The Iowa State Fair: Non Stop Fun!

Well the title pretty much says says it all – Ben and I just got home from the Iowa State Fair!

Oh boy it was a HOT one, but the ISF wouldn’t be the ISF unless you were absolutely dripping with sweat while in attendance! We arrived around 10am and headed straight for the main stretch of the fair, containing all the FOOD!

This year’s official state fair food was the “Fair Square,” which is basically a giant rice krispie treat on a stick.

It doesn’t sound that crazy or unusual, but for some reason, people have been going absolutely NUTS over them – including me!

I got the peanut butter kind (the other options is regular) and it was spectacular. Sweet, peanut buttery, chewy & dense. A total hit!

Fair Square for her, Cheese Curds for him. Ben’s #1 favorite state fair is cheese curds, and they must from from the cheese curd vendor with the mouse. No mouse, no dice.

His were fresh out of the hot oil and ready to be dunked in cold ketchup.

Streeeeetch it out!

I had a few, they were pretty tasty. Gut wrenchingly greasy, but tasty!

Ben went a little nuts right off the bat and got a corn dog next. I played it safe and prolonged my pigging out. ;)

We left the food area and guess who we ran into?! My parents! :D

We exchanged photos, then continued on our way.

We had more state fair to see!

Next we headed into the Agricultural Building.

The agricultural building showcases the best of Iowa agriculture.

People are awarded prizes for most beautiful veggies,

the biggest veggies (THAT IS A 10 FOOT GOURD STRAPPED TO THAT BEAM!!!!!)

and the most unusual ones too. Like this three headed beet,

coiled sweet potato,

and ghost-faced potato!

The agriculture building also houses the famous Butter Cow. Oh yes, an entire cow made entirely of butter!!!

They always do some additional, themed butter statues every year (last year they made Shawn Johnson, the Olympic gymnast from my city, entirely in butter.) This year they did a Dr. Suess scene.

Interesting!

Next we headed off to see another one of my favorite fair exhibitions – the giant sand sculpture.

The sculptors work all week on the piece so it’s finished by the end of the fair. I’m kind of glad we waited to go until this weekend (the last weekend of the fair) so we could see the finished product. Star Boars, anyone? ;)

Then, tragically, my camera died. Ben took a moment of silence for it. Luckily I had my Blackberry with us so I could snap a few more shots of all the animals we saw next!

There were the baby chickens,

and ostriches.

Cows trying in vain to keep cool,

awww, including this little babe!

Ostriches that creeped me out,

and the Big Bull. Yikes.

There were goats getting groomed,

and boars taking a snooze.

After seeing the parade of animals, I got hungry again (ew, I’m surprised after seeing that boar!) so we stopped for mini donuts.

Only JR’s!

Mini, warm chocolate chip cookies,

and a corn dog. I know. I did it. It was worth it too. The batter was the crispy, crunchy, corn meal batter – not the wannabe, fluffy, funnel cake-like batter that lesser corndogs are battered in. YUM!

Well, we’ve officially had our Iowa State Fair fix for the year and will not be eating for several days hours. ;)

We have a wedding reception to go to tonight – here’s hoping I fit into my dress! Have a good night everyone!