Events and Activities : Iowa State Fair to Host Array of Contests to See and Do

With over 60 contests to compete in and watch, the Iowa State Fair has something for everyone. "Nothing Compares" to competition at the Fair, which will feature several new, exciting contests in addition to Fairgoers' favorite returning contests. The Iowa State Fair is set August 11-21.

New this year, the Fair will feature Battle of the Butter, a contest to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Butter Cow. Contestants will create a dairy masterpiece from a 55 lb. block of butter, and the winning sculpture daily will be featured alongside the world-famous Butter Cow. Entry forms are available now at iowastatefair.org.

Also joining the Fair's lineup of contests, the Farmer's Challenge and Young Farmer's Challenge will have farmers throwing hay, hanging gates and running an obstacle course to prove they are the top farmer. And youngsters will hold on tight as they ride sheep in Mutton Bustin', a youth version of stock riding.

The complete schedule of contests follows. Rules and additional information are available at iowastatefair.org.

DAILY

Bill Riley's Talent Search

Anne and Bill Riley Stage, Noon, August 11-20; Championships 1:30 p.m. August 21; open only to contestants who have won local contests

Battle of the Butter brought to you by AMPI

Anne and Bill Riley Stage, 4 p.m., August 11-21; pre-registration suggested

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11

Twins, Triplets and More

Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi, 9 a.m.; registration begins at 8:15 a.m.

Turkey Calling

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 10:30 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Duck Calling

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 11 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Youth Rooster Crowing

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 1 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Ladies' Chicken Calling

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 1:30 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12

Youth Spelling Bee, Grades 1 & 2

Penningroth Media Center, Cattle Barn, 9 a.m.; registration has closed

Weed Identification

Outside John Deere Agriculture Building, 9-11:30 a.m.; no pre-registration necessary

Fiddlers' Contest, Ages 17 and under

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 10 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Youth Spelling Bee, Grades 3 & 4

Penningroth Media Center, Cattle Barn, Noon; registration has closed

Iowa Grocery Bagging Contest

Budweiser Stage sponsored by ABC5, 1 p.m.; contestants must win local contest

Youth Spelling Bee, Grades 5 & 6

Penningroth Media Center, Cattle Barn, 3 p.m.; registration has closed

Cowgirl Queen Contest sponsored by Hawkeye Tack and Western Wear

Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center sponsored by Chevrolet, 6:30 p.m.; contestants must be pre-registered

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13

Fiddlers Contest, Ages 18-49

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 10 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Guitar

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 10 a.m.; registration 9 a.m.-Noon

Egg Rolling, Ages 13 and older

Hill South of Pigeon/Poultry/Rabbit Building, 10 a.m.

Junior Egg Rolling, Ages 12 and younger

Hill South of Pigeon/Poultry/Rabbit Building, 10:30 a.m.

Mandolin

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 1 p.m.; registration 9 a.m.-Noon

Mr. Legs

Anderson Erickson Dairy Stage sponsored by KCCI NewsChannel 8, 3:30 p.m.; registration begins at 3 p.m.

State Fair Queen Coronation

Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi, 7 p.m., contestants must win respective county fair queen pageants

SUNDAY, AUGUST 14

Micro-Mini Tractor Pull

Budweiser Stage sponsored by ABC5, 9 a.m.; registration begins at 8 a.m.

Fiddlers' Contest, Ages 50 and over

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 10 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Banjo

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 11 a.m.; registration before 10 a.m.

Monster Arm Wrestling

Penningroth Media Center, Cattle Barn, 1 p.m.; weigh-ins 10 a.m. to noon

Fiddlers' Grand Championship and Runner-Up Finals

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 3 p.m.; contestants must win competitions August 12-14

MONDAY, AUGUST 15

Youth Piano Playing, Ages 5-16

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 10 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Adult Piano Playing, Ages 17 and older

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 10:30 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Butter Sculpting Contest

Milking Parlor, Cattle Barn, following Milking Demonstrations at 11 a.m., 3 & 7 p.m.; contestants selected immediately before

Youth Harmonica, Ages 5-16

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 1 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Adult Harmonica, Ages 17 and older

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 1:30 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Accordion

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 2:30 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

TUESDAY, AUGUST 16

48th Annual Farm Bureau Cook-out

Grand Concourse, 9 a.m. to noon; contestants must win local contest

Iowa Championship Auctioneers Contest

Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi, 9 a.m.; open only to pre-registered contestants

Pedal Power Pull

Rock Island Avenue, 10 a.m.; registration begins at 9 a.m.

Beard Growing

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 10:30 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Butter Sculpting Contest

Milking Parlor, Cattle Barn, following Milking Demonstrations at 11 a.m., 3 & 7 p.m.; contestants selected immediately before

Wood Chopping

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 1 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Making of America Jeopardy

Penningroth Media Center, Cattle Barn, 1 p.m.

8th Annual Outhouse Races

Grand Concourse, 2:30 p.m.; open only to pre-registered contestants

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17

Marvelous Red Hat Contest

Budweiser Stage sponsored by ABC5, 8:30 a.m.

Older Iowan Idol

Budweiser Stage sponsored by ABC5, tryouts at 10 a.m., finals at Noon; Open only to pre-registered contestants

KRNT "Butter" Cow Chip Throwing Contest

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 11 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Butter Sculpting Contest

Milking Parlor, Cattle Barn, following Milking Demonstrations at 11 a.m., 3 & 7 p.m.; contestants selected immediately before

Fruit, Vegetable and Nut Identification

John Deere Agriculture Building, 12:30-2:30 p.m.; no pre-registration required

Older Iowans' Spelling Bee

Budweiser Stage sponsored by ABC5, 2 p.m.; registration begins at 1:30 p.m.

Ladies' Rubber Chicken Throwing

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 2 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Scholastic Chess Tournament

West Porch of the Administration Building; registration 3-3:30 p.m., play begins when registration is complete

Speed Chess Tournament

West Porch of the Administration Building; registration 5-5:30 p.m., play begins when registration is complete

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18

Bubble Gum Blowing

Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi, 9 a.m.; registration begins 30 minutes before

Elk's Spot Shot

Grand Concourse, 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-3 p.m.; registration begins 30 minutes before

Children's Singing, Ages 5-12

Pioneer Hall, 10:30 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Pie Eating

Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi, 10:30-11:30 a.m.; registration begins 30 minutes before

Arts and Crafts

Grand Concourse, 11 a.m.-1p.m.

Butter Sculpting Contest

Milking Parlor, Cattle Barn, following Milking Demonstrations at 11 a.m., 3 & 7 p.m.; contestants selected immediately before

Sidewalk Bowling

Grand Concourse, 11 a.m.-Noon; registration begins 30 minutes before

Big Wheel Races

Grand Concourse, 11 a.m.-Noon and 1:30-2:30 p.m.; registration begins 30 minutes before

Yodeling

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 11:30 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Bozo Ball

Grand Concourse, Noon-1 p.m.; registration begins 30 minutes before

Remote Control Cars

Grand Concourse, 12:30-1 p.m.; registration begins 30 minutes before

Young Farmer's Challenge, ages 15-21

Pioneer Livestock Pavilion, 12:30 p.m.; registration 10 a.m.-Noon

Scavenger Hunt

Grand Concourse, 1 p.m.; registration begins 30 minutes before

Youth Whistling, Ages 5-16

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 1:30 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Adult Whistling, Ages 17 and older

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 2 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Yo-Yo

Anderson Erickson Dairy Stage sponsored by KCCI NewsChannel 8, 3 p.m.; registration begins at 2:30 p.m.

Farmer's Challenge, Ages 21 and older

Pioneer Livestock Pavilion, 6 p.m.; registration 3:30-5:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 19

Youth Checkers Tournament, Ages 7 and older

East Porch of the Administration Building, 9 a.m.; registration begins at 8 a.m.

Ladies' Husband Calling

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 10 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Decorated Diaper and Diaper Derby

Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi, 10 a.m.; registration at 9:30 a.m.

Butter Sculpting Contest

Milking Parlor, Cattle Barn, following Milking Demonstrations at 11 a.m., 3 & 7 p.m.; contestants selected immediately before

Children's Mom Calling, Ages 5-9, 10-15

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 11 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Mutton Bustin'

Pioneer Livestock Pavilion, 12:30, 3:30 & 6:30 p.m.; registration 60-90 minutes before

Children's Joke Telling, Ages 5-9

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 1 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Hog Calling

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 2 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20

Adult Checkers Tournament

East Porch of the Administration Building, 9 a.m.; registration begins at 8 a.m.

27th Annual Iowa State Fair Bench Press/ Deadlift Contest

Budweiser Stage sponsored by ABC5, 9:30 a.m., weigh-ins begins at 7 a.m.; open only to pre-registered contestants

Bags Tournament

Grand Concourse, Singles 10 a.m., Doubles 1 p.m.; registration at 9 a.m. & Noon

Ladies' Nail Driving

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 10:30 a.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

4x4 Stomper Pull

Anderson Erickson Dairy Stage sponsored by KCCI NewsChannel 8, 10:30a.m.; registration begins at 10 a.m.

Butter Sculpting Contest

Milking Parlor, Cattle Barn, following Milking Demonstrations at 11 a.m., 3 & 7 p.m.; contestants selected immediately before

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21

Adult Checkers Tournament

East Porch of the Administration Building, 9 a.m.; registration begins at 8 a.m.

Butter Sculpting Contest

Milking Parlor, Cattle Barn, following Milking Demonstrations at Noon; contestants selected immediately before

Cribbage Tournament

New location: Upper Level of Grandstand, 1 p.m.; registration begins at Noon

Mother-Daughter Look-a-Like

Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall, 1 p.m.; registration begins 30-60 minutes before

Pigtail/Ponytail/Braid

Budweiser Stage sponsored by ABC5, 1 p.m.; registration begins at Noon

Mullet

Budweiser Stage sponsored by ABC5, following Pigtail/Ponytail/Braid

Bill Riley's Talent Search Finals

Anne and Bill Riley Stage, 1:30 p.m.; open only to contestants who have advanced from earlier competition

"Nothing Compares" to the 2011 Iowa State Fair, celebrating 100 years of the Butter Cow August 11-21. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit www.iowastatefair.org.