DES MOINES, IA (07/06/2015)(readMedia)-- Join the Blue Ribbon Foundation for "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," at the 19th annual Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction and Fair Food Grazing Party, Saturday, July 11 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Doors to the William C. Knapp Varied Industries Building will open at 6:30 p.m. for a "Christmas in July" night filled with exciting gift-worthy auction packages, entertainment and all of your favorite Fair foods. Get in the spirit for the 2015 Iowa State Fair while raising funds to renovate and restore the historic Fairgrounds!

Since its inception in 1997, the Kickoff has raised more than $4 million for Fairgrounds renovations. Last year's event drew a crowd of 1,800, raising a record high $424,000! All proceeds go toward the renovation and restoration of the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Highlights from this year's 27 live and 205 silent auction packages include :

• Blown Away - You'll be blown away by Carrie Underwood's singing talent at her sold out concert. Four tickets in the front row to see Carrie Underwood with Michael Ray on Monday, August 17 at 8:00 p.m. This package includes backstage passes for four to meet Carrie, gate admission for four and one parking pass.

• Deer Season - Here's an opportunity to have an out-of-state hunting buddy join you during deer season.
  One out-of-state deer tag good for any of the 2015-2016 or 2016-2017 hunting seasons; shotgun, bow or muzzle loading.

• Paint the Fair - This is your chance to host a social painting class at the Iowa State Fair. Up to ten people will meet near Grandfather's Barn to paint a Fair picture on Thursday, August 20. Enjoy 20 drink tickets from Top of the Vine for featured Iowa wines, beers and sodas in their new venue by Grandfather's Barn.

• One of a Kind Party - An event at the one-of-a kind Stine Barn in West Des Moines is one your guests will always remember. With its beautiful décor, massive fireplace and expansive patios overlooking a perfectly situated pond, it's an ideal venue. It'll be one of the easiest events you've hosted with event planning, catering, flowers, cupcakes, photography and DJ services at your disposal.

All inclusive Corndog Kickoff tickets are $100. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Blue Ribbon Foundation at (800)450-3732, online at www.BlueRibbonFoundation.org or at the door the night of the event.

The Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Since its inception in 1993, the Foundation has generated more than $110 million for renovations to the Iowa State Fairgrounds. For more information on the Corndog Kickoff, please contact the Foundation at (800) 450-3732 or bluerf@blueribbonfoundation.org.

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(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds are encouraging Iowa families to travel the state this year. Branstad and Reynolds today announced that the Iowa Tourism Office has teamed up with nearly 70 travel destinations around the state to offer money-saving deals, many of which are offered during the month of August. The offers, available at traveliowa.com/deals, include discounted admissions and lodging, coupons and buy one get one free offers.

"Now is a great time to plan an Iowa summer vacation and take advantage of the Iowa Tourism Office's summer travel promotion. By taking advantage of tourism opportunities within the state, Iowa families are able to explore our state's beauty and attractions while helping to support local businesses, which create jobs for Iowans and grow the state's economy," Branstad said. "A summer getaway in Iowa is good for the whole family as it can enrich childrens' lives by introducing them to history, nature and culture, all within the borders of their home state."

Reynolds added that travel doesn't just make economic and educational sense, but that it creates important and meaningful connections among families.

"Iowa families would be hard-pressed to find a better way to spend quality time than over a family vacation in Iowa," said Reynolds. "My husband Kevin and I are looking forward to a southwest Iowa family vacation with our children and grandchildren later this month.  I encourage all Iowa families to consider opportunities to travel to one or more of Iowa's many wonderful landmarks, historical sites, campgrounds, state parks or other attractions."

A study by the U.S. Travel Association reported that more than 75 percent of parents believed family vacations were worth the time and money because they offer experiences their children will remember years down the road. Nearly half of the youth participants in the same study agreed vacations bring their family closer together, memorable things happen of vacation that their family will talk about even after they return home and some of the best memories are of things they did during a family vacation.

During the month of July, the Iowa Tourism Office will feature a travel deal each day on its Facebook page. All of the deals are available anytime at traveliowa.com/deals.

Tourism in Iowa generates more than $7.75 billion in expenditures, employs 65,400 people statewide and generates $353.9 million in state taxes. The Iowa Tourism Office is part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. For more information, visit traveliowa.com, call 800.345.IOWA, or stop at any Iowa Welcome Center. Travelers can find additional Iowa travel inspiration on the Iowa Tourism Office blog, Facebook page, Twitter feed, Pinterest boards, Google+ page, Instagram, or YouTube channel.

PERDOMO'S 8 SHUTOUT INNINGS BEAT BANDITS

Peoria wins, 7-1, to deny Quad Cities a sweep of four-game, split-city series

PEORIA, Ill. (July 5, 2015) - Peoria Chiefs All-Star right-hander Luis Perdomo matched a career high with eight shutout innings and struck out eight Quad Cities River Bandits, while first baseman Alex De Leon hit a two-run home run to begin the home team's scoring in the second inning of a 7-1 win that avoided a four-game, split-city series sweep by the River Bandits at Dozer Park Sunday afternoon.

Perdomo (4-7) yielded one walk and five singles without allowing a baserunner to reach third base. Only two reached second base in the first eight innings for Quad Cities (7-4 second half, 52-27 overall). After center fielder Bobby Boyd's leadoff single to center field in the first inning, Perdomo retired seven straight batters. Third baseman Luis Reynoso hit a third-inning, one-out single to right field, but Perdomo again responded by retiring seven in a row. Second baseman Alex Hernandez singled to left field in the fifth inning, followed by Perdomo setting down five batteres in order. In the seventh inning with one out, right fielder Sean McMullen put a bunt single to the third-base side of the pitcher's mound, and shortstop Kristian Trompiz added a two-out single, but Hernandez flied out to center field, and Perdomo finished his outing by retiring the last four batters he faced.

Peoria (4-7, 37-42) took the lead for the first time in the four-game series in the bottom of the second inning against River Bandits right-hander Brandon McNitt (1-3). Right fielder Nick Thompson led off with a single to center field, and De Leon drove a ball to the top of the left-center-field wall, scoring Thompson. Base umpire Tyler Olson initially ruled the ball did not go over the yellow line at the top of the fence, but upon conference with home plate umpire Brock Ballou, the pair overturned the initial call, awarding De Leon his seventh home run and Peoria a 2-0 lead. Catcher Luis Cruz immediately followed with single to right field and went to second base when left fielder Kenny Peoples-Walls walked with one out. Center fielder Jhohan Acevedo chopped a single into center field to score Cruz, and second baseman Andrew Sohn added an RBI single to left field for a 4-0 lead. All-Star shortstop Oscar Mercado grounded a single to Trompiz in the shortstop hole - the sixth hit of the inning - but Hernandez caught Trompiz's throw at second base and threw to Reynoso at third base for the inning-ending tag of Acevedo.

The Chiefs added to their 4-0 lead in the fourth inning, when third baseman Jake Gronsky walked and Peoples-Walls doubled to left field, putting two runners in scoring position. Acevedo lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, and designated hitter Darren Seferina grounded an RBI single down the third-base line for a 6-0 edge.

McNitt also allowed the final Peoria run in the sixth inning. Peoples-Walls reached on Reynoso's throwing error, Seferina walked, and a wild pitch advanced both baserunners. With the infield in, Sohn grounded to Trompiz, whose initial bobble gave him only a play at first base, so Peoples-Walls scored his game-high third run without a throw. In a career-high six innings, McNitt also allowed career highs of seven runs, six earned runs, nine hits and five walks, which set a season high by a River Bandits pitcher.

Following McNitt, right-hander Eric Peterson struck out three batters in two perfect innings. Chiefs right-hander Kyle Grana began the ninth inning with the 7-0 lead and retired the first two batters. But the River Bandits - who had lost a home shutout bid with two outs in the ninth inning Friday against Peoria - denied the Chiefs a combined shutout with two outs in the ninth inning. Grana hit catcher Trent Woodward, Trompiz walked and Mercado misplayed Hernandez's one-hop ground ball, which reached left-center field and allowed Woodward to score. Reynoso then flied out to right field to close Peoria's fourth win in 14 meetings with Quad Cities this season.

The River Bandits begin their second consecutive four-game, split-city series by hosting Clinton for two games Monday and Tuesday. River Bandits right-hander David Paulino (0-1) is scheduled to face LumberKings right-hander Tyler Herb (4-4) at 7 p.m. Monday.

UP NEXT: Gates open at 6 p.m. on Military Monday presented by Performance Food Group, 97X and ESPN 93.5. All veterans and active military can show a military ID at the box office to purchase $1 bleacher tickets to the 7 p.m. game for themselves and up to three guests.  Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

LAUREANO'S BLAST BEATS FIREWORKS, CHIEFS

River Bandits move 26 games above .500 for the first time since the end of the 2010 season

PEORIA, Ill. (July 4, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits outfielder Ramon Laureano hit a three-run, go-ahead home run in the top of the 11^th inning, two minutes before a Fourth of July fireworks show began over the Illinois River in downtown Peoria beyond the first-base side of Dozer Park, and with fireworks continuing, the visitors won an 8-5, 11-inning final over the Peoria Chiefs Saturday night.

Shortstop Alex Bregman and All-Star third baseman Nick Tanielu each had three hits to help the River Bandits (7-3 second half, 52-26 overall) win their third straight game and move 26 games above .500 for the first time since finishing 28 games above .500 (83-55) in 2010. Among the affiliates of all 30 major league organizations, only the Houston Astros Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks (53-26 in the Texas League) had a better record than Quad Cities through Saturday. The River Bandits won for the 10^th time in 13 games this season against Peoria (3-7, 36-42) and has not trailed in the first three games of the current series with the Chiefs.

Quad Cities took its first lead in the second inning against Chiefs left-hander Dewin Perez. Designated hitter Trent Woodward singled to left field with one out, and center fielder Bobby Boyd drew the first of his career-high three walks. With two outs, All-Star catcher Jamie Ritchie drew his Midwest League-leading 66th walk to load the bases, and Bregman laced a two-run double down the left-field line for a 2-0 lead. Peoria immediately tied the game in the next half-inning against River Bandits right-hander Christian Powell. First baseman Adam Ehrlich and left fielder Kenny Peoples-Walls hit consecutive one-out singles, and center fielder Jhohan Acevedo walked to load the bases before second baseman Darren Seferina lined a two-run, game-tying single to left field.

In a 2-2 tie in the top of the third inning, Laureano doubled to left field to extend his career-high nine-game hitting streak. Third baseman Kristian Trompiz and Woodward both drew walks to load the bases, and Boyd grounded a two-run double down the first-base line to make it 4-2. Perez walked second baseman Luis Reynoso to reload the bases, and right-hander Cody Schumacher entered to allow Ritchie's sacrifice fly to right field for a 5-2 margin. Perez allowed five earned runs on six hits and five walks with one strikeout in 2 1/3 innings.

The Chiefs rallied within 5-4 against Powell in the fifth inning. Powell hit designated hitter Andrew Sohn, shortstop Oscar Mercado singled, and right fielder Nick Thompson doubled off the left-center field wall to score two runs. Powell preserved the lead with a strikeout, groundout and lineout to finish five innings, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

Following Powell, right-hander Jorge Perez kept the 5-4 lead by stranding two runners in the sixth inning, but in the eighth inning, the Chiefs evened the score and had their best chance to take the lead. Perez hit Acevedo with one out, Seferina reached on Trompiz's error at second base, and Sohn lined a game-tying double to left field, ending Perez's outing after allowing one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. Right-hander Angel Heredia (3-1) entered with one out, the infield in and runners at second and third bases in a 5-5 tie. Mercado lined a 3-2 pitch to Bregman, who threw to All-Star third baseman Nick Tanielu to double off Seferina and end the inning with the tie. Heredia allowed one walk in the final 3 2/3 hitless innings and has not allowed a hit in his last nine innings since June 20.

The pivotal top of the 11^th inning began with Bregman walking against right-hander Robby Rowland (2-3) and Tanielu hitting a single to left field. Bregman ran to third base on the play, drawing a throw that allowed Tanielu to reach second base. With the infield in, Rowland struck out Bottger before Laureano set a career high of three RBIs with one swing that sent a drive to the berm beyond the left-field fence.