Iowa State Fair Earns International Industry Honors

Demonstrating its continued leadership in the fair industry, the Iowa State Fair brought home multiple awards and honors from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) Annual Convention, held December 1-4 in Denver, Colorado.

Highlighting the awards were two overall winners - a "Best of Division" and "Judges' Choice" awards for the Kids Makers Market, which was a new event at the 2025 Fair.

Overall, the Iowa State Fair took home 22 awards in Communications, Competitive Exhibits, Agriculture Education, Sponsorship and Non-Fair Facility Usage competitions. IAFE awards are divided into five divisions based on attendance and are judged by industry experts. The Iowa State Fair competed against other fairs and festivals with an attendance of over 1 million.

Iowa State Fair awards are as follows:

Hall of Honor Communications:

Double-Sided, Multi-Page, or Folded Promotional Piece: 1^st Place (New Food Brochure)

Social Media Campaign: 2^nd Place (What's Allowed at the Fair)

Best Marketing Campaign: 3^rd Place (2025 Fair Sweet Fair Marketing Campaign)

Online Advertisement: 3rd Place (Fair Sweet Fair Advertisement)

Competitive Exhibits:

Best of Division Five (Kids Makers Market)

Judges' Choice Award (Kids Makers Market)

Creative Display- Single Photo or Photo Series: 1^st Place (Iowa Barn Foundation)

Special Contest: 1^st Place (Kids Makers Market) and 2^nd Place (Family Chopped)

New Competitive Exhibits Contest with New Partner/Sponsor: 3^rd Place (Iowa's Inaugural Lineman Rodeo)

Ag Awards:

Policy/procedure/technique to correct/mitigate agriculture issue(s) impacting fair and/or community at large, addressed during the annual fair: 1^st Place (Farrowing Display)

Evolved program/exhibit promoting agriculture to the fair-going public -Must specifically outline how the program has evolved since inception: 1^st Place (Adults Only Night at Little Hands on the Farm)

Program/event/exhibit educating consumers/fairgoers on the story of food during the annual fair: 2^nd Place (Pork to Plate Dinner)

Any other agriculture program/exhibit: 2^nd Place (Heart of the County Fair Award program)

Agriculture Individual Photo: Equine: 3rd Place (Hitch Horse Power)

Agriculture Individual Photo; Rodeo: 3rd Place (Grit and Grace)

Sponsorship:

Sponsor Continuity: 1^st Place (Pepsi)

First Time Sponsorship: 2^nd Place (Drive Smart Iowa)

Sponsor Exposure: 2^nd Place (Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Older Iowans' Day)

Community Impact: 3^rd Place (Iowa Lottery Guinness World Record)

Non-Fair Facility Usage:

Capital Improvement Plan and Execution: 1^st Place (Variety Star Playground in Fun Forest)

Facility Beautification Project: 2^nd Place (Ron and Bev Shivers Family Plaza)

The Iowa State Fair was well represented throughout the convention, with staff members presenting educational sessions, overseeing key committees, and leading programs. Their expertise and leadership were further highlighted by three staff members, Annie Cook, Commercial Vendors and Barksdale's Cookie Manager; Julianna Curtis, Sponsorship Director; and Shelbie Hill, Ticketing Manager, who graduated from the Institute of Fair Management, demonstrating the Fair's ongoing commitment to professional development.

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About IAFE The International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE), based in Springfield, Mo., is a voluntary, nonprofit corporation, serving state, provincial, regional, and county agricultural fairs, shows, exhibitions, and expositions. Its associate members include state and provincial associations of fairs, non-agricultural expositions and festivals, associations, corporations, and individuals engaged in providing products and services to its members, all of whom are interested in the improvement of fairs, shows, expositions, and allied fields. For more information, visit www.fairsandexpos.com.