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37-728: 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. With over a million visitors, it is one of the largest and best known state fairs in the United States . The first Iowa State Fair was staged in Fairfield on October 25–27, 1854, with a budget of $ 323. The Fair was held again in Fairfield in 1855, then for

74-427: A "coronary on a plate", but chefs at the pub have stated that when consumed in moderation it "should be all right". The pub also planned on offering a variation using whisky in place of Irn-Bru. Deep-fried butter's flavor was compared to that of French toast , and described as tasting like "the most buttery bread you've ever had". ABC News called it an "artery-clogging snack." Celebrity chef Paula Deen published

111-712: A Horse Barn, Swine Barn, Sheep Barn, Poultry Barn, Cattle Barn and the Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center. The Varied Industries Building was originally built in 1911 as the Machinery Hall. It was renamed to the Varied Industries Building in the 1930s. It was fully renovated in 2001, and named the William C. Knapp Varied Industries Building. During the fair, it displays new products and designs. The Iowa State Fair Fabric and Threads Department on

148-424: A different community every two years after it was first established. The first fair was held in Fairfield in 1854. The other towns that hosted the fair included Muscatine , Oskaloosa , Iowa City , Dubuque , Burlington , Clinton , Keokuk and Cedar Rapids . The state fair moved to Des Moines permanently in 1878. The fairgrounds were initially located on the west side of the city between East 38th Street on

185-447: A new Livestock Pavilion that was built in 1902, Agriculture Building (1904), Administration Building (1908). A new race track and grandstand were built in 1909 and the Varied Industries Building was built in 1911. Some of the frame buildings from 1886 were moved to a different location and continued to be used. A sewer system was added at this time. The streets remained unpaved, but curbing had been added. They were also oiled to control

222-530: A plane intentionally crashing into a model of a house, a circus elephant, and a human cannonball . The Iowa State Fair Parade is considered Iowa's largest parade, having around 200 floats, vehicles, and other performers. It occurs the evening before the opening of the State Fair. The parade begins at the State Capitol Complex and travels west on Grand to 15th Street. Dwight D. Eisenhower

259-425: A recipe for fried butter balls, which uses a blend of cream cheese and butter that is frozen, coated, frozen again, and then deep-fried. The cooking time in this recipe is short, for only ten to fifteen seconds, whereupon the product attains a "light golden" color. Roast butter is a similar dish, for which recipes exist dating to the 17th century. The first known recipe for roast butter dates to 1615. Roast butter

296-593: A stick was invented by Larry Fyfe, an entrepreneur and concessionaire at the fair. Deep-fried butter has also been served on a stick at the State Fair of Texas. In 2011 at the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, deep-fried butter was paired with chocolate-covered bacon and dubbed the "coronary combo." ABC News made a comparison regarding the pricing of this food pairing , stating, "the $ 10.50 price rivaled some health plans' co-payments for

333-712: A visit to a cardiologist." This dish has also been served at other events and venues, such as the State Fair of Virginia and the Musikfest music festival in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The debut of deep-fried butter in 2010 at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto, Canada may have led to a rise in attendance at the event. During the 18-day event in 2010, the concession stand purveying

370-814: Is a snack food made of butter coated with a batter or breading and then deep-fried . The dish has often been served at fairs in the US; among them, the State Fair of Texas in Dallas, Texas, the South Carolina State Fair, the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, and County Fairs across Ohio. Roast butter is a similar dish, for which recipes exist dating to the 17th century. Abel Gonzales Jr. , also known as "Fried Jesus", of Dallas, Texas, invented deep-fried butter, serving it at

407-641: Is a 10 minute drive east from downtown Des Moines. The fairgrounds are filled with carnival rides and vendors during the Fair. Agricultural contests are held for the largest boar, ram, bull, and rabbit. There are 4-H, Future Farmers of America (FFA), and open-class shows for sheep, swine, beef and dairy cattle, horses, goats, llamas, rabbits, poultry and dogs. Contests include rooster crowing, hog calling, wood chopping, pie eating, monster arm wrestling, outhouse racing and cow chip throwing. The Butter Cow , an Iowa State Fair staple since 1911 when J.K. Daniels sculpted

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444-582: Is in the west and the campgrounds are in the east. There is also a street plan based on a T-shaped road arrangement. The east/west artery is Grand Avenue, also called the Grand Concourse, and the north/south artery is Rock Island Avenue. The eastern portion of the fairgrounds is hilly while the western portion is flat. In addition to the annual state fair the fairgrounds also hosts auto shows, livestock exhibitions, flea markets, antique shows, concerts, trade shows and other events. The fairgrounds have

481-528: Is located on the east side of Des Moines, Iowa , United States. It annually hosts the Iowa State Fair in late summer. The state fair was begun in Iowa in 1854 and the current fairgrounds were established in 1886. The fairgrounds were listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 as the Iowa State Fair and Exposition Grounds . The Iowa State Fair was held in

518-580: The Iowa Legislature and the city of Des Moines appropriated funds and the first buildings were built. They were frame buildings that used boards and battens as exterior wall covering. They were mostly single-story structures that were built quickly and under a tight budget. Because they were poorly built they were constantly in need of repair. However, the buildings lasted into the early 20th century when they began to be replaced or expanded. Pioneer Hall remains from this period. The streets within

555-408: The 1950s. The Iowa State Fair has a variety of food, including healthy and gluten-free offerings, from more than 200 food stands. The fair is known for its food on a stick, which numbered over 70 offerings in 2015. Some of the most distinctive are deep fried, including Snickers , Oreos , cheesecake, pickle dawg (pastrami or ham with cream cheese and pickle), and butter , a popular addition when it

592-430: The 2009 State Fair of Texas in Dallas, Texas. Prepared using frozen, battered butter, it was awarded the "Most Creative food prize" at that time. A version of deep-fried butter on a stick debuted at the Iowa State Fair 2011, which was prepared using frozen butter that is dipped in a honey- and cinnamon- flavored batter, deep-fried until browned, and then topped with a confectioner's sugar glaze . This concoction on

629-682: The Iowa State Fair Authority. Officers work year-round, providing services to the State Fair and other events held at the Fairgrounds. There are six full-time police officers and a number of part-time officers, made up of both retired and active-duty officers. People arrested at the Fair are booked on site, and transported to Polk County Jail by Des Moines Police Department and the Iowa State Patrol . Iowa State Fairgrounds The Iowa State Fairgrounds

666-640: The Iowa State Legislature and the City of Des Moines appropriated funds for the Fair in 1886, it moved to its current location at East 30th and East Grand in Des Moines. The Fair was not held in 1898, due to the celebration of the World's Fair in nearby Omaha, Nebraska , as well as the Spanish–American War , 1942–1945 due to World War II , when the state allowed military personnel to use

703-633: The Plaza Stage was renamed the Anne and Bill Riley Stage. He died in December 2006, succeeded by Bill Riley Jr., who has been host since 1997. Nearly 100 local qualifying shows are held across the state. There are seven days of preliminary competition for Sprouts (ages 2–12) and Seniors (ages 13–21), followed by the semi-finals and, ultimately, the selection of a Sprout and Senior champion. The Iowa State Fair has been home to many forms of entertainment over

740-437: The campgrounds and restrooms were placed throughout the fairgrounds. Street pavement began in the 1930s and both brick and concrete sidewalks were added. Storm sewers were a Works Progress Administration project in 1936. Since the end of World War II most of the buildings have been pole barn structures, although the exteriors, for the most part, are still covered in brick. Older buildings from around Iowa have been added to

777-581: The country's top hog producer, and a bacon-wrapped hot dog dipped in a cornmeal batter. The footlong corndog is a classic Iowa State Fair food item. Food has also been part of the friendly competition at the Iowa State Fair. Gathered in the Elwell Family Food Center are the best cooks and bakers Iowa has to offer. From pies to cinnamon rolls , the fair sees many delicious creations every year. The Iowa State Fair Grandstand

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814-598: The dish sold 9,000 orders, which equated to 36,000 individual deep-fried butter balls using 800 pounds of butter. The dish was served in portions of four balls at the event, which totaled 315 calories. In 2011 in Edinburgh , Scotland, a pub named The Fiddler's Elbow served a dessert dish named "Braveheart Butter Bombs" that consists of deep-fried butter served with ice cream infused with Irn-Bru and coulis . Some critics in Edinburgh have referred to deep-fried butter as

851-558: The dust and cinders were spread to improve their durability. A park triangle had been established at the intersection of Grand and Rock Island Avenues by 1920. By 1942 when the United States Army leased the fairgrounds for a storage depot for the Air Corps there were only minimal changes to the fairgrounds. The livestock buildings had been enlarged. Running water had been installed, bath and shower houses had been built at

888-492: The east, East 42nd Street on the west, Center Street on the north and Grand Avenue on the south. In 1886 the fairgrounds were moved to the east side of town on University Avenue. The property had previously been the Calvin Thornton Farmstead. The original house and barn are still on the fairground's property. Other structures from the farm survived into the late 1940s when they were torn down. In 1886

925-406: The fairgrounds followed the same basic pattern as they do today, although they were unpaved and without curbing or gutters in the early years. A street lighting system was put in about 1890 when oil lamps were added. The following year 500 electric lights were installed on the grounds. The new buildings built in the early 20th-century were steel frame structures covered in red brick. They included

962-484: The fairgrounds in the 1960s and 1970s and are known as Heritage Village. Some of the buildings in the village are also those built on the fairgrounds in 1886. The fairgrounds are composed of 435 acres (176 ha), of which 275 acres (111 ha) are devoted to the fair proper and about 160 acres (65 ha) are campground. The grounds are organized with activities grouped into departmental areas. The livestock departments such as cattle, horses, sheep and poultry are on

999-584: The first one, is located in the Agricultural Building. After sculpting her first butter cow in 1960, Norma "Duffy" Lyon sculpted all six breeds of dairy cows over the next 45 years, as well as Garth Brooks , a butter version of Grant Wood's American Gothic , the Peanuts characters, Iowa native John Wayne , Elvis Presley , a Harley-Davidson motorcycle , various animals and a butter rendition of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper . Lyon

1036-501: The grounds as a supply depot. In 2020 it was "postponed" due to the COVID-19 pandemic , however on August 13–23, 2020 a virtual fair was held in its place. The Fair returned in 2021. The Fair was the setting for the 1933 film State Fair and its 1945 musical adaptation . The fairgrounds are spread over 450 acres (1.8 km), including 160 acres (0.65 km) of campsites. Located at East 30th Street and East University Avenue, it

1073-536: The next several years, moved from town to town, remaining mostly in eastern Iowa . The Fair was held in Muscatine in 1856–1857, Oskaloosa in 1858–1859, Iowa City in 1860–1861, Dubuque in 1862–1863, Burlington in 1864–1866, Clinton in 1867–1868, Keokuk in 1869–1870 and 1874–1875, and Cedar Rapids in 1871–1873 and 1876–1878. The Fair moved permanently within the Des Moines city limits in 1878. After

1110-478: The presidential nomination process, and the fair preceding the caucuses is a high visibility event for candidates. The Iowa State Fair Police Department was established in 2018, replacing the combination of private security guards and local law enforcement agencies that previously provided security and policing services to the Fairgrounds. Officers wear a blue uniform with a distinctive white cowboy hat . The police officers are state-certified officers, but funded by

1147-464: The second story displays Iowa's quilts, rugs, and dolls, and hosts an annual Sew-In. The Agriculture Building was originally built in 1904. The butter cow is located in this building during the fair. A Heritage Village section depicts Iowa life around the time of the Fair's establishment in 1854, including church hymn sings, a country school, general store, barber shop, telephone company and train depot. Deep-fried butter Deep-fried butter

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1184-399: The south; historically there was a railcar unloading area south of the barns, but this has since been decommissioned and cut back to serve a nearby animal feed company. The plant departments, which includes cash crops, fruits and floral are located in the center. The amusement area with the midway and race track/grandstand is in the northeast section of the fairgrounds. The machinery department

1221-562: The years. Notably, in 1932 the Fair hired Joseph Connolly to crash two outdated locomotives together in front of the Grandstand. Connolly named one "Hoover" and one "Roosevelt" in honor of the presidential candidates of the day, presaging the State Fair's role in Presidential nominations. The trains accelerated to approximately 50 miles per hour and smashed in a fiery spectacle before 45,000 fairgoers. Other past entertainment includes

1258-445: Was built in 1909 and was renovated to add more and improved seating in 1927, 1997 and then again in 2018. It is located on Grand Ave, just off of the main gate. Grateful Dead played the Grandstand on 6/16/74, with part of the show being released as Road Trips Volume 2 Number 3 . Bill Riley's Iowa State Fair Talent Search debuted in 1959 and features Iowans ages 2 to 21. In 1996, Riley retired after 50 Fairs and 37 Fair Talent Shows and

1295-400: Was introduced in 2011. As the State Fair is known for its many different and wild dishes, a new addition as of 2020 is the popular apple egg rolls voted #1 fair food. The 2023 People's Choice Best New Food was Deep-Fried Bacon Brisket Mac-n-Cheese Grilled Cheese from What’s Your Cheez. Other meat-on-a stick products include pork chop, the most endemic food at the fair, given the state's status as

1332-516: Was succeeded in 2006 by her longtime apprentice, Sarah Pratt. Pratt's 2023 butter sculpture featured iconic Iowa athletes Jack Trice , Kurt Warner , and Caitlin Clark . In the past, the Iowa State Fair hosted a "healthiest baby" contest for more than 40 years. While the stated goal of the contest was to dispense advice for healthy family living, some believe that it was also an outlet for the promotion of eugenics . The contest ran from 1911 to at least

1369-522: Was the first president to visit the Iowa State Fair in 1954. Since then, presidential candidates have visited the Fair, and the Des Moines Register currently sponsors the "Political Soapbox,” which provides space for candidates to speak to the public. Candidates have 20 minutes to speak and can take questions from the crowd as well. Historically the Iowa caucuses have been the first contest in

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