Updates:
1. HE READ THE BLOG. Ben totally knew what I was up to with the pumpkin cake meatballs and even went so far as to put a mangled ball up to his lips (…) before saying, “Did you really think I wasn’t going to read your post???”
Daaaaamn! I had the video camera rolling and everything!
He’s been so busy at work lately that I figured he wouldn’t have a spare moment to check it – but he did and completely turned the tables on me. Darn that faithful, supportive husband of mine. 
2. Fellow wanderers: I forgot to share my favorite travel blog of all time when I posted My Wanderlist the other day: Youngs Around The World. My friend’s sister and brother-in-law took a year and a half to travel the world in ’07-’08, and chronicled their entire journey. Their writing style is incredible, and you really feel like you right there with them the whole time. Start reading from the beginning and prepared to get HOOKED.
/updates
Today Ben and I hit up the Iowa State Fair – whee!
The state fair is a HUGE deal around here – it’s even in the book 1,000 Places to See Before You Die.
I’ve gone ever single summer for as long as I can remember. Nothing really changes from year to year, but it’s tradition and you have to go to see your favorites.
An eat them too! Ben and I made an intense beeline for the nearest corn dog stand as soon as we stepped inside the fair grounds.
I eat one corn dog a year, and it’s always at the Iowa State Fair.
Hand dipped in sweet, crispy cornmeal batter, fried to a golden crisp,
and topped with globs and globs of ruby-red ketchup.
The cornmeal batter to hot dog ratio was like 4-1 on this bad boy!
SO worth feeling like crap afterwards!!!
Next we went off to find some animals to look at.
The Big Bull was up first.
“Bubba” was MASSIVE,
and “Tiny” was anything but.
Gahhh!
I grew up going to the state fair, so walking around barns looking at different animals seems totally normal to me.
I’m curious to know what those of you who grew up differently think.
Is this weird?! 
Well, we sure like it.
One of my favorite attractions at the fair is the Agriculture Building.
They have all the best produce contest entries on display.
Best corn, onions, tomatoes, beets,
cucumbers, apples, eggplant, etc.
It’s total eye candy!
As Ben and I were perusing the produce, we noticed a HUGE line snaking around the inside of the entire building. What in the world…?
Oh, right…
it’s the 100th anniversary of the state fair Butter Cow, and everyone was dying to take a look. Yep – she’s all butter, baby!
I was feeling rather parched at this point, so we stopped to get some Honey Lemonade just up from the butter cow.
It looked SO refreshing,
and tasted juicy and sweet with just the right amount of honey flavor. Yum!
Ben had a must-have-fair-food list a mile long, so we headed back out to the food stands to keep chipping away at it next.
Turkey time!
Doesn’t he look like such a caveman with this thing?!
Me like turkey.
Me gnaw on leg.
Grunt.
Ok, call me a cavewoman, because I also dove in. WOW – this was my first turkey leg ever, and it was so delicious.
Smokey, juicy and bursting with flavor.
We were enjoying our leg o’ turkey when I looked over and noticed another gigantic line to our right.
Upon further inspection, we realized we were sitting right in front of the DEEP FRIED BUTTER stand.
I know. I’m scared too.
Deep fried butter is new to the fair this year, and apparently they take a frozen half stick of butter, batter it, fry it, then sprinkle it with cinnamon sugar. We watched this guy devour his, and melted butter was literally squirting out the end and all over his arms. AHHHahahahanooo!!!
Ben was this close to joining the line, but we both agreed that we just…couldn’t…and got warm chocolate chip cookies instead.
The fair’s mini chocolate chip cookies cannot be replicated at home.
Soft, warm, squishy and melty – they are everything that is right about chocolate chip cookies!
Not healthy…
but also not fried butter.
I’d say that’s a win!
Woo – what a day! Fun, familiar sights, and once-a-year fair-food indulgences. Usually I go a wee bit overboard and throw some mini donuts into the mix, but I was able to refrain this year. Feeling good.
Off to relax before the start of another week! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! 
~~~~~
What’s your favorite fair food to indulge in?
omg. the last photo of ben cracks me up!!!
my favorite fair food has to be funnel cake/elephant ears!!!!
what! how is that your first turkey leg ever?!?!??!
I know – insane!
Haha, Ben could legitimately be the original face from that cutout at the end! Funny!
I grew up in small town Nebraska and showed animals at the county and state fairs, so walking through animal barns is totally normal. We were just talking about the Iowa State Fair the other night and about how we need to go again, it’s been about 8 years. We will be heading to the NE state fair labor day weekend. My son actually qualified to participate in the championship pedal tractor pull. Love the butter cow, but deep fried butter is just wrong! Honey ice cream is pretty yummy. Lemonade, shaved ice, and ice cream from the university dairy store were always must haves at the fair each year.
Being from Iowa and very involved with 4-H growing up, we went down there nearly every year since I can remember. Many of my project made it down to state and I did a few educational presentation and ‘share the fun’ acts so it was fun to see my projects down there. Also, in 2005 I ran for the State Fair Queen since I was Sioux County’s fair queen. That might be my favorite state fair memory. As far as food goes, I’d say ribbon fries…. so crisp and delish with ketchup.
I really should try to make it to the state fair this year…its been years for me. Looks like you had a good time…I would be taking all kinds of pics of the best produce displays…and cute animals.
I just don’t get this fried butter thing. Really? I say if you want to eat butter…make the most out of it and bake some tasty cookies or a pie.
I’m from Iowa, and I’ve never been to the Iowa State Fair. Can you believe it? The whole fried butter thing grosses me out. I’m glad you guys didn’t try it!
oh my goshhhh fried butter??? that’s too much even for me! I’m actually kind of weirded out that the line was that long for it. My favorite fair food is corn dogs.. which is strange because i don’t like hot dogs. i guess its the atmosphere.
I LOVE THE IOWA STATE FAIR! Too fun! I’m sad to have missed it this year, but maybe next year.
I just love the corn dogs and the cheese curds are pretty rockin’ too!
i love your wedding ring! i feel like i have never seen it on the blog before! so pretty!! and is it wrong of me to think the whole fried butter thing is nnnnnnasty?
Thanks! And no, it’s not wrong.
i’m in MKE and the WI State Fair took place all of last week as well. we also had the deep fried butter debut at our fair this year and although i had no plans to try it, a generous fellow fair-goer offered up a couple pieces of hers so i gave it a try. not good, not worth it. it was just a butter dough ball.
i have to admit i hate the way turkey legs look and i usually mock anyone who is walking around eating them. they look pretty gross and greasy. are they really that good?
did you see Sarah Palin at your fair?
on another note, i brought a picture of YOUR hair in to my stylist this wknd, i’m sporting a fancy lil’ bob as i type this. yay!!
I know they are super scary, but terribly delicious! SP was at the fair on Friday and the crowds trampled a couple kids trying to get to her – CRAZINESS. So glad you like your haircut!! I am wanting to get mine cut again but am trying to hold strong and grow it out one last time!!
I grew up going to the fair too (and in 4-H) so I know exactly what you mean! I love the corn dogs, curly fries and funnel cakes are a must! Looks fun!
[...] IGE’s State Fair Post (makes me nostalgic for the small town county fair we had growing up!) – http://iowagirleats.com/2011/08/14/state-fair-favorites/ [...]
I live in Wisconsin and adore the State Fair. There’s something about walking through a building full of livestock and then eating fried food, which is so wonderful.
P.S. I noticed Ben’s shirt and I’m a Hold Steady fan
I love love love those chocolate chip cookies!! They are my favorite at the Fair!
My family was at the fair this whole past week! My sister was in the queen competition and it looks like a great time! I love your blog! I am very addicted
just ask any of my friends, I tend to recommend it all the time and check it just as much!
Aw, thanks Reba!
OMG – we have to go at least twice just to cover all our “must haves” (& that’s sharing everything)! Gotta have a corn dog, cheese curds, cup ‘o cookies, Bauder’s peppermint wonder bar!!, choc. covered peanut butter disc and/or cheesecake (ok, “and” not “or)… what am I forgetting? Oh yeah, we’re definitely trying the red velvet funnel cake this year, too! I’m bloated just thinking about it!
I loved this post! I grew up in a really small town, and the county fair was THE thing to do in the summer. For 7 days each year there was something going on at night, and that was a huge deal when we only had a teeny movie theater, Village Inn and a roller skating rink as entertainment the rest of the year. Looks like you guys had an awesome time!
Deep fried butter is kind of scary, but I imagine it tastes magnificent!!!
haha! i love all your pics of ben! he’s such a tropper!
I haven’t been to the state fair forever. I’ve only ever been to the MO one, never the KS. I do remember a butter cow, but your for sure looks cooler! I can see why it’s in the places to see book!
Aw, the little baby ducklings are so so cute!
My favorite fair food is funnel cake!
ooooomg – that picture of ben (last one) literally had me tearing up… perfect. I so wish i could go to the state fair this year!
Although – now living in Minneapolis, I’ve also hear MN has a spectacular state fair! Won’t be the same – but maybe I’ll have to pretend!
My favorite food to eat at the fair is the cheese filled Cresentees and Pineapple whip ice cream cone.
Funnel Cake, yes!
Fried Butter, no———-
Oh man, I’m sending you a million thanks for posting this! I’m an Iowa girl who’s in North Dakota for college and I couldn’t make it back this year for the fair. Looking at your post almost makes me feel like I was there!
My favorite fair food is cinnamon roasted almonds, although I’m starting to see them pop up elsewhere too.
I’m from Minneapolis and I have been to the Minnesota State Fair at least once every year since I was born. This is the first year I can’t come home from Seattle to go!!! I think I might shead a tear! Thanks for the post!!
I moved from Des Moines to Phoenix several years ago and I MISS MISS MISS the State fair (ALMOST as much as the farmers market, your pics saturday made me homesick). The AZ state fair is ummm…different to say the least. Corn dogs and honey ice cream have been my Favs since I was a kid. I’ll usually try ANYTHING but the fried butter just sounds ICK!!!
Love the State Fair, got a chance to take a new friend that was transplanted from Las Vegas a few years ago. Its even more fun when experienced thru new eyes. My new favorite down there is the corn brats..think corndog but with a bratwurst instead.
Oh my gosh! That last picture of your husband is hysterical!
Now I want a corn dog.
[...] to watch; the Gov’n loves to cook apparently! As anyone who goes to the state fairs knows, (Kristin knows what I’m talkin’ about!) the food choices can be overwhelming and plentiful, and we aren’t talking about the healthy [...]
[...] am smashing my one corn dog a year rule to smithereens for these [...]
[...] at?Favorite rule-breaker: Beer-Battered Mini Corn Dogs with Chipotle Ketchup. I would break my one corn dog a year rule in a HEARTBEAT for one of these!Favorite tutorial: Laura’s Makeup Routine. My good friend [...]