How does it feel to be the winner of the biggest four contest? I won in 19 and then in 21 as well. And we were close to the record. But, um, I really had my goal set on setting the record and we blew it away. That I’m *** pork producer and I’ve been raising pigs all my life. I raised this guy since birth and for me to break that record that it’s gonna be really, it’s really nice. I couldn’t believe it. That is that much heavier. Um, back home. I’m known as *** big boar guy. What he eat, he eats regular pig feed. Um, yeah, but he’s really finicky. There’s *** lot of people here that’ll do milk, do the bakery like donuts and everything. He won’t touch them. We tried *** different type of feed on him. He wouldn’t touch it. He throws it away. Uh, he likes his special feed. We make it sweet. Um, *** couple key ingredients we put in. Um, I’ll leave that as *** secret surprise. It’s all natural. Everything’s natural. Uh, he’s been raised in corn stock betting all his life. Um, but no, I pecked him out at birth. Um, thinking he had *** big skeletal, you got to feed him right to get him to the size. It just doesn’t happen overnight and he had *** tough time getting up to the scale. Were you *** little nervous there? What was that? Like getting him to finally get on the scale? Well, at home he has *** mind of his own. He doesn’t want to go certain places and when he does, you can’t stop him when he wouldn’t go on. You know, they’re raising pigs all my life. I said, turn him around, he wants to back up. Let’s let him do something natural. He backed right on.
Day 1 guide to the Iowa State Fair: What to do at the fairgrounds Thursday, Aug. 8
Updated: 5:21 PM CDT Aug 8, 2024
The 2024 Iowa State Fair marks the 170th year of the state’s biggest event. It’s a summer tradition that draws more than 1 million people to the east Des Moines fairgrounds.This year’s fair runs 11 days from Thursday, Aug. 8, through Sunday, Aug. 18. » Frequently asked questions about the Iowa State Fair» See all of our Iowa State Fair coverage here.Here’s what you need to know about Day 1 of the 2024 Iowa State Fair. Day 1: Thursday, Aug. 8Grandstand: Lauren Daigle with special guest Blessing Offor, 8 p.m.; ticketsFree stage headliners: The Steel Woods at the Susan Knapp Amphitheater, 8 p.m.; The Little Mermen on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage, 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.; The Family Stone on the MidAmerican Energy Stage, 8 p.m.Weather: Partly cloudy conditions with a slight chance of rain. High of 81 with winds around 10 mph. Gusts up to 15 mph are possible. Check our daily forecast here.Daily attendance record: 101,262 on the first Thursday in 2008Iowan of the Day: Marilyn Sokol of Belle PlaineLive KCCI newscast: 4:30-5 p.m. at the MidAmerican Energy StageEat something: This year the fair introduced 84 new foods and 47 new drinks. A panel of judges tried 11 of the new foods and picked the top three to be finalists for the People’s Choice Best New Food. Try one of the finalists for yourself and cast your vote for this year’s best new food.Winn & Sara’s Kitchen’s Bacon Cheeseburger Eggroll: A fusion between American and Asian-inspired cuisine. This creation features a blend of seasoned ground beef, smoky bacon, tangy pickles and a melty cheese filling, all wrapped in a crispy eggroll drizzled in a house-made burger sauce.Whatcha Smokin? BBQ’s Iowa Sm’Oak’ed Roll: A smoked pork tenderloin stuffed with jasmine rice, jalapeno creamed corn, smoked poblano queso and taco sauce, topped with poblano ranch, more taco sauce, green onion and smoked sesame seeds.Destination Grille’s Lobster Corn Dog: A North American lobster tail pulled through scratch-made butter, seasoned with cayenne, salt and pepper, put on a wooden skewer and lightly deep-fried, and topped with a lemon aioli drizzle, paprika and Parmigiano Reggiano.Don’t miss: Day 1 is all about the animals at the fair — and the bigger, or butter, the better. The Big Ram Contest will be at noon at the Sheep Barn, the Big Boar Contest is at 1 p.m. at the Swine Barn, and the Super Bull Contest is at 7 p.m. at Pioneer Livestock Pavilion.Thursday is also your first chance to get a look at the iconic butter cow and its companions. Johnny Carson, who was born in Corning, and Des Moines native Steve Higgins will be in the Agriculture Building’s cooler next to the wildly popular butter cow and another special guest — “The Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon. State Fair butter sculptor Sarah Pratt and her team has also made a butter version of the sky glider to celebrate its 50th year.Where will KCCI be at the fair?You can see KCCI 8 News live at 4:30 p.m. every weekday during the fair from the MidAmerican Energy Stage.You can also stream KCCI 8’s coverage of the Iowa State Fair for free on the Very Local app. Click here to download Very Local to your phone.See all of our Iowa State Fair coverage here.WATCH: Iowa State Fair vendors competing for best new food are all in one spotAdmission, hours and more for the fairLocation: The fairgrounds are located at East 30th Street and East University Avenue in Des Moines.Hours: Fairgrounds are open Aug. 8-17 from 8 a.m.-midnight, Aug. 18 from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. and buildings are open 9 a.m.-8 p.m. every day.Thrill park hours include:Thrill Ville: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. on Aug. 8-17; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Aug. 18Thrill Town: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Aug. 8-17; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Aug. 18.Thrill Zone: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. on Aug. 8-17; 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. on Aug. 18.Admission: Adult admission costs $16 at the gate and $10 for children ages 6-11. Kids 5 and under are free.WATCH: These 3 Iowa State Fair menu items will compete for title of best new foodIowa State Fair attendance recordsLast year’s fair was the second-biggest with 1,133,958 people attending. That’s about 36,000 short of the all-time record of 1,170,375 set in 2019.Top 10 biggest fairs2019: 1,170,3752023: 1,133,9582018: 1,130,2602017: 1,130,0712022: 1,118,7632015: 1,117,3982008: 1,109,1502012: 1,097,1422021: 1,094,4802011: 1,080,959Highest daily attendance all-timeFirst Thursday: 101,262 in 2008First Friday: 115,703 in 2001First Saturday: 127,277 in 1991First Sunday: 114,937 in 2023Monday: 105,522 in 2017Tuesday: 102,953 in 2019Wednesday: 109,323 in 2019Second Thursday: 107,449 in 2015Second Friday: 112,891 in 2019Second Saturday: 128,298 in 2022Second Sunday: 119,754 in 2012WATCH: Iowa State Fair butter cow will be made with over 600 lbs of butter
The 2024 Iowa State Fair marks the 170th year of the state’s biggest event. It’s a summer tradition that draws more than 1 million people to the east Des Moines fairgrounds.
This year’s fair runs 11 days from Thursday, Aug. 8, through Sunday, Aug. 18.
» Frequently asked questions about the Iowa State Fair
» See all of our Iowa State Fair coverage here.
Here’s what you need to know about Day 1 of the 2024 Iowa State Fair.
Day 1: Thursday, Aug. 8
Grandstand: Lauren Daigle with special guest Blessing Offor, 8 p.m.; tickets
Free stage headliners: The Steel Woods at the Susan Knapp Amphitheater, 8 p.m.; The Little Mermen on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage, 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.; The Family Stone on the MidAmerican Energy Stage, 8 p.m.
Weather: Partly cloudy conditions with a slight chance of rain. High of 81 with winds around 10 mph. Gusts up to 15 mph are possible. Check our daily forecast here.
Daily attendance record: 101,262 on the first Thursday in 2008
Iowan of the Day: Marilyn Sokol of Belle Plaine
Live KCCI newscast: 4:30-5 p.m. at the MidAmerican Energy Stage
Eat something: This year the fair introduced 84 new foods and 47 new drinks. A panel of judges tried 11 of the new foods and picked the top three to be finalists for the People’s Choice Best New Food. Try one of the finalists for yourself and cast your vote for this year’s best new food.
- Winn & Sara’s Kitchen’s Bacon Cheeseburger Eggroll: A fusion between American and Asian-inspired cuisine. This creation features a blend of seasoned ground beef, smoky bacon, tangy pickles and a melty cheese filling, all wrapped in a crispy eggroll drizzled in a house-made burger sauce.
- Whatcha Smokin? BBQ’s Iowa Sm’Oak’ed Roll: A smoked pork tenderloin stuffed with jasmine rice, jalapeno creamed corn, smoked poblano queso and taco sauce, topped with poblano ranch, more taco sauce, green onion and smoked sesame seeds.
- Destination Grille’s Lobster Corn Dog: A North American lobster tail pulled through scratch-made butter, seasoned with cayenne, salt and pepper, put on a wooden skewer and lightly deep-fried, and topped with a lemon aioli drizzle, paprika and Parmigiano Reggiano.
Don’t miss: Day 1 is all about the animals at the fair — and the bigger, or butter, the better. The Big Ram Contest will be at noon at the Sheep Barn, the Big Boar Contest is at 1 p.m. at the Swine Barn, and the Super Bull Contest is at 7 p.m. at Pioneer Livestock Pavilion.
Thursday is also your first chance to get a look at the iconic butter cow and its companions. Johnny Carson, who was born in Corning, and Des Moines native Steve Higgins will be in the Agriculture Building’s cooler next to the wildly popular butter cow and another special guest — “The Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon. State Fair butter sculptor Sarah Pratt and her team has also made a butter version of the sky glider to celebrate its 50th year.
Where will KCCI be at the fair?
You can see KCCI 8 News live at 4:30 p.m. every weekday during the fair from the MidAmerican Energy Stage.
You can also stream KCCI 8’s coverage of the Iowa State Fair for free on the Very Local app. Click here to download Very Local to your phone.
See all of our Iowa State Fair coverage here.
WATCH: Iowa State Fair vendors competing for best new food are all in one spot
Admission, hours and more for the fair
Location: The fairgrounds are located at East 30th Street and East University Avenue in Des Moines.
Hours: Fairgrounds are open Aug. 8-17 from 8 a.m.-midnight, Aug. 18 from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. and buildings are open 9 a.m.-8 p.m. every day.
Thrill park hours include:
- Thrill Ville: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. on Aug. 8-17; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Aug. 18
- Thrill Town: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Aug. 8-17; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Aug. 18.
- Thrill Zone: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. on Aug. 8-17; 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. on Aug. 18.
Admission: Adult admission costs $16 at the gate and $10 for children ages 6-11. Kids 5 and under are free.
WATCH: These 3 Iowa State Fair menu items will compete for title of best new food
Iowa State Fair attendance records
Last year’s fair was the second-biggest with 1,133,958 people attending. That’s about 36,000 short of the all-time record of 1,170,375 set in 2019.
Top 10 biggest fairs
- 2019: 1,170,375
- 2023: 1,133,958
- 2018: 1,130,260
- 2017: 1,130,071
- 2022: 1,118,763
- 2015: 1,117,398
- 2008: 1,109,150
- 2012: 1,097,142
- 2021: 1,094,480
- 2011: 1,080,959
Highest daily attendance all-time
- First Thursday: 101,262 in 2008
- First Friday: 115,703 in 2001
- First Saturday: 127,277 in 1991
- First Sunday: 114,937 in 2023
- Monday: 105,522 in 2017
- Tuesday: 102,953 in 2019
- Wednesday: 109,323 in 2019
- Second Thursday: 107,449 in 2015
- Second Friday: 112,891 in 2019
- Second Saturday: 128,298 in 2022
- Second Sunday: 119,754 in 2012
WATCH: Iowa State Fair butter cow will be made with over 600 lbs of butter
