Iowa Farmer Today

08-05-06

Iowa State Fair reinvents itself

By Gene Lucht, Iowa Farmer Today

DES MOINES -- In some ways, the Iowa State Fair never seems to change with its livestock shows and array of food on sticks. But, in other ways, the fair is constantly reinventing itself. This is witnessed by the opening of the Susan Knapp Amphitheater and by plans for a facility that would highlight animals and the miracle of birth.

This year’s event, set to run Aug. 10-20, promises plenty of old and new. And, most of it — in sticking with this year’s theme — can be seen “only at the fair.”

“It’s really an exciting place to work,” says John Putney, head of the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation, which raises funds for the fair.

“Our constant goal is to give people more than they thought they were going to get.”

With that in mind, the fairgrounds has continued to change. When Putney came to the Blue Ribbon Foundation 13 years ago, many of the historic barns were in desperate need of renovations.

Today, most of the old buildings have been restored and remodeled. They’ve also been joined by new facilities. Fairgoers might notice two big changes this year: the stunning new Susan Knapp Amphitheater north of Heritage Village and, up the hill at the Anderson Erickson Dairy Stage, visitors can sit in a shaded area to watch the shows.

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But, farmers might be most interested in a change that is still on the horizon.

Before this year’s fair ends, Putney and other fair officials hope to break ground Aug. 19 on a new facility that will highlight animals, animal health and birth.The facility is expected to be about 18,000 square feet and will feature a variety of animals giving birth, much like is done now with pigs in the hog barn. It could potentially include other items related to animals and animal health, such as veterinarians giving demonstrations or spaying and neutering pets.

The idea is new, but it is being tried at one or two other state fairs. The Minnesota State Fair is building a new Miracle of Birth Center that would be similar to the Iowa facility. The center is set to open at the 2006 Minnesota State Fair.

“It will educate people who are a generation removed from the farm,” Putney explains. “It will educate folks on the care we do give our animals. And, it should create interest in places such as the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine.”

However, while that is the big new item on the agenda, fair officials also are working on a project to remodel and expand the old fair museum. They added a new building last year and are happy with the displays there.

“Our idea there was to really tell the story of the State Fair in 10 minutes,” Putney says.

Next, the old museum building will be remodeled, and fairgoers will really have a two-building historical complex. With Pioneer Hall and its exhibits and events next door, that area of the fair will become a bit of a historical complex.

Again, it all comes down to making the fair an exciting and educational experience. A little bit of the old, a little bit of the new.