It's great to be a kid at the Fair! Click on a link below or scroll down to check out all the kid-friendly activities set for this year's Fair.

Blue Ribbon Kids
Weekdays during the Fair, 2 p.m., Kids Club Headquarters at Expo Hill

Blue Ribbon Kids, the Fair's special club for ages 10 and under, allows children to experience the Fair from a unique perspective. Blue Ribbon Kids members will get a rare glimpse at the heart of the Iowa State Fair and won’t be simply watching demonstrations – they’ll be part of the action during special kids' club activities.

During weekdays of the Fair, kids’ club members will have the opportunity to participate in seven FREE fun-filled activities. All events start at 2 p.m. at Expo Hill and will last 30-60 minutes. Children can sign up at any kids’ club event or at The Des Moines Register Service Center. Or download the Blue Ribbon Kids membership form, fill it out and bring it to the event. The membership form can also be mailed to Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Kids, PO Box 57130, Des Moines, IA 50317-0003. Sign-ups at Bankers Trust locations will end August 1.

Click here for the 2009 schedule of activities.

Blue Ribbon Kids’ Club members not only get a hands-on Fair experience but will receive a birthday card and a quarterly newsletter after signing up. Any further questions regarding the Iowa State Fair’s Blue Ribbon Kids may be directed to ebrewer@iowastatefair.org. 

Blue Ribbon Kids is sponsored by:

Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center
Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., located next to Little Hands on the Farm

The 2007 Iowa State Fair marked the debut of the Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center and Christensen Farms Hall. This agricultural education exhibit features live births of various species including cows, sows, nanny goats and ewes. Fairgoers of all ages will be drawn to the chicks and ostriches hatching, along with the baby ducklings. In 2009, Fairgoers will also be able to see hatching turkeys!

This year, the Animal Learning Center will be adding a Healthy Pets Area.  This mock vet office will give you the behind the scenes tour of a vet office and cover such topics as pet first aid.  This will be an interactive hands-on event for kids of all ages.  This area is in partnership with DMACC Veterinary Technician Program and the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.  Healthy Pets programs will be at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily.

A key feature of the Animal Learning Center is the Christensen Farms Stage.  Stage presentations range from puppet shows to story book readings by many different groups and individuals. Click here for the complete stage schedule in the daily program (available in July).

Vet Camp - All sessions are now full.
Check back in late March 2010 for next year's Vet Camp dates!
Iowa State Fair Vet Camp is a two hour program aimed at encouraging children ages 10-17 to learn about animal health, welfare and what it is like to be an animal doctor.  Vet Camp will meet in the media center of the Cattle Barn and will tour that facility along with the other barns on the Fairgrounds. Vet Camp is free with gate admission. Questions regarding Vet Camp may be directed to ebrewer@iowastatefair.org or 515/262-3111 ext. 244.

Download info flyer and registration form.

2009 Vet Camp sessions:

Vet Camp is sponsored by:

Little Hands on the Farm
Open 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., located next to the Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center

Little Hands on the Farm teaches children the importance of agriculture and how it affects their daily lives in a fun and interactive way.  Children ages 2 to 10 become farmers at this free, hands-on exhibit.  Children obtain a gathering basket and proceed along a path that includes a garden, grain bin, apple orchard, chicken coop, tractor shed, sheep barn and dairy barn.  After gathering particular items along the way they get the chance to sell these items at the Little Hands on the Farm Farmers’ Market for a Little Hands dollar to spend at the Grocery Store for such items as a piece of fruit, a granola bar or an ice cream sandwich.  The last tour leaves the Start Barn at 7:30 p.m. Click here for a map of Little Hands on the Farm.

Volunteers Still Needed!  Little Hands on the Farm is looking for volunteers to fill four hour time slots. Click here for the list of available shifts.

If you are interested or if you know of a group who would be interested in volunteering please contact Emily at 515/262-3111 ext. 244 or ebrewer@iowastatefair.org.  Volunteers receive one free admission ticket, one parking pass and a Little Hands on the Farm t-shirt for their four hour commitment.

Milking Parlor
Located on the north side of Cattle Barn   

Milking Experience
Monday, August 17 through Sunday, August 23
11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. (Only 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 23)

The Iowa State Fair Milking Parlor is the place to get all your milk questions answered.  The milking experience will be narrated by a professional involved in the dairy industry. The narrator will explain the life cycle of a dairy cow, the milking process, how much milk a cow will produce, how much a cow eats and how dairy products are made from milk. The milking experience will last approximately 15-20 minutes, with children’s activities before and after the demonstration.

Butter Sculpting Contest
Following Each Milking Experience

New for 2009! Following each milking experience, a butter sculpting contest will be open to all ages. Participants will be selected via a drawing during each milking experience. All participants will receive a ribbon and winning sculpture will receive a butter sculpting trophy! Sponsored by Land O'Lakes.

Boulevard of Dairy Breeds
Located in the North Annex of the Cattle Barn; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.  

The Boulevard of Dairy Breeds gives Fairgoers of all ages the chance to learn about the differences between the six major dairy cattle breeds and to see those breeds up close and personal. A baby calf of each breed will also be on hand to welcome Fairgoers to the Boulevard. This area include Cattle Corner and I Milked a Cow! exhibits.

Cattle Corner
9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Do you know how much a bull weighs? Or how much a cow eats and drinks in one day? Get all your cattle questions answered at this interactive hands-on display.

I Milked a Cow!
9-11 a.m., 1-3 and 4-6 p.m.

Try your hand at milking a cow the old fashioned way – by hand.  This is truly a once in a lifetime experience, don’t miss it! Sponsored by the Iowa State University Dairy Science Club. Cost is $2.

Avenue of Breeds
Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., located in the northwest corner of the Swine Barn  

The Avenue of Breeds allows visitors the opportunity to see many different breeds of cattle, horses, chickens, sheep and fish that Fairgoers may not see as they tour the other livestock barns. The Avenue of Breeds also features information about all species of livestock featured in this area. 

Fun Forest  

The Fun Forest entertainment schedule will be posted in June. Please check back!

Fairfield and Rosetta

Conceived by the Iowa State Fair Marketing Department, Fairfield was born in Des Moines on July 31, 2002. Fairfield’s name was selected from more than 300 entries submitted during the “Name the Mascot” contest on the Fair’s web site. Given that the first two Iowa State Fairs were held in Fairfield (1854-1855), the name Duane Wilcox of Hampton suggested seemed to fit quite nicely.

A six-foot-tall blue ribbon, Fairfield embodies the Fair’s competitive spirit. His smile seems permanently affixed on his adorable rosette-shaped head. While easy-going, fun-loving and very huggable, he also has a quiet side. (Some Fairgoers have even been seen swooning over his big blue eyes.)

Fairfield enjoys quite the social calendar during Fairs. He keeps busy by helping lead the Fair Parade, greeting visitors at the gate, handing out ribbons and hanging out with Rosetta. But he likes mingling with thousands of Fairgoers of all ages the best!

Rosetta, a girlish purple Grand Champion ribbon with gorgeous green eyes, joined the Iowa State Fair in the summer of 2004, just in time to enjoy the Sesquicentennial festivities.

Rosetta has already learned that food is “just better” on a stick and nothing beats grooving along to all the fabulous music free with gate admission.

She enjoys greeting Fairgoers of all ages as well as hanging out with fellow Fair mascot Fairfield. While rumors were rampant at the 2004 Fair that a romance was blooming, Rosetta asserts they are just friends.