.m.; no pre-registration necessary
Fiddlers’ Contest, Ages 17 and under
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 10 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Youth Spelling Bee, Grades 3 & 4
Penningroth Media Center, Cattle Barn, Noon; registration has closed
Iowa Grocery Bagging Contest
Budweiser Stage sponsored by ABC5, 1 p.m.; contestants must win local contest
Youth Spelling Bee, Grades 5 & 6
Penningroth Media Center, Cattle Barn, 3 p.m.; registration has closed
Cowgirl Queen Contest sponsored by Hawkeye Tack and Western Wear
Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center sponsored by Chevrolet, 6:30 p.m.; contestants must be pre-registered
Saturday, August 13
Fiddlers Contest, Ages 18-49
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 10 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Guitar
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 10 a.m.; registration 9 a.m.-Noon
Egg Rolling, Ages 13 and older
Hill South of Pigeon/Poultry/Rabbit Building, 10 a.m.
Junior Egg Rolling, Ages 12 and younger
Hill South of Pigeon/Poultry/Rabbit Building, 10:30 a.m.
Mandolin
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 1 p.m.; registration 9 a.m.-Noon
Mr. Legs
Anderson Erickson Dairy Stage sponsored by KCCI NewsChannel 8, 3:30 p.m.; registration begins at 3 p.m.
State Fair Queen Coronation
Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi, 7 p.m., contestants must win respective county fair queen pageants
Sunday, August 14
Micro-Mini Tractor Pull
Budweiser Stage sponsored by ABC5, 9 a.m.; registration begins at 8 a.m.
Fiddlers’ Contest, Ages 50 and over
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 10 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Banjo
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 11 a.m.; registration before 10 a.m.
Monster Arm Wrestling
Penningroth Media Center, Cattle Barn, 1 p.m.; weigh-ins 10 a.m. to noon
Fiddlers’ Grand Championship and Runner-Up Finals
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 3 p.m.; contestants must win competitions August 12-14
Monday, August 15
Youth Piano Playing, Ages 5-16
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 10 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Adult Piano Playing, Ages 17 and older
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 10:30 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Butter Sculpting Contest
Milking Parlor, Cattle Barn, following Milking Demonstrations at 11 a.m., 3 & 7 p.m.; contestants selected immediately before
Youth Harmonica, Ages 5-16
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 1 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Adult Harmonica, Ages 17 and older
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 1:30 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Accordion
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 2:30 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Tuesday, August 16
48th Annual Farm Bureau Cook-out
Grand Concourse, 9 a.m. to noon; contestants must win local contest
Iowa Championship Auctioneers Contest
Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi, 9 a.m.; open only to pre-registered contestants
Pedal Power Pull
Rock Island Avenue, 10 a.m.; registration begins at 9 a.m.
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 10:30 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Butter Sculpting Contest
Milking Parlor, Cattle Barn, following Milking Demonstrations at 11 a.m., 3 & 7 p.m.; contestants selected immediately before
Wood Chopping
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 1 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Making of America Jeopardy
Penningroth Media Center, Cattle Barn, 1 p.m.
8th Annual Outhouse Races
Grand Concourse, 2:30 p.m.; open only to pre-registered contestants
Wednesday, August 17
Marvelous Red Hat Contest
Budweiser Stage sponsored by ABC5, 8:30 a.m.
Older Iowan Idol
Budweiser Stage sponsored by ABC5, tryouts at 10 a.m., finals at Noon; Open only to pre-registered contestants
KRNT “Butter” Cow Chip Throwing Contest
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 11 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Butter Sculpting Contest
Milking Parlor, Cattle Barn, following Milking Demonstrations at 11 a.m., 3 & 7 p.m.; contestants selected immediately before
Fruit, Vegetable and Nut Identification
John Deere Agriculture Building, 12:30-2:30 p.m.; no pre-registration required
Older Iowans’ Spelling Bee
Budweiser Stage sponsored by ABC5, 2 p.m.; registration begins at 1:30 p.m.
Ladies’ Rubber Chicken Throwing
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 2 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Scholastic Chess Tournament
West Porch of the Administration Building; registration 3-3:30 p.m., play begins when registration is complete
Speed Chess Tournament
West Porch of the Administration Building; registration 5-5:30 p.m., play begins when registration is complete
Thursday, August 18
Bubble Gum Blowing
Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi, 9 a.m.; registration begins 30 minutes before
Elk’s Spot Shot
Grand Concourse, 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-3 p.m.; registration begins 30 minutes before
Children’s Singing, Ages 5-12
Pioneer Hall, 10:30 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Pie Eating
Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi, 10:30-11:30 a.m.; registration begins 30 minutes before
Arts and Crafts
Grand Concourse, 11 a.m.-1p.m.
Butter Sculpting Contest
Milking Parlor, Cattle Barn, following Milking Demonstrations at 11 a.m., 3 & 7 p.m.; contestants selected immediately before
Sidewalk Bowling
Grand Concourse, 11 a.m.-Noon; registration begins 30 minutes before
Big Wheel Races
Grand Concourse, 11 a.m.-Noon and 1:30-2:30 p.m.; registration begins 30 minutes before
Yodeling
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 11:30 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Bozo Ball
Grand Concourse, Noon-1 p.m.; registration begins 30 minutes before
Remote Control Cars
Grand Concourse, 12:30-1 p.m.; registration begins 30 minutes before
Young Farmer’s Challenge, ages 15-21
Pioneer Livestock Pavilion, 12:30 p.m.; registration 10 a.m.-Noon
Scavenger Hunt
Grand Concourse, 1 p.m.; registration begins 30 minutes before
Youth Whistling, Ages 5-16
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 1:30 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Adult Whistling, Ages 17 and older
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 2 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Yo-Yo
Anderson Erickson Dairy Stage sponsored by KCCI NewsChannel 8, 3 p.m.; registration begins at 2:30 p.m.
Farmer’s Challenge, Ages 21 and older
Pioneer Livestock Pavilion, 6 p.m.; registration 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Friday, August 19
Youth Checkers Tournament, Ages 7 and older
East Porch of the Administration Building, 9 a.m.; registration begins at 8 a.m.
Ladies’ Husband Calling
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 10 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Decorated Diaper and Diaper Derby
Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi, 10 a.m.; registration at 9:30 a.m.
Butter Sculpting Contest
Milking Parlor, Cattle Barn, following Milking Demonstrations at 11 a.m., 3 & 7 p.m.; contestants selected immediately before
Children’s Mom Calling, Ages 5-9, 10-15
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 11 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Mutton Bustin’
Pioneer Livestock Pavilion, 12:30, 3:30 & 6:30 p.m.; registration 60-90 minutes before
Children’s Joke Telling, Ages 5-9
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 1 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Hog Calling
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 2 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Saturday, August 20
Adult Checkers Tournament
East Porch of the Administration Building, 9 a.m.; registration begins at 8 a.m.
27th Annual Iowa State Fair Bench Press/ Deadlift Contest
Budweiser Stage sponsored by ABC5, 9:30 a.m., weigh-ins begins at 7 a.m.; open only to pre-registered contestants
Bags Tournament
Grand Concourse, Singles 10 a.m., Doubles 1 p.m.; registration at 9 a.m. & Noon
Ladies’ Nail Driving
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 10:30 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
4x4 Stomper Pull
Anderson Erickson Dairy Stage sponsored by KCCI NewsChannel 8, 10:30a.m.; registration begins at 10 a.m.
Butter Sculpting Contest
Milking Parlor, Cattle Barn, following Milking Demonstrations at 11 a.m., 3 & 7 p.m.; contestants selected immediately before
Sunday, August 21
Adult Checkers Tournament
East Porch of the Administration Building, 9 a.m.; registration begins at 8 a.m.
Butter Sculpting Contest
Milking Parlor, Cattle Barn, following Milking Demonstrations at Noon; contestants selected immediately before
Cribbage Tournament
New location: Upper Level of Grandstand, 1 p.m.; registration begins at Noon
Mother-Daughter Look-a-Like
Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 1 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before
Pigtail/Ponytail/Braid
Budweiser Stage sponsored by ABC5, 1 p.m.; registration begins at Noon
Mullet
Budweiser Stage sponsored by ABC5, following Pigtail/Ponytail/Braid
Bill Riley’s Talent Search Finals
Anne and Bill Riley Stage, 1:30 p.m.; open only to contestants who have advanced from earlier competition
About the Iowa State Fair
“Nothing Compares” to the 2012 Iowa State Fair, set August 9-19. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit www.iowastatefair.org.
Media Information
If you like to would learn more about the Iowa State Fair, please contact:
Lori Chappell
515/262-3111 ext. 204
