1776 Pork Chop Salute to Celebrate America 250 During Iowa State Fair

1776 Pork Chop Salute to Celebrate America 250 During Iowa State Fair

August 3, 2026

For generations of fairgoers, a visit to the Iowa State Fair has been synonymous with one specific food item: the Pork Chop on a Stick ™. The Iowa Pork Producers Association sells tens of thousands of them each year during the fair.

This summer, that tradition will take on an extra measure of patriotic pride as the Iowa Pork Producers Association presents the 1776 Pork Chop Salute - A Taste of America 250. On Sunday, Aug. 16, IPPA will give away 1,776 Pork Chops on a Stick™, beginning at 11 a.m. Fairgoers looking for the 1776 Pork Chop Salute Giveaway should enter the Pork Tent building from the north side near the Animal Learning Center. The giveaway is limited to one pork chop per customer and will continue while supplies last.

The promotion is designed to commemorate the nation's semiquincentennial while recognizing the farm families who have helped feed America for generations. Just as the country reflects on 250 years of history, Iowa pig farmers continue a tradition of producing safe, wholesome pork while strengthening their local communities and supporting one of the state's most important industries.

"The Pork Chop on a Stick™ has become one of the most iconic traditions at the Iowa State Fair, so it's only fitting that we use it to help celebrate America's 250th anniversary," said longtime Pork Tent Committee member Dave Moody, a Story County pig farmer. "This is our way of thanking fairgoers while celebrating the farmers who raise high-quality pork every day. There's nothing better than sharing a great Iowa pork chop, and I think the 1,776 people who receive one will remember this as a fun part of their State Fair experience."

Along with the 1776 Pork Chop Salute, the Iowa Pork Producers Association is providing an exciting new way to enjoy this classic Iowa State Fair tradition. Every Pork Chop on a Stick™ will be smoked over applewood, bringing the unmistakable aroma and flavor that only natural hardwood can provide. It's a return to authentic barbecue traditions while continuing our commitment to serving premium Iowa pork.

While the giveaway on Sunday, August 16 takes place inside the Pork Tent, the Pork Chop on a Stick™ is available for purchase at two locations during the Iowa State Fair: the Iowa Pork Producers' Chop Shops. One Chop Shop is located right next to the Pork Tent on the east end of the Grand Concourse. The other will have a new, high-profile location on the Grand Avenue Concourse. The former "lower Chop Shop," previously located near the Swine Barn, will now be situated next to Barksdale's State Fair Cookies, just southwest of the Grandstand.

"We are sad to be further away from our exhibitors in the livestock barns, but we are excited to be able to offer our delicious pork products to more fairgoers with this new location," said Hope Brecht, consumer outreach director for the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

Fairgoers can also take home a limited-edition America 250 pork-themed souvenir cup, available free with the first 6,500 drink purchases at the Pork Tent, beginning on August 13.

The Iowa Pork Producers Association looks forward to welcoming fairgoers from across Iowa and beyond, August 13-23 at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines.