Iowa State Fair Is Fairer Than I Thought

25th of August 2017

In an article I wrote about the Fair (found by clicking here), I wrote about a lot of things I didn't like about the Iowa State Fair. I still hold some of those today, but I found some good things this year. I usually have to go to the ISF for work, and I usually have time before the show starts to wander around. I only went one time this year. I went to the varied industries building to get the annual football poster for Iowa State University. Save it, Hawkeye fans. I know Iowa State will be bad this year, too. I didn't wander so much this year because I just didn't feel like it. I planned to go to a couple of concerts on both Sundays of the ISF, so I could see everything then and not be on a schedule. I just needed to be around for the concert.

I also got to help set up for the show, and that was my only workout. I didn't go to the gym at all that week. Fair time is busy enough, but this year was especially busy. One Thursday saw me going to the Fair only to rush back to the station to direct a sports special. This special was originally going to be taped, but for some reason, we just HAD to be live and make my life difficult. Not only did I have the Fair show and the sports special, but I had to do both the 9 & 10 newscasts. It was not a fun day. I can't remember what I did after work. I probably just went home and got ready for bed. So you can see how busy I was at the ISF. If I had wandered and looked at exhibits, booths and everything, I would not have the time to enjoy them. Both Sundays, I didn't have anything holding me down. The first Sunday, I was going to see Slaughter. I grew up on Slaughter, and I can't remember when (or if) they came around the Des Moines area. The concert was on a free stage, so that was a bonus. The biggest bonus was meeting my friend Angee there. She is a big concert goer. If this was a profession, she would be one of the best. We stood against the railing in front of the stage. That's the closest I've been to a band at a concert. Slaughter rocked it, and I even got to meet him. He signed the record I bought, too (yes, record). The most walking around I did on that day was getting pics of the Butter Cow and other sculptures (Laura Ingalls Wilder and Solheim Cup which is actually more of a vase). I stayed around the area for the concert that day. The next Sunday is a different story. The following Sunday was the last day of the ISF. It's referred to as Extreme Sunday, and that's when most of the deals happen. Everyone wants to push their stuff out so they don't have so much to bring back. I went into see some of the booths inside the grandstand, and I got 10 new pairs of socks for $20. SCORE! My friend, Melissa and I walked around and looked at everything we normally do. We didn't know they moved the photo contest somewhere else. I was looking forward to seeing Tiffany in concert. She was on a free stage as well. Melissa wasn't looking forward to it as much as I was. Some advice to y'all: if someone isn't into the concert you want to go to, don't take them. Anyways, before the concert, some idiot was being obnoxious just being drunk and stupid. He wasn't saying or doing anything illegal that I know of, but security escorted him anyways. He must have said something to piss off the people around him that I didn't hear. When security escorted him, they took him to a golf cart and talked with him. State Troopers came over, talked with him a little, and then they arrested him. I was glad. He sure was obnoxious. Tiffany got on stage about 20 minutes late. She did her first song, and then, they had some equipment not working right. Of course, it was on a damn laptop. So they tried to talk it out to give time to fix the program on the damn laptop. Finally, they went on with the show skipping around on the set list. One thing about Tiffany: I like her music, but she sure does talk a lot at her concerts. I love her, but when I'm in the mood for music, that's what I want. To each, their own. I enjoyed it nonetheless, but I could do without all the talking. After the show, I thought we were going to leave. Melissa found a band playing in a saloon like place. It reminded me of the Boar's Nest from Dukes of Hazzard. The band played classic rock songs, and they were great. Melissa and I had a couple of beers at the Iowa Craft Beer Tent just outside of this place once the band was done. The guitar player had a cowboy hat and a Darth Vader shirt on. Don't believe me? Look at this:

So what's the good I'm talking about at the ISF? Music and beer. It's that simple. The beer prices are high, but if you're into Iowa Craft Beer, you'll get a wide selection of Iowa Beer from around the state in one place. It's worth it. Don't bother with Bud Light or Coors Light at the ISF. If that's your beer, you can find it cheaper elsewhere and anywhere. At the ISF, go for the Iowa Craft Beer because that will enhance your ISF experience as well as your appreciation for Iowa. When I say music, I'm not talking about the grandstand acts. Those are way overpriced, and you still have to pay admission to get into the ISF (bogus, I know). Go for the free concerts, and be sure you show your appreciation for the performers whether it's buying merchandise or cheering them on. Also, it's appreciative to stay for the entire performance, but if you do decide to leave, do so in a way that you're not a distraction. So yes, there IS good stuff at the Iowa State Fair. The many stages they have showcase many performances that can be appreciated. Most of them are local, and that's a plus all around. I usually get into the ISF for free because I use the wristband work gives me. That's the only way I'd do it. So some might be thinking "well, isn't the food good?!" Yes, some of the food is good, but it's not healthy at all. Not only that, but it's way overpriced. However, I did find one that was decently priced. The Pork Almighty went for $12 and was fries with cheese sauce, pork (who would have guess THAT one), green pepper and onion. It was good, but not one to put on the diet. The funny part about this is that my gym teacher from middle school created it!

So yes, there's good at the ISF, but I don't make special trips out there unless I have a plan on how little money to spend out there. They make plenty of money, and I feel that they pad the attendance numbers. I don't get why they do that, but when employees for vendors have to pay to get in, I call shenanigans. The music and beer are great things to see at the ISF, but drink responsibly. Don't be like the obnoxious guy at the Tiffany concert. He needed someone to bail him out when all was said and done. Oh, and DON'T LITTER!!