DES MOINES, IA (07/15/2014)(readMedia)-- The Iowa State Fair will offer a wide variety of new offerings to taste, watch and experience this year. New Fair foods, attractions and entertainment are available in addition to the many traditional Fair favorites. "Nothing Compares" to this array of new excitement that awaits Fairgoers August 7-17.

Foods

This year's Fair foods feature over a dozen new items including a collection of value-priced items. New bargain-priced treats include food contest finalists Funnel Cake Sticks, Smoked Brisket and Bacon Mac N Cheese, Caprese Salad On-a-stick, Brownie Blitz, and the Three Buck Bowl - all for only $3 each. The Fair's newest Fair Square Flavor, Fair-berry, a tasty blend of crisped rice cereal and marshmallows with a burst of strawberry flavor, is available for just $2.

Attractions

The newly completed renovations to the Patty and Jim Cownie Cultural Center include a fully air conditioned building and a new exhibit space for the Photography Salon on the third floor. In celebration of the 75th year of the Fair's popular Photography Salon, the Cultural Center will display hundreds of black and white entries as a salute to Ansel Adams. In addition, the Atrium will feature an exhibit of historic photos from Bill Woolston's 1975 photo essay, "Iowa's Fair."

Stop by the West Grand Exhibit Area (north of Elwell Family Food Center) to check out the Hoover Presidential Library Museum Special Exhibit Preview. This exciting new display focuses on President Hoover's food relief efforts during World War I. Brush up on your history, snag a Hoover biscuit, and be sure to catch the Hoover Humanitarian Relief Ship as it cruises the grounds daily at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Visit Seward Johnson's amazing "God Bless America" sculpture. Standing at 25 feet tall and weighing 5,900 pounds, the traveling sculpture depicts Grant Wood's "American Gothic." It will be on display every day at the entrance to Pella Plaza on Rock Island Ave.

This year the Thrill Zone will be relocated to the southwest corner of the Fairgrounds, west of the Bruce L. Rastetter 4-H Building. Those daring enough to test their courage will find the Crazy Mouse, Sky Scraper, Sling Shot, and more in the new location.

Stage Entertainment

This year's free stage line-up features alternative rock band Alien Ant Farm. The group boasts more than five million record sales, a Grammy Award nomination and four top-ten singles including their double-platinum cover of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal." Other rock groups include Great White, Slaughter, Los Lonely Boys, Winger and The Romantics.

GenerationNOW Entertainment, Sub Sonic Social and 515 Alive present the "Fair-well to Summer Dance Party," offering teens and young adults a place to show off their dance moves at the Iowa State Fair. Featured performances include Jesse Jamz (Sub Sonic Social / 515 Alive), DJ Raj (Sub Sonic Social / 515 Alive), DJ Mad Mardigan (Official DJ of the Minnesota Timberwolves), Mister Black (Firepower Records) and emcee Shawn Brighton. Not only will they be spinning music from all eras and genres but they will also be offering some fun surprises and special guests.

After reuniting in 2013, Trick Pony is back and better than ever with a new flare to fit today's country radio. Their hits include "On a Mission," "Just What I Do" and the top-ten single off their gold-certified debut album, "On a Night like This." Other country acts include Dustin Lynch, The Swon Brothers, Kristian Bush and Eric Paslay.

Back by popular demand, the self-proclaimed "Glee-meets-Stomp" group Vocal Trash will perform daily. Also returning is southern rock band Black Stone Cherry, Here Come the Mummies and Hairball, the world's ultimate 80s arena rock impersonation act.

"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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Quad Cities allows season-high 13 runs, as eight players score and seven drive in runs for Wisconsin

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. (July 13, 2014) - Wisconsin second baseman Chris McFarland led off a seven-run third inning Sunday with a triple and capped it with a two-run single in a four-hit day, while eight Timber Rattlers contributed to the largest run total against the Quad Cities River Bandits in more than a year, resulting in a 13-4 win for the home team at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

A day after losing an 8-1 lead before pulling out a 9-8 win, Wisconsin (12-11 second half, 48-44 overall) built an 8-0 lead in the first three innings. Eight Timber Rattlers scored a run, seven had a hit, and seven had an RBI, including five who drove in two. Quad Cities (12-11, 47-45) was only outhit, 14-13, but committed four errors and allowed its most runs since a 14-5 loss at Cedar Rapids on June 5, 2013.

For a third straight game, the Timber Rattlers were first on the scoreboard. Third baseman Taylor Brennan began the second inning by reaching on an error by shortstop Dayne Parker, went to second base on a passed ball by catcher Jake Rodriguez and scored on a two-out double by shortstop Steven Halcomb off right-hander Edison Frias (5-5).

McFarland began his team's huge third inning with a triple to right-center field. Right fielder Michael Ratterree walked, and catcher Clint Coulter hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Brennan doubled to right-center field, sending Ratterree to third base. First baseman Rafael Neda made it 4-0 with a two-run single to center field and went to second base on the throw. After a passed ball put Neda at third, he scored on left fielder Omar Garcia's single for a 5-0 lead. Garcia stole second base and Frias hit designated hitter Jose Pena with a pitch. After Frias struck out Halcomb, center fielder Johnny Davis reached on an error by Parker at second base, scoring Garcia for a 6-0 lead and moving Pena to third base. Frias was removed for right-hander Tyler Brunnemann, who gave up McFarland's two-run single for an 8-0 deficit. The 11-batter inning tied the longest by a Quad Cities opponent this season. Frias was charged with eight runs - three earned - in 2 2/3 innings.

Timber Rattlers right-hander Zach Quintana (3-4) worked around two hits and two walks in the first three innings. In the fourth inning, River Bandits third baseman Tyler White hit a leadoff double and scored after consecutive singles by shortstop Thomas Lindauer and first baseman Chase McDonald. Wisconsin answered in the bottom of the inning with Coulter singling and scoring on a sacrifice fly by Garcia.

In the fifth inning, Quintana held a 9-1 lead but allowed a one-out single by left fielder Marc Wik, who scored on a double by right fielder Ronnie Mitchell. But Ratterree hit a two-run home run - his fifth against Quad Cities and 15^th in the Midwest League - in the bottom of the fifth inning off Brunnemann to extend the lead to 11-2. Brunnemann allowed three earned runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings of relief.

Quintana lasted 5 1/3 innings, giving up two earned runs on nine hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Right-hander Tyler Spurlin relieved Quintana for 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk with two strikeouts. Quad Cities remained behind, 11-2, until the eighth inning against right-hander Tristan Archer. McDonald and Rodriguez hit consecutive singles, and center fielder Brett Phillips hit an RBI double to right field. Phillips had three hits and two doubles for a second straight game. Archer's wild pitch scored Rodriguez, making it 11-4. But Wisconsin answered against right-hander Andrew Walter with a sacrifice fly by Pena and RBI single by Halcomb. Walter worked a season-high three innings, giving up two runs - one earned. Archer worked around two walks for Wisconsin in the ninth.

Quad Cities seeks a split of the four-game series and 16-game season series with Wisconsin at 12:05 p.m. Monday. River Bandits left-hander Blaine Sims (1-1) is scheduled to face Timber Rattlers right-hander Barrett Astin (5-4) in the teams' final regular season meeting.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (July 11, 2014) - Kane County Cougars third baseman Jeimer Candelario hit a three-run double in the first inning to spur his team to an 8-0 lead by the sixth inning, and he added his first Midwest League home run for a 9-2 Cougars lead, and the Quad Cities River Bandits' late rally fell short in a 9-5 loss to the visitors in front of 5,525 at Modern Woodmen Park Thursday night.

Candelario came to bat with the bases loaded and one out in the first inning after singles by second baseman Ben Carhart and left fielder Kyle Schwarber and a walk by first baseman Jacob Rogers. On an 0-1 pitch from right-hander Kevin Comer (1-2), Candelario hit a line drive down the left-field line, clearing the bases for a 3-0 Kane County lead.

The Cougars (14-5 second half, 59-30 overall) kept the same lead until the top of the fourth inning, when right fielder Kevin Brown led off hit his second home run in his first three Midwest League games to right field. With two outs, shortstop Carlos Penalver hit an infield single, went to third base on center fielder Jake Hannemann's single, and scored on Carhart's RBI single. Comer lasted four innings and was charged with five runs - five earned - on eight hits and two walks with two strikeouts for Quad Cities (11-9, 46-43).

Cougars starter Juan Paniagua (6-3) allowed a first-inning double by second baseman Dayne Parker, who was picked off second base. River Bandits first baseman Tyler White and designated hitter Ronnie Mitchell each singled to begin the second inning before a strikeout and double play ended without a run scoring. White totaled three hits thursday, while Mitchell had a career-high four. Quad Cities outhit Quad Cities, 15-12, and had at least one hit in every inning but went 4-for-18 with runners in scoring position and left 13 runners on base.

River Bandits right-hander Adrian Houser began the top of the fifth inning with a 5-0 deficit. He pitched one scoreless inning before Kane County extended its lead in the top of the sixth inning. Houser hit catcher Cael Brockmeyer to open the inning and walked Penalver with one out. Hannemann then doubled down the left-field line to score Brockmeyer, and Carhart's two-runs single extended the lead to 8-0.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, River Bandits center fielder James Ramsay hit a leadoff triple, and White drew a two-out walk to chase Paniagua, who went 5 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and three walks while striking out five batters. Paniagua was charged with two earned runs when Mitchell hit a two-run double to left-center field on the first pitch from right-hander Michael Wagner to cut the deficit to 8-2.

Trailing, 9-2, after Candelario's home run in the seventh inning off Houser, the River Bandits made noise against Wagner in the eighth inning. White and Mitchell hit consecutive singles to end Wagner's night after 1 1/3 innings, and left fielder Jose Fernandez singled off right-hander Corbin Hoffner. Catcher Brian Holberton grounded into a fielder's choice, and consecutive walks by third baseman Marc Wik and shortstop Thomas Lindauer made it 9-4. But Hoffner got Ramsay to pop out to third base and Parker to fly to left field to keep it 9-4.

In the ninth inning, Hoffner allowed White's one-out double, Mitchell's single, and Fernandez's RBI single to cut the gap to 9-5. Right-hander Jose Arias entered to walk Holberton and bring the tying run to the plate. But Wik struck out after an eight-pitch battle, and pinch hitter Jon Kemmer grounded out to second base to end the game and leave the bases loaded with River Bandits for a second straight inning.

Quad Cities opens its last scheduled four-game road series of the season at Wisconsin at 7:05 p.m. Friday.

UP NEXT: The River Bandits open a six-game homestand with Eastern Division opponents at 7 p.m. Wednesday on Quad Cities Builders & Remodelers Association and Epic Stone Night and a Pay Your Bill Wednesday presented by U.S. Bank, CBS WHBF and Mix 96. Tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com. To order any of the River Bandits 2014 ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (July 9, 2014) - Quad Cities River Bandits left-hander Blaine Sims held the Kane County Cougars to one run in 5 2/3 innings to win his Midwest League debut, and right-handers Tyler Brunnemann and Andrew Walter combined to finish the 3-1 win for the home team in front of 2,727 at Modern Woodmen Park Wednesday night.

After earning a win for the first time in exactly two years Saturday, Sims (1-0) won consecutive outings for the first time in his six-season professional career. He allowed eight hits and three walks while striking out three batters in his longest start since July 16, 2011, when he pitched six innings for a win with the Lynchburg Hillcats, the Atlanta Braves Class-A Advanced affiliate in the Carolina League.

Kane County (13-5 second half, 58-30 overall) threatened to score in the first inning against Sims, who recorded one out before a single by designated hitter Ben Carhart and consecutive walks to catcher Kyle Schwarber and first baseman Cael Brockmeyer. But third baseman Jeimer Candelario lined to first baseman Chase McDonald, who stepped on first base for the inning-ending double play to keep the 0-0 tie.

Quad Cities (11-8, 46-42) took its first lead of the series in the second inning against Cougars right-hander Daury Torrez (9-4). McDonald and right fielder Ronnie Mitchell lined consecutive singles to center field, and designated hitter Brian Holberton grounded an RBI single to center field that scored McDonald. Catcher Brett Booth singled home Mitchell for a 2-0 lead.

The River Bandits added to the lead in the fourth inning, as third baseman Tyler White hit a leadoff double, Holberton singled and Torrez hit Booth with a pitch to load the bases. With one out, left fielder Marc Wik hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring White for a 3-0 lead. The three runs against Torrez were the first earned runs against him in four second-half starts. He allowed six hits and walked one batter while striking out five in five innings. Two of his four losses this season have come against Quad Cities.

Sims allowed at least one hit in each of the first six innings, but did not allow a run through the first five. He picked off Cougars right fielder Kevin Brown after a second-inning single, and Booth threw out center fielder Trey Martin trying to steal after a single in the third.

The Cougars outhit the River Bandits, 11-6, but did not reach the scoreboard until the sixth inning, when Schwarber hit a leadoff double, advanced to third base on Brockmeyer's flyout to center field and scored on Candelario's single into center field. Sims left after a two-out walk put the tying run at first base, but Brunnemann came in to get shortstop Carlos Penalver on an inning-ending flyout to right field.

Brunnemann allowed a seventh-inning single by left fielder Shawon Dunston Jr. but picked him off first base. With one out in the eighth inning, Brockmeyer singled, and Candelario doubled to right field, putting the tying run at second base. But Brunnemann struck out second baseman David Bote and got Brown to fly out. Walter finished a 1-2-3 ninth inning by fanning Dunston for his eighth save.

Quad Cities will seek to hand Kane County its first second-half series loss in the rubber match at 7 p.m. Thursday at Modern Woodmen Park. River Bandits right-hander Kevin Comer (1-1) is scheduled to face Cougars right-hander Juan Paniagua (5-3).