DES MOINES, IA (08/01/2017) (readMedia)-- Nothing compares to Iowa State Fair thrills! Fairgoers enjoy the thrill of watching Gary Keenan and T.J. Jenkins use chainsaws to carve masterpieces out of wood. On August 20 at 3:30 P.M. each of the carvings will be auctioned off at the John and Emily Putney Cattle Barn's Penningroth Media Center at the 2017 Woodcarver's Auction.

DES MOINES, IA (07/20/2017) (readMedia)-- The Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation and Cookies Food Products are pleased to announce the recipients of the Iowan of the Day award for the 2017 Iowa State Fair.

DES MOINES, IA (07/17/2017) (readMedia)-- Des Moines, IA- The Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation will host the ultimate social painting class at the Iowa State Fair to help ensure a colorful future for the Fairgrounds. Under the direction of Missy Pieters, on the third floor of the Patty and Jim Cownie Cultural Center, fairgoers will experience the Fair in a new way. Participants will create a personalized souvenir with a stroke of a paint brush.

DES MOINES, IA (07/13/2017) (readMedia)-- Des Moines, IA- Iowa State Fair fans celebrated "What a Ride" the Blue Ribbon Foundation has experienced over the last 25 years as an organization at the annual Corndog Kickoff on Saturday, July 8th. Last Saturday's event raised a total of $553,000 for the renovation and preservation of the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

Des Moines-The internationally-acclaimed Iowa State Fair attracts more than a million people from around the world each year. While everyone has their own favorite area of the Fairgrounds, there is no denying that the Iowa State Fair really comes to life with the energy on the Midway. The spectacular Midway on the Fairgrounds has received an upgrade, featuring something for everyone to enjoy.

MAY 15, 2017 (05/15/2017) (readMedia)-- Each year the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation partners with Cookies Food Products to honor ten Iowans across the state who demonstrate an honest work ethic, dedication to their community while showing an exceptional sense of Iowa pride. The Blue Ribbon Foundation wants to celebrate those who work hard to better their communities and the state of Iowa through their volunteer efforts.

DES MOINES, IA (03/28/2017) (readMedia)-- The idea was simple. Create an organization to conduct a major capital campaign for the renovation and preservation of the historic Iowa State Fairgrounds, one dedicated to ensuring the Iowa State Fair's future. Since its launch a quarter century ago, the Blue Ribbon Foundation has raised $128 million through individual contributions, state appropriations, in-kind services, and corporate, federal and state grants.

DES MOINES, IA (07/14/2016)(readMedia)-- Iowa State Fair fans celebrated our "Locally Grown" traditions Saturday, July 9th at the Blue Ribbon Foundation's 20th annual Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction and Fair Food Grazing Party. For the 6th consecu...

DES MOINES, IA (07/28/2015)(readMedia)-- The Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation and Cookies Food Products are pleased to announce the recipients of the Iowan of the Day award for the 2015 Iowa State Fair.

Each winner will have their own day at the Iowa State Fair. He or she will be recognized on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage and presented as an Iowan of the Day. Along with accommodations at the Downtown Des Moines Marriott, they will each receive a cash prize, Grandstand and Iowa State Fair admission tickets, use of the Iowan of the Day golf cart, and one year subscriptions to The Iowan and Iowa Gardening magazines.

The Blue Ribbon Foundation began the Iowan of the Day award in 1997 to honor those Iowans who have truly made a difference in their communities. This year, the judges reviewed hundreds of nominations and selected those that demonstrate integrity, Iowa pride, hard work and dedication.

"We are so pleased to recognize these tremendous individuals as Iowans of the Day," said Peter Cownie, Executive Director of the Blue Ribbon Foundation. "Their volunteerism, dedication and service to their community, and to the state of Iowa, make each deserving of this honor."

The 2015 Iowan of the Day recipients are:

John and Janis Ruan of Des Moines

Jary Quandt of Westside

Richard and Juanita Schillig of Bettendorf

Bret Mace of Estherville

Caroline Lehman of New London

Dennis Carlson of Hampton

Mike Quinlan of Iowa City

Elaine Bohling of Greenfield

Steven Palmer of Urbandale

Shawn Tait of Exline

The Blue Ribbon Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Since 1993, the Foundation has generated more than $110 million for renovations and improvements to the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

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DES MOINES, IA (07/15/2015)(readMedia)-- Iowa State Fair fans celebrated "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" Saturday, July 11th at the Blue Ribbon Foundation's 19th annual Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction and Fair Food Grazing Party. For the 5th consecutive year, the Corndog Kickoff has broken a record. Last Saturday's event raised a total of $460,000 for the renovation and preservation of the Iowa State Fairgrounds!

More than 2,000 Iowa State Fair supporters gathered for a night of fun, food and fundraising. The Blue Ribbon Foundation auctioned off 27 live and 215 silent auction packages for totals of $140,500 and $57,730, respectively. Patron contributions totaled $206,575. The remaining funds consisted of ticket and merchandise sales.

"The Corndog Kickoff set another record this year in terms of attendance and dollars raised. The Blue Ribbon Foundation is grateful for the support to continue our mission of restoring and preserving the historic Fairgrounds. The State Fair will continue to grow and prosper because of your generosity," said Peter Cownie, Blue Ribbon Foundation Executive Director.

The Blue Ribbon Foundation encourages the public to attend this year's Iowa State Fair, August 13-23, to see the many improvements made possible through the support of Fair-lovers. Enjoy free entertainment on the new MidAmerican Energy Stage located east of Pella Plaza and west of the Patty & Jim Cownie Cultural Center. Improvements have also been made to the Youth Inn. The second phase of the renovation includes: extended walkways, updated fire alarm and suppression systems and all levels of the building are now handicapped accessible with new elevators.

Connecting Grand Avenue and the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center, the new Ruan Plaza creates a pedestrian walkway on the Fairgrounds. This project includes new paved parking, expanded sidewalks, and a reorganized vendor layout in the area to the east and south of the William C. Knapp Varied Industries building. The plan to beautify the area while improving pedestrian traffic flow will be implemented in several phases.

Since its inception in 1993, the Blue Ribbon Foundation has been raising funds to renovate and restore the historic Iowa State Fairgrounds. More than $110 million has been generated to date and has supported 40 projects throughout the Fairgrounds. Improvements have been made to the William C. Knapp Varied Industries Building, the Grandstand, the Campgrounds and Ye Old Mill. In addition, funds support the building of new facilities such as the Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center, Elwell Family Food Center and the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center.

The Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. For more information, please contact the Foundation at (800) 450-3732, bluerf@blueribbonfoundation.org or visit www.blueribbonfoundation.org.

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