Aug 07 - 17, 2025
Fair Sweet Fair
August 7-17, 2025
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There's no better place to be a kid! Whether it’s jumping into a hands-on Blue Ribbon Kids activity, pretending to be a farmer at Little Hands on the Farm or whirling on a ride, the Fair has enough kid-friendly activities to keep families busy all 11 days!
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
1st – Andrea Bolen, Tama
2nd- Amanda Syles, Griswold
3rd – Katy Miller, Beaman
3-4 Year Olds
1st – Riggs Eason, Ankeny
2nd – Aniston Neel, Des Moines
3rd – Daylynn Larson, Decorah
5-6 Year Olds
1st – Kristin Kuhlman, Ames
2nd – Eliza Dzievit, Johnston
3rd – Avalynn Manson, Des Moines
7-8 Year Olds
1st – Brennyn Wuhs, Waukee
2nd – CeCe Dzievit, Johnston
3rd – Elsie Neel, Des Moines
9-10 Year Olds
1st – Elsie Nieuwsma, Oskaloosa
2nd – Harrison Branstad, Sigourney
3rd – Clayton Bittner, Chariton
11-12 Year Olds
1st – Eleanor Brumm, Iowa City
2nd – Katelyn Kuhlman, Ames
3rd – Brooklyn Walz, Marion
Blue Ribbon Kids', the Fair's special club for ages 10 and under, allows children to experience the Fair from a unique perspective. Blue Ribbon Kids' members will get a rare glimpse at the heart of the Iowa State Fair and become part of the action during special kids' club activities. Blue Ribbon Kids' Club members not only get a hands-on Fair experience but will receive a birthday card and a quarterly e-newsletter for parents.
All Kids' Club events will be held weekdays at 10 a.m. at the Fun Forest Stage during the Fair. Meet and greets will be Saturdays at 10 a.m. on the Fun Forest Stage.
Any questions, please contact ewynn@iowastatefair.org.
It's the chance of a lifetime!
Vet Camp is an educational, exciting, hands-on learning program aimed at encouraging 4th-7th graders to learn about animal health, welfare and what it is like to be an animal doctor.
Register for:
Advanced Vet Camp is for 8th-12th graders who would like to learn more about the field of veterinary medicine and have an interest in attending vet school.
The two-hour long programs focus on both large and small animal veterinary medicine. Vet Camp and Advanced Vet Camps, sponsored by Agri-Pro Enterprises of Iowa, Inc., are FREE with paid Fair admission.
Contact Emily Wynn at ewynn@iowastatefair.org or 515.401.1544 with questions or to be put on a waiting list.
Located in Kids Zone, Little Hands on the Farm teaches children the importance of agriculture and how it affects their daily lives in a fun and interactive way. Children ages 2 to 10 become farmers at this free, hands-on exhibit. Children obtain a gathering basket and proceed along a path that includes a garden, grain bin, apple orchard, chicken coop, tractor shed, sheep barn and dairy barn. After gathering particular items along the way they get the chance to sell these items at the Little Hands on the Farm Farmers’ Market for a Little Hands dollar to spend at the Grocery Store for such items as a piece of fruit, a granola bar or an ice cream sandwich.
In between corn dogs and giant slide rides, there are lots of ways kids can learn about agriculture at the Iowa State Fair.
1. Little Hands on the Farm - Located near the Animal Learning Center, the interactive Andringa Family Foundation Little Hands on the Farm ag adventure lets kids "work" their way through a swine barn, garden, grain bin, apple orchard, chicken coop, tractor shed, cattle barn, sheep barn and dary barn. Their reward? A visit to the Little Hands' grocery store to pick out a fruit, granola bar or ice cream treat!
2. Baby Animals - Just south of Little Hands on the Farm, the Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center is bursting with baby animals and unforgettable moments. See chicks hatch, baby goats bounce, ducklings splash or even catch a live birth. Meet real Iowa farmers in the Farmers Bull Pen, where you can ask questions and hear what life is like on the farm.
3. Cowboy Experience – Giddy up to Cowboy Boot Camp just north of Little Hands on the Farm and discover what it takes to be a real cowboy. Kids can try gold panning, steer roping, horse grooming and more at this hands-on educational zone. It's a rootin'-tootin' good time full of Wild West fun!
4. Kids in the Kitchen – Grab your apron and head to the Kids Can Cook kitchen in the east room of the Maytag Family Theaters. Open to ages 5 to 17, these fun cooking demos teach kids how to prepare simple, tasty, farm-fresh recipes while learning kitchen safety, food prep and cleanliness-all with a side of fun!
5. Free Entertainment for Kids – Bring the whole crew to the Fun Forest Stage, sponsored by Community Choice Credit Union, for a lineup of free entertainment! Catch live shows by Brad Weston and magician The Chipper Experience – Where COMEDY & MAGIC Collide! Plus, keep an eye out for strolling acts like Bandaloni the one-man band, Hillbilly Bob and The Ice Cream Show near the triangle and the Pepsi Clock on Grand Ave.
6. Hands On Barn Experiences -Explore Cattle Corner, Horse Haven, Pig Place and Sheep Stop-interactive exhibits where kids learn about Iowa's livestock up close. Then, stroll through the Avenue of Breeds (next to the Bruce L. Rastetter 4-H Exhibits Building), where more than 70 unique animals show off Iowa's incredible agricultural diversity. Sponsored by Iowa Bankers Association and WHO The Big Show.
7. Pick A Vegetable - The Garden, sponsored by Corteva Agriscience and located north of Little Hands on the Farm, is blooming with hands-on learning. Kids can explore garden beds, learn how veggies grow in Iowa soil and even pick produce that helps feed local families through the Iowa Food Bank. Don't miss the composting exhibit to learn about sustainability in action.
8. Fun for the Whole Family - Watch thrilling events at Elwell Family Park, where high-energy entertainment like truck and tractor pulls, charros performances, figure 8 races and the demolition derby take center stage. NEW IN 2025: check out the FREE Iowa Utilities Lineman Rodeo on Friday, August 15, at 8 a.m. Some events are free, and tickets for others are available at iowastatefair.org.
Kids can also join the Blue Ribbon Kids' Club, with weekday activities at 10 a.m. on the Fun Forest Stage and special Saturday meet-and-greets at the same location. It's the perfect way to add a little extra fun to your Fair day!
From barnyard fun to cooking classes, baby animals to gardens, the Iowa State Fair has something for every young explorer. Join us August 7-17 in Des Moines, Iowa, for kid-friendly events, family contests and memory-making moments you won't forget.