Listeners will hear inspiring stories about confidence, leadership, friendship, and community. Riah reflects on her whirlwind year representing the Iowa State Fair, from visiting schools and hospitals to judging contests and even measuring beards at the Fair. Celeste offers an inside look at how county fair queen contests work and explains how contestants are coached in everything from interviews and public speaking to etiquette and handling tough real-world topics. Hailey shares emotional memories from her own crowning, how the Fair opened unexpected doors in broadcasting and performance, and why she continues mentoring future contestants today.

Each guest emphasized that success is not about fitting a mold but about authenticity, confidence, and willingness to step outside your comfort zone. The episode is packed with insight, touching moments, and practical advice for young women considering competing or preparing for the future.

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 decades of hands-on work at the fair. From his early days learning the ropes in 1970 to leading crews of young workers preparing buildings and setting up major events, Roger reflects on how the fairgrounds have evolved—from unairconditioned structures to modern facilities—while emphasizing the enduring value of hard work, mentorship, and community.

Jan Higgins brings a career-spanning view of leadership and legacy. Starting as a teenager taking tickets at Teen Town, she rose through the ranks to become Assistant Manager of the Iowa State Fair. Along the way, she helped shape operations, oversee entertainment, and even played a role in the early career of future CEO Jeremy Parsons. Her stories highlight both the behind-the-scenes challenges and the pride that comes with helping the fair grow into a source of statewide pride.

John Sample rounds out the episode with warmth, humor, and unmatched longevity, having attended 77 consecutive fairs. A self-proclaimed “Mr. Positive,” John shares memories from sneaking into the fair as a kid to later supporting fair operations through his career in radio communications. His reflections capture the magic of the fair as a place where generations gather, traditions endure, and smiles are universal.

Together, these stories paint a vivid picture of the Iowa State Fair—not just as an event, but as a lifelong connection.

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, including key deadlines, categories, and insider tips for first-time exhibitors. Learn when contest rules are released (April 1), when entries open (May 1), and how to submit everything from baked goods and garden produce to photography, crafts, and creative arts. You’ll also discover why beginners often win big, how anonymous judging works, and the difference between a blue ribbon and the coveted purple ribbon. The episode also highlights the incredible variety of categories available, including fan favorites like jumbo vegetables, dollhouses, and floral displays.

Tonya Cook shares how to easily join the fun with Iowa State Fair’s famous walk-up contests, including husband calling, rubber chicken throwing, and more. No experience required. Just show up and participate! Listen to find out if she gives away any upcoming 2026 grandstand shows, free stage performances, and new attractions tied to the America250 celebration.

If you’ve ever wondered how to compete, volunteer, perform, or simply get more involved in the Iowa State Fair, this episode is your guide. Find even more details at iowastatefair.org.

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.  Lieutenant Governor Cournoyer expands the focus statewide, describing Iowa’s America250 that help communities showcase innovation, history, scenic byways, and local celebrations in 2026. She emphasizes a new statewide events hub at America250.iowa.gov, including partnerships with education, arts, agriculture, and industry groups to spotlight Iowa’s people and achievements. 

Together, the guests paint a picture of a year-long celebration where themes, student competitions, storytelling, and Iowa pride converge. 2026 may be the perfect year to rediscover Iowa and show your Fair Spirit!

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 after the sticky chaos of the “Coke Races”); Charlie McInroy, who brings thousands of flowers to life without a single irrigation system; and Dave Buttz, who manages one of the fair’s busiest buildings and treasures the joy of families walking through the gates.

It’s a heartfelt look at the pride and passion that power the Fair all year long. And coming up next month: a sneak peek at the special celebrations planned for America’s 250th birthday at the 2026 fair. Learn more at IowaStateFair.org.

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 Fair power couple. Paula, now in her 22nd year as superintendent of the Fair’s Information Volunteers, shares what it takes to guide hundreds of thousands of fairgoers through 11 whirlwind days.  Paula highlights the kindness, patience, and “Iowa nice” that define the info booths. Her husband, Ernie, then takes listeners inside the Swine Barn, where he’s spent 24 years as superintendent. He talks about managing nearly 5,000 pigs across multiple shows, the deep family traditions of exhibitors, and the powerful mix of fierce competition and genuine friendship among young showmen and women. The episode wraps up with a phone interview from Arizona with Russ and Terry Slight, who together dedicated more than four decades to Grandstand security and operations. Russ recounts 45 years of concerts, celebrities, and evolving public safety. Terry reflects on their life working side by side at the Fair, raising a family on the grounds, and their retirement without radios and paperwork. This December episode is about just a few important behind-the-scenes heroes who make the Iowa State Fair feel like home.

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 American imagination at the Smithsonian.

The conversation begins with award-winning quilter Mary Shotwell who explains the difference between pieced and appliqué quilting and how her love of intricate designs grew into decades of blue ribbons and multiple “Best of Show” honors at the Iowa State Fair. Next, the spotlight turns to embroiderer Anne Hansen, whose stunning three-dimensional butterfly, small enough to fit in a glass dome yet realistic enough to be mistaken for ceramic, also appears in the Smithsonian exhibit. Anne talks about learning embroidery as a child, becoming captivated by 3D “stump work” techniques, and spending months of late-night stitching to bring tiny wings and leaves to life. Then listeners can catch up with Sarah Pratt, Iowa’s beloved butter cow sculptor, whose life-size jersey cow now anchors its own custom-built, octagonal cooler in a prominent rotunda space at the Renwick. Sarah shares how she initially thought the Smithsonian was only interested in memorabilia from her mentor, Norma “Duffy” Lyon—until curators stepped into the butter cooler and started asking how they could get the sculpture itself to D.C. The episode then shifts to Rod and Deb Zeitler, a powerhouse Iowa State Fair duo. Rod is a competitive canner whose 750-jar pyramid, dramatically lit from below, showcases Iowa-grown fruits and vegetables in “visually stunning” form. Deb, a weaver, basketmaker, and shoemaker, explains how a class at the Penland School of Crafts led her into leatherwork and to the handcrafted boots now on display. Together, they reflect on becoming unexpected “stars” among visitors and on the joy of having a place they’ve always loved visiting—the Renwick craft museum—now showcasing their own work. Finally, miniaturist Beth Grabau joins the show to talk about her exquisitely detailed, three-sided vignette titled The Pump House. Beth describes the intense math, materials knowledge, and steady hands required for miniature work, as well as the emotional challenge of letting the piece leave home for Washington.

Listeners are invited to visit the Renwick Gallery’s state fair exhibit, explore the Cultural Center at the Fair, and stay tuned for next month’s holiday-themed episode featuring the Iowa State Fair–inspired stocking stuffers and seasonal fun.

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 across the fairgrounds, including how the reclaimed barn wood and stall doors in the horse barn will find new life — some reused in the remodel, others offered at public auction for fair fans to own a piece of history. In 2026, the Fair is preparing to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with commemorative events, public art, and possibly even historical reenactments. Jeremy teases early grandstand booking progress, upcoming cookie dough sales and admission ticket holiday sales, and the return of Jolly Holiday Lights to the fairgrounds. As Maxwell and Amy put it, “the Fair never really ends” — it just changes seasons.

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 community traditions.

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 raising livestock, flowers, and 80 varieties of pumpkins while hosting a barnside farmers market. Both share their passion for agriculture, agritourism, and the growing recognition of women and specialty crop farmers in Iowa.

Next, the spotlight turns to newly crowned 2025 Iowa State Fair Queen, Riah Schrage, who shares her whirlwind first days on the job, including an unexpected slingshot ride tradition, connecting with fairgoers from across the country, and her plans for a future in music education. The conversation shifts to Iowa Nice Guy, Scott Siepker, who offers his humorous takes on fair food (including a corn dog rating scale), people-watching, and memorable fair stories—some involving presidents and on-air surprises. WHO-TV’s semi-retired reporter Roger Riley drops by to reflect on the stories and personal moments that keep him coming back, even in retirement.

The episode’s final stretch is a flavorful one. Will Schroeder and TJ Paskach, the engineers behind Nitro Ice Cream, explain how liquid nitrogen and Iowa dairy create ultra-smooth, fresh-made treats that have become a 25-year fair tradition. Wrapping things up, Iowa State Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons recaps a weather-challenged but successful run, celebrates improvements like new shade and seating, and hints at early planning for the Fair’s 2026 celebration of America’s 250th birthday. It’s a fitting finale to the Fair series—full of community pride, colorful stories, and the people who make the Iowa State Fair an enduring tradition.