DES MOINES, IA (07/17/2014)(readMedia)-- The 2014 Iowa State Fair will feature expanded agricultural education including new activities focused on corn, soybeans, hydroponics and dairy cattle. This year's "Amazingly Amusing" celebration runs August 7-17.

This year, Fairgoers of all ages can learn about corn and soybeans at the John Deere Agriculture Building thanks to a new hands-on experience called Farm with Us. The interactive learning destination allows visitors to touch bushels of corn and soybeans and learn how crops grow. A green screen will transport families to Iowa farms for the perfect photo op. A complimentary photo will be emailed to visitors as well as printed.

A short walk from the Agriculture Building, the Animal Learning Center features two new educational experiences. The new hydroponics display teaches young and old alike about the soil-less growing of plants while the Thank a Farmer Wall invites anyone to leave a message for the hard-working farmers of Iowa.

The newly expanded Boulevard of Dairy Breeds, located in the Putney Family Cattle Barn, will focus on the six main breeds of dairy cattle in Iowa with new hands-on activities, cattle, baby calves and the I Milked a Cow display.

New to the Fair is the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Commodity Carnival located in the Bruce L. Rastetter 4-H Exhibits Building. Aimed at third through eighth graders, this activity teaches kids what it takes to raise a beef animal and how to discover profit or loss. The Carnival will be operating August 8-16 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Just north of the Animal Learning Center is Kids' Zone featuring the Blue Ribbon Kids' Club Tent and the new location of Seed Survivor. Seed Survivor teaches kids about how seeds interact with the environment. Each participant can plant their own sunflower seed to take home and grow. Blue Ribbon Kids' events begins at 10 a.m. every weekday and features make and take crafts for kids based around day-specific themes like plants, dairy cows and baby animals.

Returning to the 2014 Fair are kid-friendly favorites Ag-Venture Discovery Trail and Grape Getaway. Located next to the Animal Learning Center, Little Hands on the Farm is celebrating its 10th Anniversary. Through this interactive adventure, kids can learn what it is like to do chores on a farm and earn play money to spend at the General Store.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2014 Iowa State Fair, August 7-17. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines. Discounted gate admission tickets are on sale now through our convenient print at home ticket option at iowastatefair.org. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.

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LISLE, IL (07/16/2014)(readMedia)-- One hundred ninety-four students were honored for their outstanding academic achievements at the Honors Convocation and Hooding Ceremony held recently at Benedictine University.

Joann Weeks of Pleasant Valley, Iowa was presented the/recognized as a member of the Psi Chi national honors society in Psychology.

Benedictine University is an independent Roman Catholic institution located in Lisle, Illinois just 25 miles west of Chicago. Founded in 1887, Benedictine provides 55 undergraduate majors, 16 graduate and four doctoral programs.

Benedictine University is ranked No. 1 among the country's fastest-growing campuses between 2001-2011 in The Chronicle of Higher Education's list of private nonprofit research institutions, and Forbes magazine named Benedictine among "America's Top Colleges" for the third consecutive year in 2013. Benedictine University's Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program is listed by Crain's Chicago Business as the fifth largest in the Chicago area in 2013.

DES MOINES, IA (07/16/2014)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald met with the family of a Sioux City child yesterday to present a $5,290 College Savings Iowa account. Mia Cramer, age 5 months, was randomly chosen to receive the award after her grandmother, Barb, entered her for the giveaway as part of College Savings Iowa's Spring Giveaway. "This is the first grandparent to win one of our seasonal giveaways," Fitzgerald stated. "It demonstrates how families can work together to help a child accomplish their educational dreams."

"With college tuition rising faster than inflation, saving for college is not an easy task these days," added Fitzgerald. "Saving ahead of time is one of the most significant things a family can do to help make college a reality for their child. It can reduce a need to borrow to cover educational expenses, which can help families get through college with less debt."

College Savings Iowa offers a convenient, affordable, tax-advantaged way for families to start saving for their children's education. It takes just $25 to open a College Savings Iowa account, and anyone - parents, grandparents, friends and relatives - can invest on behalf of a child. Participants who are Iowa taxpayers can deduct contributions up to $3,098 per beneficiary account from their adjusted gross income in 2014 and there are no income or residency restrictions.*

. You can also like the plan on Facebook and follow it on Twitter (@Iowa529Plan) to keep up to date on other giveaway opportunities.

*Adjusted annually for inflation if withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income. The earnings portion of nonqualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax, as well as state and local income taxes. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

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Investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money by investing in the plan. Participants assume all investment risks as well as the responsibility for any federal and state tax consequences. If you are not an Iowa taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program.

For more information about the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan, call 1-888-332-7545, or visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com to obtain a Program Description. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information are included in the Program Description; read and consider it carefully before investing. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.

College Savings Iowa is an Iowa trust sponsored by the Iowa State Treasurer's Office. The Treasurer of the State of Iowa sponsors and is responsible for overseeing the administration of the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan. The Vanguard Group, Inc., serves as Investment Manager and Vanguard Marketing Corporation, an affiliate of The Vanguard Group, Inc., assists the Treasurer with marketing and distributing the Plan. Upromise Investment Advisors, LLC, provides records administration services. The Plan's portfolios, although they invest in Vanguard mutual funds, are not mutual funds.

DES MOINES, IA (07/15/2014)(readMedia)-- The following local residents graduated from Drake University at the conclusion of the spring 2014 semester:

Kelsey Brandt of Bettendorf with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the College of Business & Public Administration

Scott Copeland of Davenport with a Master of Accounting from the College of Business & Public Administration

Ryan Flynn of Bettendorf with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the College of Business & Public Administration

Matthew Gannon of Rock Island with a Juris Doctor from the Law School

Talor Gray of Port Byron with a Bachelor of Science from the College of Arts & Sciences

Marlana Kulig of Coal Valley with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the College of Business & Public Administration

Erika Milas of Bettendorf with a Doctor of Pharmacy from the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

Nicholas Mims of Davenport with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the College of Business & Public Administration

Nicholas Oestreich of Bettendorf with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the College of Business & Public Administration

Calla Parochetti of Le Claire with a Juris Doctor from the Law School

Jordan Porter of Eldridge with a Doctor of Pharmacy from the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

Jared Simmer of Davenport with a Bachelor of Science from the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

Hayley Thomson of Davenport with a Bachelor of Science in Education from the School of Education

Seth VanDeest of Bettendorf with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the College of Business & Public Administration

Claire Vandercar of East Moline with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the College of Business & Public Administration

Drake University is a midsized, highly selective private university in Des Moines, Iowa. Drake enrolls more than 3,300 undergraduates and 1,900 graduate students from 47 states and more than 45 countries.