DES MOINES, IA (08/13/2012)(readMedia)-- Jake Keppy of Durant captured the Grand Champion Market in the FFA Market Swine Show judged Thursday and Friday at the 2012 Iowa State Fair. Keppy's hog first won the Champion Purebred Market Pig banner on the drive to the championship.

Earning the Reserve Grand Champion title this year was Chelsea Schminke of Van Horne.

Alexis Delaney of DeWitt claimed the Reserve Champion Purebred Market Swine award.

The judge had his hands full selecting champions out of 547 hogs brought by 266 exhibitors vying for the Grand Champion banner.

Division winners in the FFA Market Swine Show included:

Light Weight Barrow Champion: Jacklyn Keninger, Ackley

Light Weight Barrow Reserve Champion: Kole Wilson, Newton

Medium Weight Barrow Champion: Austin Lane, Spragueville

Medium Weight Barrow Reserve Champion: Ben Jacobsen, Dows

Heavy Weight Barrow Champion: Chelsea Schminke, Van Horne

Heavy Weight Barrow Reserve Champion: Jacklyn Keninger, Ackley

Light Weight Gilt Champion: Callie Greiner, Keota

Light Weight Gilt Reserve Champion: Kolton Greiner, Keota

Medium Weight Gilt Champion: Ryan Schneider, Riverside

Medium Weight Gilt Reserve Champion: Chelsea Keninger, Ackley

Heavy Weight Gilt Champion: Jacklyn Keninger, Ackley

Heavy Weight Gilt Reserve Champion: Amanda Anderson, Algona

Bershire Champion: Brandon Reedy, Ottumwa

Bershire Reserve Champion: Austin Lane, Spragueville

Chester White Champion: Brandon Reed, Ottumwa

Chester White Reserve Champion: Brandon Reed, Ottumwa

Duroc Champion: Samuel Bair, Elkhart

Duroc Reserve Champion: Maggie Miller, Ames

Hampshire Champion: Kelsey Brecht, Marengo

Hampshire Reserve Champion: Kelsey Brecht, Marengo

Spotted Poland China Champion: Alex Umbaugh, Adair

Spotted Poland China Reserve Champion: Clara Goddard, Letts

Yorkshire Champion: Jake Keppy, Durant

Yorkshire Reserve Champion: Alexis Delaney, DeWitt

All Other Breeds Champion: Zach Caslavka, Muscatine

All Other Breeds Reserve Champion: Ashley Olson, Atkins

Keppy's and Schminke's title holders, as well as 12 other livestock champions, will be auctioned in the prestigious Sale of Champions on Saturday, August 18, at 2 p.m. in the Penningroth Media Center of the Cattle Barn. The event is sponsored by the Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement, a non-profit organization established to encourage the pursuit of agriculture-related careers by Iowa's youth.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2012 Iowa State Fair, August 9-19. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines, and are open 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. each day of the Fair. Exhibit hours may vary. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.

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DES MOINES, IA (08/06/2012)(readMedia)-- The 2012 Iowa State Fair is set to end on a high note on Extreme Sunday, August 19, with a boot tappin' Grandstand show and a full day of free entertainment. Plus, Fairgoers can take advantage of half-price gate admission, a chance to win prizes in the Iowa Lottery's "Mystery Millionaire" event, and free parking for carloads of five or more in the North Lot (until 9 p.m.). "Nothing Compares" to the Iowa State Fair, set August 9-19.

GRANDSTAND ENTERTAINMENT:

Since their inception in 1999, the trio of Rascal Flatts has released songs like "These Days," "Bless The Broken Road," "What Hurts The Most" and "Take Me There," some of the most successful music to come out of Nashville in recent years. They have placed 11 #1 singles and 20 Top 10 hits, seen every one of their studio albums go multi-platinum, and have become the most awarded vocal group in country music history with total sales at 20 million. Opening the 7 p.m. show is Little Big Town, Eli Young Band and Edens Edge.

Tickets are $59, on sale now through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800/745-3000 and through the Iowa State Fair Ticket Office. Convenience charges will apply to all tickets. Grandstand tickets do not include admission to the Fair.

FREE STAGE ENTERTAINMENT:

Here Come the Mummies is different from any other funk group and will see to it that they are the "funkiest" show around. The twelve members dress as Egyptian mummies and play "funk from beyond the grave." Here Come the Mummies will perform at 7:30 p.m. on the Anderson Erikson Dairy Stage.

From the hit NBC show The Sing Off, Street Corner Symphony brings a unique, southern soul sound to the Fair. The 6-piece Nashville-based a cappella group were runners-up on the second season of the show, which aired in December 2010. Catch them at 7 p.m. on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage.

To date, WAR has sold nearly 50 million records and has been honored with 17 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards. Classic songs include, "Low Rider," "Slippin' Into Darkness" and "Why Can't We Be Friends?" Come rock out with the band at 8 p.m. on the Budweiser Stage.

Boyz II Men holds the distinction as the best-selling R&B group of all time, with an astounding 60 million albums sold. Most recently, Boyz II Men marked their 20th anniversary by releasing a landmark album, fittingly titled "Twenty," which debuted at number 20 on Billboard Magazine's Top 200 Albums Chart and number 4 on the R&B album chart. Listen to their classic hits at 7 p.m. on the Susan Knapp Amphitheater.

During the day, grab a seat at the Anne and Bill Riley Stage for Bill Riley's Talent Search Finals beginning at 1:30 p.m. Over 350 talented acts from across the state qualified to compete in this year's competition. Six Sprout Champions will be showcased in the Championship Show. In the Senior division, nine finalists will compete for the championship title.

In addition to all the musical talent, Fairgoers can also enjoy one final day of Fair food favorites, strolling act Bandaloni, The Red Trouser Show, exhilarating fun with the BMX Pros Trick Team, the Swampmaster's Gator Show, and the Bengal Tiger Encounter.

MYSTERY MILLIONAIRE JACKPOT PROMOTION

Fairgoers will have the chance to win up to $1,000 by being in the audience for the Iowa Lottery's "Mystery Millionaire" event! Fifteen audience members will win prizes from $250 to $1,000 during the Mystery Millionaire finale event on the Grand Concourse starting at 1 p.m. And one lucky Iowa Lottery player will win the promotion's $1 million grand prize.

Extreme Sunday is sponsored by WHO-TV 13, STAR 102.5, LAZER 103.3 and KIOA 93.3.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2012 Iowa State Fair, set August 9-19. Save money on advance admission tickets now through August 8 (while supplies last). For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or check out www.iowastatefair.org.

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DES MOINES, IA (08/03/2012)(readMedia)-- The world-famous Iowa State Fair Butter Cow has a new friend, a life-size Chocolate Moose crafted by the master chocolatiers at Chocolaterie Stam U.S.A. Chocolaterie Stam has crafted 'The World's Largest Chocolate Moose in Captivity ©.' The chocolate moose will be on display in the Elwell Family Food Center throughout the Fair, August 9-19 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

From hooves to antlers, the chocolate moose's stainless steel frame weighs 320 pounds, stands 10'6" high and is 118" long. Hundreds of pounds of Dutch chocolate were applied in layers and hand-carved until a life-size chocolate moose emerged. This creation took approximately nine weeks from its birth in Radcliffe to its new location in the Elwell Family Food Center. While a real moose weights more than 850 pounds, this chocolate moose would make approximately 4,250 Stam Chocolate Bars.

The Elwell Family Food Center houses this delectable creature as well as the largest foods department in the nation with 893 contests, 43 of which are new this year. Fairgoers can watch the judging take place or peruse the winners already on display. On the last day, educational seminars will be held about all things cooking and baking.

Over the 11-day course of competition, nearly $60,000 in prizes will be awarded, including Fair premiums and special sponsorship prizes and cash rewards. Judging for the Food Department competitions takes place daily in the four judging rooms located in the Elwell Family Food Center.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2012 Iowa State Fair, August 9-19. Save money on advance admission tickets now through August 8 (while supplies last). For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.

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DES MOINES, IA (07/31/2012)(readMedia)-- The 2012 Iowa State Fair Parade is set Wednesday, August 8. The Parade will begin at 6:15 p.m. in downtown Des Moines and is the annual kick-off to the Fair, which runs August 9-19.

Former Iowa State Fair Board Member Don Greiman will lead as Parade Marshal. Greiman served on the Board for 44 years and was Fair board president two times prior to retiring in 2009. He was instrumental in leading the Fair through its financial struggles in the 1970s and in the formation of the Blue Ribbon Foundation in 1993. Greiman, who hails from Garner, has never missed a day at the Iowa State Fair in the last 46 years. The Blue Ribbon Foundation named Greiman Iowa State Fair Ambassador in 2011.

The Fair will also pay tribute to the late Mark Pearson, who died on June 3. Pearson hosted Iowa Public Television's Market to Market program, as well as the station's annual coverage of the Iowa State Fair. Mike Pearson, Mark's son, will drive his dad's tractor in the parade to honor the popular Iowa farm broadcaster.

The Iowa State Fair Parade is the state's largest, showcasing nearly 200 floats, animals, vehicles, novelty and performing units. Staging will take place at the State Capitol complex. Parade entrants will then travel west on Grand Avenue to 13th Street. Dispersion will take place between 13th and 18th Streets.

Highlights of the gala event will be re-broadcast on parade night throughout central Iowa on KDSM Fox 17 beginning at 10 p.m.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2012 Iowa State Fair, August 9-19. Save money on advance admission tickets now through August 8 (while supplies last). For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.

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