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Iowa State Fair proves to be non-stop fun
The 2010 Iowa State Fair may have had lower attendance than the previous year's, but it didn't keep those who attended from having "Non Stop Fun." Fair attendance dipped below the seven-digit mark that had been seen since 2002. Officials blame the less-than-favorable weather, which was hot and humid some days and rainy others, as well as the down economy for the nearly four-percent slip in attendance. "Early school start dates, of course, took a lot of families off our concourse and throughout the fairgrounds," said fair spokeswoman Lori Chappell. For the first time ever, Friday night high school football games competed with the fair. Those in attendance this year enjoyed the regular sights of the butter cow, the super bull, the big boar, the avenue of breeds, the Bill Riley talent search, and all of the great food. FFA and 4-H youth were awarded $134,450 in scholarships and awards during the annual Sale of Champions. This amount added to the amount the champions sold for totaled $409,150. Eight champion records were broken during the sale. The grand champion 4-H market steer sold for a record $45,000, besting the previous mark of $40,000. This is also a new all-time record for all species. Other new price records included: reserve champion 4-H market steer, $30,000; grand champion 4-H market heifer, $30,000; grand champion 4-H market hog, $25,000; reserve champion FFA market lamb, $18,500; grand champion 4-H market lamb, $15,000; reserve champion 4-H market lamb, $15,000; and grand champion 4-H broiler pen, $5,700. Since the inception of the Sale of Champions in 1988, the IFAA has given out more than $4.3 million through Sale proceeds and scholarships to deserving youth participating in agricultural-related projects and interested in agricultural-related careers. One of the highlights at the fair this year was the much-anticipated Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center debut. This state-of-the-art multi-use facility seats 3,500 and housed the horse shows during the fair. Exterior walls of the center are adorned with tiled quilt patterns from each of Iowa's 99 counties. The 2011 Iowa State Fair is scheduled for Aug. 11 to 21. For a complete list of contest results visit: www.iowastatefair.org. Jennifer Bremer can be reached by phone at 515-833-2120, or by e-mail at jbremer@hpj.com.
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