The Iowa State Fair is less than a month away, and the people who run it are excited (with a healthy dose of fear) for it to kick off. Iowa State Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons said several events have taken place on the fairgrounds recently, and that helps them to be physically prepared for the state fair to begin.
While the main entrance to the sheep barn won’t be finished until after the fair, the interior is fully renovated for use in this year’s sheep shows.
Interestingly enough, there are no changes to the poultry shows this year since HPAI has been mostly under control in that industry. And even though HPAI is much more of a problem in the dairy industry, exhibitors will still be able to show their dairy cattle while following the state guidelines. However, Parsons said the most notable change will be in the dairy exhibits, which will not be taking place in their usual forms this year.
Even though it is unfortunate that the dairy exhibits can’t take place as usual, there is still a silver lining- fairgoers will get a peek into what it is like for Iowa’s producers to adapt to changes like foreign animal disease outbreaks.
Parsons said the spirit of the fair- which is to showcase the culture of Iowa- will still be intact.
As usual, there will be an eclectic mix of fair foods for everyone to try, with some being even more experimental than others. Parsons said these fair foods are also a great example of Iowa, as many of the vendors call this state their home.
Parsons added that there are still plenty of announcements to look forward to before the fair starts next month.
For more information, visit iowastatefair.org.
