 |
| The 2012 Iowa State Fair Butter Cow |
It was a beautiful August day, as my husband and I headed to the
Iowa State Fair for our yearly visit. The Iowa State Fair is the largest event in the state of Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country - annually attracting more than a million people from all over the world. Of course, there are exhibits and attractions we *have to* see at the fair each year - the butter cow, the big bull, the big boar, the fabric and threads exhibition, the photography, the ugly cakes....and of course, we must have some fair food! There are so many AMAZING things to see each year...even the gardens on the fairgrounds are well maintained. I always enjoy seeing the barnyard animals and livestock (especially the rabbits!)....and the photography and dollhouses....along with the fruit, vegetable, and food ribbon winners. Here is a little photographic journey of our visit (heavy on needlework and quilting)....I'll let the photographs do the talking and add little captions when necessary....click on individual photos for a large look...
(Those of you who use Instagram can see some additional photos I took on my smartphone - username: BRDGIRL)
 |
| Blue Ribbon Needlework |
 |
| Holiday Needlework |
 |
| Best of Show Fabric and Threads |
 |
I love spicy food - the hotter, the better - therefore, I couldn't resist
taking a photo of the hot pepper entries.... |
 |
Check out the details on the Victorian house cake...
and the peacock cake was gorgeous! |
 |
| Ribbon winning slices of cake... |
 |
| The turtle cake was AMAZING in person.... |
 |
| Ribbon winning candies... |
 |
| I feel in love with this Mini Lop rabbit - so ADORABLE! |
 |
The Animal Learning Center has agricultural education exhibits and
features live births of various species including cows, sows, nanny goats and ewes.
I loved seeing all the newborn animals.... |
 |
The horses are always wonderful to see - here is one having a bite
to eat before a showing.... |
 |
| 2012 Big Bull (World Super Bull) - 2,646 lbs. |
 |
| 2012 Big Boar - Reggie - 1,335 lbs. |
 |
New this year: the "World's Largest Chocolate Moose in Captivity" - weighing 320 pounds...
standing more the 10 feet high and 118 inches in length. Hundreds of pounds of Dutch
chocolate were applied in layers and hand-carved by Chocolaterie Stam to create the moose...
...as you can see, I needed to be a bit taller to get the entire moose in one photo! |
 |
| Photography Exhibit |
 |
| Photography Exhibit
|
 |
| Best of Show
Photography Exhibit |
 |
| Best of Show Doll House (with a green house!) |
 |
| Best of Show Miniature Room |
 |
| A blue ribbon winning log cabin doll house... |
 |
| Garden on the fairgrounds... |
 |
| Garden on the fairgrounds...
|
 |
| Garden on the fairgrounds...
|
 |
| Garden on the fairgrounds... |
