Friday, August 16, 2013

Iowa State Fair

The Iowa State Fair is one of the largest in the country. Held for 11 days in August, it's been an annual tradition almost every year since 1854, highlighting the best and biggest of all-things-Iowa.

On the spur of the moment, my husband and I drove the two hours to the Fairgrounds in Des Moines. The weather was perfect. We hadn't been in years--not since our kids were little and before I carried a sketchbook for on-site drawing.

Pickled Pepper Winners

At the Family Food Center, the results of the canning competitions were beautifully displayed in glass cases. We used to do canning. And now, in the summer, homemade refrigerator pickles are a staple.

Bread Judging
Around the periphery of the Family Food Center, the serious work of judging edible entries played out. Here, the judging for the Breads, Muffins and Rolls category has been completed and the results are recorded before the winners are  placed with their ribbons behind glass.

The judging of Beans was on-going (6 judges tasting with a rapt and silent audience watching, videographers recording every mouthful). Salsas were being assessed in the far corner. Quiches were among the ones scheduled for the following day.



Butter Cow

At the Agricultural Building, a cow is sculpted from butter (600 pounds!!) every year since 1911. Young and old file past the windowed cooler. The lines were particularly long because two days before the beloved butter cow had been vandalized!! PETA, the animal welfare group, had broken into the cooler on Sunday night after closing and poured red paint over the butter cow and scrawled "Freedom for All" on the window. By Monday morning's 7AM opening, the sculptor had scraped the red paint from her creation and all hints of dissent had been removed.

While on the subject of cows, over at the Cattle Barn, these young farmers were primping their steer for its upcoming competition.

Grass Bred Steer
 
Biggest Boar 




In the adjoining Swine  Barn,  there were hogs galore, but none more captivating than Otis, who was fast asleep with his snout in his food bowl. Proclaimed the biggest boar of the 2013 Iowa State Fair, weighing in at 1,103 pounds, Otis was measly compared to last year's all-time Big Boar named Reggie, who weighed in at 1,335 pounds.

Returning to the Agriculture Building, tomatoes and melons in the Jumbo Vegetables category are displayed on styrofoam plates with their ribbons.

Jumbo Vegetables

One day at the Fair is not enough. Next year we'll plan ahead and book a hotel room so we can be at the Fair two days in a row. I definitely saw more drawings to do than 8 hours allowed.

Visit my Flickr site to see all my Fair sketches and more specifics about them. 




16 comments:

  1. Fabulous page ! I wish I was there sketching with you. It seems that Fairs (or ours in Australia are "Royal Agricultural Shows" or The Show ) are generally the same around the world. Although you do have some unique things. I am sure we do to, but I have not been to a show n years. I love the butter cow concept and your drawing is wonderful - soft and smooth and the dark background is great

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    1. Wouldn't it be grand to sketch together at the Fair--yours or mine!! I encourage you to go to your Royal Agricultural Show next time it comes round. I'm kicking myself for letting such great material go undrawn for so many years. It'll be great to compare notes, or rather sketches. The butter cow sculptures really are a quirky tradition. I really love that you've left a comment--a rarity for someone to do outside our Midwest group. So thanks a lot!!!

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  2. Thanks for your sketches of the fair in Iowa. It brings back many memories of my own experiences on the fair grounds

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    1. Lois, are you from Iowa? Is going to the Fair something you grew up with? I went to my first state fair when I was in my 20s (a long time ago) and that was the Minnisota State Fair. I think Iowa's is even better.

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  3. Great sketches. Looks like a fun spot and a lot of subjects!

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    1. It was impossible to capture all that swirled around me. I'm looking forward to next year's Fair already. Thanks for looking in and commenting, Joan!

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  4. This makes me excited for our Minneapolis sketch up meeting in 2 weeks at the fair.

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    1. I saw that was coming up, James. Defintely, not to be missed. I look forward to seeing your sketches.

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  5. My wife is from Indianola, IA, so I heard about the fair for years. Finally got to go a couple of summers ago...we had great time. This year my wife's sister-in-law's family received a centennial farm award that was presented at fair. My wife says her biggest memory of the fair was visiting the first aid station every year because her brother was having asthma attacks.

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    1. The centennial farm thing is really a big deal in Iowa and at the Fair--like being knighted. Next to the Family Food Center (where a couple of the above drawings were done) there was a huge tent for all the families receiving the centennial award this year. Each family had their own tee-shirts. It was just another way that the tradition and backbone of family farming is heralded at the State Fair.

      Iowa in August is a terrible place for asthmatics--the giant ragweed is in full bloom, not to mention all that corn pollen. Your wife's recollection is a sad story.

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  6. Looks like a great time. Love the line and color work in the jumbo vegetables!

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    1. I worked this drawing in a new way--I did all but the top 2 melons in watercolor while on-site, as well as the line. When home, I used artist markers for the shelving.

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  7. This is a great post! All the sketches are fun to look at and I can just imagine all the neat subject matter in one place. Nice ideaea & inspiring, m

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    1. As a city person, in an agricultural state, it was great to around the animals and the people whose lives are centered around animals. Glad you liked!

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  8. How did I miss this! What a wonderful record, Marcia...I sketched at the American Royal once, a great opportunity.

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    1. Thanks Kate for circling in for a look! I'm not one for sketching in crowds (people & animals) but this was well worth it.

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