DES MOINES, IA (08/09/2014)(readMedia)-- Elizabeth Glover, 17, of Clay County was crowned the 2014 Iowa State Fair Queen by Alan Brown, president of the Fair Board. This year's ceremony, which marked the 50th anniversary of the contest, took place on Saturday evening at the Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi.

The daughter of Louis and Lois Glover of Spencer, Elizabeth was chosen out of the 102 contestants who participated in this year's competition. All had been crowned queen of their respective county fairs prior to the State Fair.

Megan Andersen, 18, of Grundy County was named first runner-up. She is the daughter of Eric and Darla Andersen of Cedar Falls. Second runner-up was Amber Neisius, 19, of Cherokee County. She is the daughter of Bruce Rainboth and Betty Neisius of Marcus. Emily Pattee, 19, of Shelby County was named third runner-up. She is the daughter of Cindy Pattee of Harlan.

Brooklyn Plagge, of Franklin County, was given the Outstanding Leadership Award. The 17-year-old is the daughter of John and Anne Plagge of Hampton. Lydia Grace Dawley, 17, of Winneshiek County was given the Personality Plus Award. She is the daughter of Nathan and Jacque Dawley of Decorah.

Queen Elizabeth, who will reign for the next year, receives a $2,800 scholarship from the Iowa State Fair in addition to her crown, sash and trophy. She also receives a floral bouquet from Boesen the Florist, a $600 gift card to Jordan Creek Mall and a pair of diamond earrings from B. Shannon Designs.

The first runner-up earns a $1,300 scholarship and $300 gift card to Jordan Creek Mall; the second runner-up wins $700 in scholarship money and a $250 Jordan Creek Mall gift card; and the third runner-up receives a $500 scholarship and $200 Jordan Creek Mall gift card. The Outstanding Leadership recipient wins an $800 Scholarship and a $250 Jordan Creek Mall gift card. The Personality Plus winner receives a $500 scholarship and a $200 Jordan Creek Mall gift card. All members of the Royal Court receive a plaque from the State Fair and a floral bouquet from Boesen the Florist. An anonymous donor graciously provided the Jordan Creek gift cards for the Royal Court.

Judging is based on personality, attitude, awareness, leadership, citizenship, contribution to community, overall appearance, charm and poise.

"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, 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.

Bobblehead giveaway Sunday Aug. 17, with first pitches by Senator Harkin, Davenport Mayor Gluba

DAVENPORT, Iowa. (August 7, 2014) - The Quad Cities River Bandits will give away a bobblehead of U.S. Senator Tom Harkin at Modern Woodmen Park at their 1:15 p.m. game Sunday, Aug. 17, which will be a Celebration and Appreciation of Senator Tom Harkin for 40 years of Service to Iowa in Congress. The day will be sponsored by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Gates open at noon on Sunday, Aug. 17, and the first 1,000 fans to the ballpark will receive a bobblehead of Senator Tom Harkin, who has announced he will retire following his fifth term as Senator from Iowa and 40th year serving in Congress for Iowa. Senator Harkin and Davenport Mayor Bill Gluba will be on hand Aug. 17 to throw out ceremonial first pitches before the River Bandits' 1:15 p.m. game. Senator Harkin will also be available before the game to personally autograph the bobbleheads made in his likeness.

"Senator Harkin epitomizes all that's good about public service, and his bipartisan leadership will be sorely missed," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "From the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act to protecting workers' pensions to promoting biofuels and energy independence, Senator Harkin has been a leader on issues that directly affect the people of Iowa and our nation. We are proud to honor and celebrate his forty years of service in the U.S. Congress."

"In Iowa, baseball is important and is part of our local economy and part of our history," said Harkin. "As a fan, I'm honored to throw out the first pitch at the ballpark considered the best minor league stadium in America - Modern Woodmen Park - and join the fans of the Quad Cities River Bandits to enjoy a day along the beautiful Davenport riverfront."

Sunday, Aug. 17, is also a Family Sunday presented by KWQC and B100 and Pirates and Princesses Theme Day. River Bandits players will sign pregame autographs, fans can bring their dogs to the ballpark for Bark in the Park, and Kids Run the Bases following the game.

UP NEXT: Back-to-back Fireworks nights and two bobbleheads in three days both begin on Thursday. The first 700 fans to Modern Woodmen Park when the gates open at 5:30 p.m. Thursday will receive a Craig Biggio Bobblehead courtesy of Prairie Farms and FOX18. The first 500 fans who wear red to the ballpark will receive a koozie from HAVlife, which will also present a special postgame fireworks show on a Thirst-Day with $2 drink specials presented by the River Cities' Reader. Friday is the Autism Awareness Night, the award-winning promotion and the third annual photo jersey auction presented by KWQC, with Friday Fireworks presented by Smart Toyota of the Quad Cities, WQAD and WLLR. The Roger Clemens Bobblehead giveaway presented by Ruhl & Ruhl Insurance, West Bend and the Quad-City Times is Saturday, and the homestand continues through Sunday. Tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com.

A.J. Reed and Ryan Bottger each homer to help Quad Cities win 4-0 game following 7-3 loss

DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 5, 2014) - For the second time in three weeks, right-hander Michael Feliz pulled the Quad Cities River Bandits out of a six-game losing streak with a brilliant starting effort, pitching a career-high eight shutout innings and striking out a season-high nine batters in a 4-0 win over the Burlington Bees in front of 3,358 at Modern Woodmen Park Tuesday night.

Following a 7-3 loss in the completion of Monday's suspended game, Quad Cities (22-21 second half, 57-56 overall) got its longest starting pitching performance in more than two years. After pitching seven shutout innings July 19 to beat Lake County and snap his team's six-game losing streak, Feliz (7-4) pitched eight innings for the first time since he did so July 6, 2012, for the Gulf Coast League Astros. Feliz's start Tuesday was the longest by a River Bandit since Kyle Hald pitched a nine-inning game in a 6-2 win over Burlington June 4, 2012.

Feliz out-dueled fellow 2014 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game pitcher Victor Alcantara (6-6), who struck out a career-high 11 batters in six innings, allowing three runs - one earned - on five hits. Bees left-hander Cole Swanson struck out five batters in two innings, and River Bandits right-hander Keegan Yuhl struck out two batters in a perfect ninth inning. Quad Cities batters struck out a season-high 16 times, and the two teams combined for 27 strikeouts among 51 total defensive outs. There were no walks in the game - a first for Quad Cities and an opponent since April 18, 2010, when the River Bandits won 4-3, over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Modern Woodmen Park.

Feliz worked three times through the Bees batting order, allowing one hit each time. In the first inning, he allowed a two-out double by shortstop Zach Houchins before recording his first strikeout of Bees first baseman Eric Aguilera. Second baseman Kody Eaves hit a two-out triple in the third inning, but Feliz got left fielder Bo Way on a groundout to first base. Feliz retired nine in a row before Way hit a two-out single in the sixth inning, but Feliz struck out Houchins to end the inning. He set down the final seven batters he faced, including his ninth strikeout - matching the most by a River Bandit this season - to end the eighth inning.

Alcantara retired the first seven batters of the game to extend a string of 20 River Bandits retired in order by Burlington (20-24, 58-55), which also did not allow hit for 10 2/3 innings until River Bandits second baseman Marc Wik lined a third-inning, one-out single to center field. Wik reached second base when center fielder Mike Fish bobbled the ball and scored on a two-out single by center fielder James Ramsay. Designated hitter A.J. Reed hit his fourth home run in nine Midwest League games in the fourth inning for a 2-0 lead. In the fifth inning, catcher Brett Booth and Wik hit consecutive singles, and two Bees throwing errors scored Booth. Wik was thrown out trying to score on a pitch that escaped Bees catcher Stephen McGee with rehabbing Astros outfielder George Springer at the plate to end the inning. Springer grounded out to third base twice and made one catch in five innings in right field in his second game with Quad Cities. Left fielder Ryan Bottger added his first Midwest League home run in the seventh inning off Swanson for a 4-0 River Bandits lead.

The teams resumed Monday's game with a 3-3 tie in the top of the sixth inning, and River Bandits left-hander Blaine Sims (2-4) allowed four earned runs on two hits, three walks and a hit batter in the seventh inning. Bees right-hander Alex Blackford (1-3) was perfect in four innings, and Bees right fielder Ranyelmy Mendoza finished 4-for-5 in the game. Houchins had three RBIs for the Bees, who had 15 hits, including 14 singles, to snap their eight-game losing streak and briefly extend the River Bandits' streak to match a season-high six games.

Quad Cities hosts Burlington for the rubber match of the three-game series at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Modern Woodmen Park. River Bandits right-hander Edison Frias (7-5) is scheduled to face Bees right-hander Harrison Cooney (8-5), who leads the league with a 2.19 ERA.