Iowa State Fair Podcast

Think the Iowa State Fairgrounds shuts down after August? Think again! On this episode of the Iowa State Fair Podcast, hosts Maxwell and Amy welcome Liz Ley and Kiersten Simonetta for a fascinating—and often surprising—look at what happens when the Fair isn't in town. With hundreds of events throughout the year, the Fairgrounds are anything but a ghost town! From the dazzling Jolly Holiday Lights...

What happens after the gates close on a record-setting Iowa State Fair? Maxwell and Amy sit down with Iowa State Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons for a revealing post-Fair conversation about an extraordinary 2026—and what the numbers, surveys and fairgoer feedback are already telling organizers about the future. Parsons takes us inside the Fair’s massive post-event “critique book,” built from employee inpu...

The Iowa State Fair Podcast wraps up its special three-part live series from the Animal Learning Center with more of the people, traditions and stories that make the Fair one of Iowa’s most beloved events. Maxwell and Amy visit with legendary butter sculptor Sarah Pratt, who shares the story behind this year’s Jersey butter cow and special Pepsi Clock sculpture, the surprising age of the butter sh...

Maxwell and Amy set up inside the Animal Learning Center for another special edition of the Iowa State Fair Podcast, exploring three Fair favorites that entertain, educate and inspire visitors of all ages. Brooke Michael takes us behind the scenes at the Animal Learning Center, where more than 160 animals may be born during the Fair. From newborn calves and piglets to chicks and ducklings, visitor...

The Iowa State Fair Podcast is LIVE from the Fair! Max and Amy take the microphones to the Animal Learning Center for a special episode celebrating the people, food and unmistakable spirit that make the Iowa State Fair one of a kind. First, meet Mary Smith, a remarkable 100-year-old Iowa State Master Gardener, longtime Discovery Garden volunteer and blue-ribbon-winning fruit grower. Mary shares me...

The countdown is on! With the Iowa State Fair just days away, hosts Maxwell and Amy sit down with Iowa State Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons for the ultimate preview of what promises to be one of the most memorable fairs in history. As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, this year's Fair blends beloved traditions with exciting new experiences that make 2026 unlike any other. Whether you're a lifelon...

Bring your appetite! In this special Iowa State Fair Podcast, Maxwell and Amy take you inside one of the most anticipated events leading up to the Fair—the 2026 Top 11 New Foods Competition. From savory breakfast creations and gourmet comfort food to decadent desserts, you'll hear the stories behind the culinary creativity that keeps fairgoers coming back year after year. Drawing from a record fie...

Want a free ticket to the Iowa State Fair, a parking pass, and a chance to be part of Iowa’s biggest annual celebration? This episode of the Iowa State Fair Podcast reveals how you can get involved behind the scenes while earning money, supporting your favorite organization, or volunteering alongside family and friends. Maxwell and Amy sit down with Shelbie Hill, Iowa State Fair Ticketing Manager,...

The May 2026 episode of the Iowa State Fair Podcast with hosts Max and Amy welcomes three remarkable women whose lives have been shaped by the Iowa State Fair Queen tradition: 2025 Iowa State Fair Queen Riah Schrage, former Queen and Dallas County Fair Queen coordinator Celeste Richardson, and 2018 Iowa State Fair Queen Hailey Van Maanen. Together, they share firsthand stories and share how the re...

In this April episode of the Iowa State Fair Podcast, hosts Maxwell and Amy lean into one of the show’s greatest strengths: Iowa State Fair Memories. And this time, the stories come from three voices who have lived the fair from deeply personal and very different angles—Roger Miller, Jan Higgins, and John Sample. Roger Miller opens the episode with a remarkable perspective shaped by more than five...

Ever wonder, “How do you enter something in the Iowa State Fair”? In this March 2026 episode of the Iowa State Fair Podcast, hosts Maxwell and Amy sit down with Competitive Events Director Jen Cannon and Entertainment Director Tonya Cook to talk about turning your talent into a blue ribbon. From pies to pigs, and everything in between, Jen breaks down how to enter Iowa State Fair competitions, inc...

In this episode, Podcast hosts Maxwell and Amy sit down with Iowa Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer and Iowa State Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons to talk about upcoming America250 plans. Parsons shares plans for a once in a lifetime Fair, featuring nightly drone shows, a permanent art installation, a new veterans memorial walkway, and a special indoor historical exhibit exploring Iowa in 1776.  Lieuten...

The first episode of 2026 invites you behind the curtain with Maxwell and Amy to meet the people who make the Iowa State Fair feel like home. These are the craftsmen, caretakers, and coordinators whose work often goes unseen but touches every visitor. You’ll hear from Ben Robey, who restores historic buildings with handmade carpentry; Steve Milosevic, who keeps major venues running smoothly (even...

As winter settles over the Iowa State Fairgrounds, the December 2025 episode of the Iowa State Fair Podcast takes listeners on a warm, story-filled journey that proves the Fair is never really off-season. Hosts Maxwell and Amy dive into heartfelt conversations with the couples whose dedication keeps the Fair running year after year. The episode opens with Paula and Ernie Barnes, a true Iowa State...

This special November 2025 episode of the Iowa State Fair Podcast with Maxwell and Amy celebrates a once-in-a-lifetime honor: Iowa State Fair exhibitors whose work is now showcased at the Smithsonian Institution’s Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C. Across the hour, listeners meet extraordinary Iowans whose “fair projects” have become part of a national exhibition on state fairs, craft, and the Am...

In this episode of The Iowa State Fair Podcast, hosts Maxwell Schaeffer and Amy Sweet sit down with Iowa State Fair CEO and Manager, Jeremy Parsons, for a fascinating look behind the scenes at what happens long after the final fairgoer leaves the gates. Jeremy shares how the post-fair “cool-down” is anything but quiet. The conversation also highlights major off-season renovation projects underway...

On this episode of the Iowa State Fair Podcast, hosts Maxwell and Amy explore the vibrant life of the Fairgrounds beyond August with two engaging guests: Liz Ley, Event Services Manager, and Mindy Williamson, Chief Marketing Officer. Together, they reveal how the Iowa State Fair is more than an eleven-day celebration—it’s a year-round hub for weddings, livestock shows, quirky competitions, and com...

In the final “LIVE at the Fair” episode from the 2025 Iowa State Fair, Max and Amy return to the stage at the new Blue Ribbon Bar & Eatery on the Grand Concourse with a lively mix of guests. They start with two Warren County farmers—Lori Bochner of Bochner Farm, known for daylilies, dahlias, and ticketed U-pick events, and Mekenze Cortum of Cortum Farm and Co., who runs a diversified operation...

In the second of three “LIVE at the Fair” episodes, Max and Amy bring the Iowa State Fair Podcast to the porch of the Fair’s Administration Building for another lively day of conversations. They open with Iowa State Fair Board President Curtis Claeys and the beloved Bill Riley Jr. of the Bill Riley Talent Search, who share stories about fair traditions, the importance of county fairs as the founda...

The Iowa State Fair Podcast kicks off its first of three “LIVE at the Fair” episodes from the brand-new Blue Ribbon Bar & Eatery on the Grand Concourse. Max and Amy welcome a lively lineup of guests, starting with 2024 Iowa State Fair Queen Ellie Blackford of Clarke County, who shares her reflections as she prepares to pass the crown to this year’s winner. Brooks Reynolds from JR’s Southpork R...

Get your forks ready—this episode takes you behind the scenes of one of the tastiest traditions at the Iowa State Fair: the New Food Event! From deep-fried genius to sweet surprises to anything on a stick, we’ll reveal how vendors dream up their over-the-top treats, what it takes to be a concessionaire at the Fair, and why food fanatics across the state count down to their food adventure at the Fa...

In this episode of the Iowa State Fair Podcast, hosts Max and Amy dive into the heart of Fair food competitions with longtime exhibitor Robin Tarbell-Thomas, whose family has earned thousands of ribbons over multiple generations. Robin shares stories of her grandma’s cooking legacy, her own award-winning recipes and the Crisco baking contest she sponsors in honor of her late mother. Too bad you ca...

We chat with Mike Schulte from The Pork Tornados about their favorite fair memories and what it means to play for hometown crowds. Plus, chainsaw artist Gary Keenan joins us to talk about turning logs into jaw-dropping sculptures. This episode is all about creativity, community, and the magic of the Iowa State Fair.

Ever wondered how the Iowa State Fair books its Grandstand acts? Is there a secret list? Who decides on the lineup anyway? In this episode, Iowa State Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons pulls back the curtain on the process. From timelines to talent fees, crowd size to artist requirements, he’s answering the questions about how those big Grandstand concert nights come together.

In this episode, we’re celebrating tradition and new beginnings at the Iowa State Fair! Join us as we sit down with Larry McConnell, who is marking his incredible 50th year as a vendor at the Fair, sharing stories from over the years and the changes he’s seen along the way. Then, we’ll chat with Joni Bell, Toby Kruse, and Dianna Marquardt about their exciting new venture—the Blue Ribbon Bar and Ea...