[Announcer] Funding for fair 2025 is provided by — At Iowa Corn we know that corn is more# than just a crop.

It fuels our cars, feeds our livestock, and is in over# 4,000 products on your grocery store shelves.

Iowa doesn't just grow corn.

Corn# grows Iowa.

Learn more at iowacorn.org.

As Iowans, we all want clean air, land,# and water.

Iowa's pig farmers do too.

The Iowa Pork Producers Association invites# you to learn more at iowapork.org/wecare.

(Text on screen: What you love about# the fair...Vermeer is proud to support.

health and financial well-being.

Wellabe# strives to empower people to be well, well prepared and well protected.# Learn more at wellabe.com.

The Pella Rolscreen Foundation is a# proud supporter of Iowa PBS.

Pella Windows and Doors strives to better our# communities and build a better tomorrow.

Banking in Iowa goes beyond transactions.

Banks# work to help people and small businesses succeed, and Iowa banks are committed# to building confident banking relationships.

Iowa Banks.# Your partner through it all.

Hello and welcome back to our third night of# Iowa State Fair Highlights.

I’m Bill Riley.

From the very beginning, the Iowa State# Fair has been rooted in agriculture.

What started in 1854 as a way to showcase# Iowa’s best crops and livestock has grown into a celebration of hard work, creativity, and# competition—values that still shine through today.

On tonight’s show, we’ll see how that# tradition continues in the dedication of FFA kids working hard in the sheep barn.# It’s in the Fiddle Contest—celebrating 100 years of toe-tapping history.

And# it’s reflected in the Butter Cow, where Sarah Pratt crafts a# fair icon loved by generations.

It’s going to be a great show—and# we’ll kick it off with something sweet: the Scotcheroo Smackdown inside# the Elwell Family Food Center.

♪ ♪ [Dana Lain] So, Celine, tell us about the Scotcharoo# contest.

We're really excited.

This is a first time contest.

Tell us a little bit about it.

[Celine Hartwig] So this is the# first time that we've hosted this.

My brother is actually a sponsor# this year.

We're just looking for good, you know, a nice, good taste, good# texture.

And then how does it look?

[Erin Moore] Okay, well, I definitely# think this is a 10 for appearance.

I love the dominoes, that is so adorable.

Oh, my gosh.

And they have the rules for# dominoes on here.

That is such a nice touch.

[Darvin Graham] Scotcheroos are the most decadent, but the most simple dessert.

I# have so much nostalgia about them, growing up with them and when somebody shows# up with a plate of scotcheroos to a function, that person understood the assignment.# Like, they're so.

They're just so good.

The butterscotch is such a unique flavor, and it# just really feels Iowan and it feels just perfect.

[Bill Moore] You know, it's kind of an Iowa thing.# We were out on the east coast at a football game and Iowa football game in D.C. in Maryland, and# some guy comes up and goes, I heard about these Scotcharoos from Iowa.

I gotta have one.

So we# gave him one, you know, and so that's kind of what triggered this.

I think this would be a# good idea.

Erin thought it'd be a good idea.

Hi, I'm Erin Moore.

That was my# dad talking earlier.

It was a gift to him to sponsor this this# year.

It was my Christmas gift.

So I was saying now I know what to# get him every year for Christmas.

♪ ♪ [Dana] What started out as a unique# Christmas present has turned into a really cool contest# here at the Iowa State Fair.

48 people entered their# Scotcheroos into this contest.

[Carrie MuellerI actually never entered# a food contest before.

And so when I saw it was a new category this year, I was like, well, first time entering, first time category.# So it just kind of made sense to try.

[Tony Dahlman] This is a recipe I got from my mom.# My mom taught me everything I know about baking.

[Judge] And first place goes to Darvin Graham.# Please be here.

Yay.

Come on up.

Come on up.

[Darvin] This is my first ever# food contest ever.

I've been thinking about entering a scotcharoo# the last couple of years in, like, a no bake category.

And I saw this one come up# as a scotcharoo contest.

I'm like, I gotta do it.

[Judge] Well, the presentation is beautiful, but that isn't the only reason why# you won.

The taste is spectacular.

I've been working on a recipe over# the last year or so.

I've made so many batches of scotcheroos, but it's fantastic.

[Judge] Do you have a scotcheroo# tattoo?

That's what I thought.

Okay.

[Darvin] Just a couple days ago, I got# a scotcheroo tattoo on my arm.

It's still kind of healing.

So scotcheroos have# become kind of my thing over the last year.

[Judge] He was committed, so he deserves to win.

♪ ♪ [Sarah Pratt] This year we're celebrating# the .. And it's a little bit of our own version of# Toy Story, so we're incorporating a lot of the different storylines.

Our storyline is the# Toy Story toys coming to the Iowa State Fair.

One of the challenges this year has# been what scale to do the toys in, because in the movie they can# create a zoom in and zoom out.

And so we've tried to do that for the# viewers because the toys are small, right?

But we want them to be able to see them# in lots of detail.

So we've done a little bit of playing with that storyboard idea and like having# the toys in different scales in each window.

So you have Toy Story starting in the 1990s all# the way through.

And we're trying to touch on all those different iterations and different# aspects that come into the Toy Story storyline.

It's been really fun to work with my daughters# who were kind of more in the Toy Story 2 era and kind of work through what are the# highlights for each of the different movies.

♪ ♪ We have four windows this year filled with butt.. We borrowed ideas from Toy Story 2, where# in Toy Story 2, Rex is playing a video game and he clicks onto a TV station and catches# Al's Toy Barn.

And instead he's clicked on footage from Iowa Public Television's, over# the years, Fiddle Contest.

So it's a rerun, right?

And so it's the idea that,# oh my goodness, the Fiddle Contest.

And Jessie is inspired and she conspires with some# of her friends to sneak out of Andy's room.

And so in the next window you see Jessie on Bullseye# riding on the turntable as she's like galloping to the Iowa State Fair to catch the Fiddle Contest,# which is celebrating its 100 year anniversary.

And of course, Woody and Buzz are in tow and# they're getting to the Iowa State Fair.

And of course they have to stop by the butter cow.

And# then in the last window you see a fiddle player.

♪ ♪ So two years ago at the Iowa State# Fair, we m.. head curator at the Renwick Gallery at# the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

We were thinking that she just wanted some# advice on what kind of displays to put in, not knowing that it was going to be a life# size butter sculpture that they had in mind.

We have just returned from Washington# D.C. and have completed our very sweet butter cow that will be on display# at the Renwick Gallery as part of the State Fair's Growing American Craft# exhibit that opens Aug. 22 and will be on display there along with items from state# fairs across the nation for about a year.

They were able to work with AMPI, that provides# our butter here and with Midwest Dairy to get butter delivered directly there.

So we didn't have# to bring butter all the way from Iowa, but we did bring a customer armature that we built.

Every cow# I do year to year is different, and so we didn't want it to be an exact replica and it couldn't be# anyway because each cow has its own personality.

But we did visit a local dairy farm and got# to take pictures of some dairy cows to like, pick out a Jersey cow that we wanted to emulate.

It feels so surreal to be part# of a Smithsonian Museum exhibit.

When I first started helping Norma sculpt,# I didn't think that I would amount to more than her assistant.

I thought I will# soften butter for her and clean buckets and whatever I can be helpful.

So# it has just been a journey of one step after the next and an unfolding# that I just couldn't have imagined.

It feels like it's such a gift to# be able to go, and with my family, to be able to have an exhibit in the Smithsonian.# Like, it's just.

I can't hardly believe it.

♪ ♪ Next up we meet Eli Johnson of Bedford—a# student-athlete, 4-H and FFA member who splits his time between the court, the track,# and the barn.

His goal: bring the same grit he shows in sports to the show ring as he prepares to# exhibit his pigs and lambs at the Iowa State Fair.

[Coach] On your mark.

Get Set, go.

[Narrator] Some might say track and field# draws parallels with life.

Demanding your all at a moment's notice, testing# endurance and overcoming hurdles.

[Eli Johnson] I just try# to practice hard every day.

[Narrator] Eli Johnson has crushed expectations,# showing relentless spirit as a wheelchair athlete and more.

The Bedford senior takes on# various disciplines year round and has earned the right to compete in the state# track meet every year as a high schooler.

[Eli] I get up at like 7:00 and then# go to school.

I'll have cross country, track practice or basketball after school and# then I'll be on the farm till like 9:00 or later.

[Narrator] In addition to track, shot put, cross country and participation in a Kansas# City based wheelchair basketball league, Eli raises animals.

He shows on the# county level and at the Iowa State Fair.

[Clint Powell] He pushes himself harder# than we ever do.

He is very active.

He's always doing something.

It wears me# out just thinking about it sometimes.

[Eli] My older brothers were involved in the farm and sports and I just wanted to be like# them and just do stuff that they did.

[Narrator] One of five boys,# Eli's family backs all of his extracurricular endeavors.# His parents, Kathy and Roger, are both educators and have imparted solid# values, including faith, will and drive.

[Kathy Johnson] Eli was born with spina bifida.# So the physical therapist had told us that, "those kids just don't do anything.# They just sit around."

And we said, "no."

So we really advocated for# him, that we really wanted him to be able to try to do something, to# try to walk and do different things.

And she was pretty persistent that,# no, he wasn't going to be able to.

But Eli did.

Which kind of led to# the cross country that he does now.

[Narrator] From a young age, Eli learned to use his stomach muscles# to walk with.. ultimately no match for his determination.

He# broke several pairs made from progressively durable materials and eventually adopted the# wheelchair due to unforeseen circumstances.

[Kathy] During COVID he kind of quit using# him just because we knew everybody was busy at school.

Plus his knees got a lot# tighter, so that made it more difficult.

[Narrator] But Eli continued to push the envelope.

[Roger Johnson] We have some hills to go# from the house to the barns and down the road we have hills.

And so when he walks# sheep, he's actually training for cross country.

There's a monster hill up there.# It makes his arms stronger, it helps his endurance and definitely gets a lot of road# work that maybe kids don't get in other areas.

[Kathy] Sometimes he'll have one sheep in# one hand and have one tied to the back of his wheelchair and so he'll have two sheep# he's taking up the hill at the same time.

[Narrator] Eli has connected# with different breeders at the Iowa State Fair who have helped him# locate different animals to showcase.

[Eli] I like showing at state fair every year.

It's really fun just meeting# people and seeing everybody.

[Narrator] Whether it's in the show ring,# on the court, or in the field.

Eli hopes his accomplishments will help provide inspiration# for others to overcome challenges in life.

[Eli] It just shows that people in wheelchairs# and disabilities can do anything that they want.

♪ ♪ [Narrator] Next we go to Pioneer Hall for# ev.. Now though it is a competition, everyone has a# great time, even the losers.

So get ready to snap your fingers, tap your toes, or maybe even cut a# step or two with some rip roaring fiddle music.

[David Bellegante] This is our 100th year of the fiddle# contest.

We're the longest running contest at the state fair and# we're really proud of that.

And we hope this tradition keeps# going year after year after year.

♪ ♪ In the early years you had to be 50 to# even be in the contest.

I believe one year they had to play just one song, the# same song.

So imagine 100 fiddlers playing the same song over two days or three# days, however long the contest was.

[Reporter] Tell us briefly# about the fiddlers contest.

[Judge] We have three judges and there are# cards fixed up like report cards and each judge has a card for each contestant and# they're graded just like a school child.

[David] Hopefully they're kind of looking# for.

Is it in tune?

Is the timing good?

Is it pleasant to hear?

You have a waltz, hoedown,# tune of choice?

You can play them in any order.

♪ ♪ [Angela Bellegante] The tradition is so embedd.. the people that hand down their love of their# fiddle music to their children and grandchildren.

And that is what is so pure and deep rooted# in this contest is the generational families.

♪ ♪ Back in the day, the people had the barn# da.. the get togethers, just the# music and just wholesome dancing.

And that's how they let loose when# they worked all day.

And I think they really enjoyed that camaraderie.# And then this takes them back because it's the old time music that is timeless# and it takes them back to that moment.

[Contestant] I think whether I win or# whether I come in on the finals or not, it don't make no difference to me because# I go for the fun of it, I'm told stand up.

[Angela] It's so traditional and timeless.# It brings a lot of love and happiness.

[David] It's toe tapping,# it's rebel violin.

How's that?

It is three o' clock time for our finals.

[David] It's like a little family reunion because# there's people out in the audience that come year after year after year.

Sometimes the fiddlers that# come in, this is the only time we see each other.

[Judge] By one point difference.

[Judge] This year's runner up grand# champion from Keokuk is Kirk Brandenburger.

That makes your 2025 Iowa State Fair grand# Japan fiddler from Des Moines, Kat Schmidt.

[Kat] I grew up playing in this contest and# with these people.

So it's really awesome to come back every year.

It is like a family reunion# every year.

I mean, about half the competitors every year.

Learn from David Beligante,# who sort of runs the whole show.

These.

It's a great community, and any# community these days is nice to have.

♪ ♪ (Sheep baaing) [Narrator] We are here at the FFA Sheep show, and we're going inside the ring with# some of these kids.

We've had a chance to talk to some of the best because they are# showcasing the finest animals in the state.

♪ ♪ Here I've only shown twice, but showing sheep, I've been showing for six years.

I# won first place breeding lightweight.

[Producer] What do you like about showing sheep?

[Greeley Sloan] Winning and getting to have,# like, a work ethic with it.

And, like, I really.

Sometimes I love the sheep and sometimes I really# just want them to go away.

But when I love them, I love them a lot.

I walk them every day.

You# have to be confident.

The sheep feeds off of that.

[Producer] Greeley, if you had to come up today# and do a second, what would it be for you?

[Greeley] Life changing.

It# would be life changing, yes.

My family has loved this fair.

My great aunt, she's been coming here for quite some time.# She recently passed away.

And so coming here this year is just great and just shows a# lot what it means to a lot of families.

♪ ♪ (inaudible conversation) It's crazy.

We work really hard, and it's# awesome to see it pay off in the ring.

[Producer] What'd you just win?

[Abby Dies] Lightweight Champion Market Ewe.# Her name's Flo.

It's s.. like, an Italian name thing with all my lambs,# so I have a Florence, Luigi, Lorenzo.

Yeah, I just thought it was fun.

I like pasta, so# go Italy.

The quality here is impeccable, so it's really an honor to be able to show# amongst all the great competitors here.

♪ ♪ [Matthew Samuelson] Every sheep's different, so you kind# of .

I mean, you're looking at yours, you're making sure they're set right, and# then you're looking at the other ones like, you know, okay, maybe I got a chance at this.# And then, oh, that's a good one walking.

[Producer] What'd you just win?

Middleweight Market Ewe.

It means a lot to# have a fair like this.

Deep clas.. you know, barns full of sheep from here to# the 4-H Show.

And to win a class like that means a lot.

The depth that we go in the 4-H# and at the bay show, it's competitive in Iowa.

[Narrator] And that's all from the sheep barn.

♪ ♪ Would you dare to enter a Fair contest?

These# folks did—and here’s who came out on top today.

♪ ♪ We’re going to take a quick break,# but don’t go away - there are more can’t miss moments in the second half of# our show.

We’ll marvel at the creativity and skill behind the crop artistry# displays in the Agriculture Building.

We'll turn up the volume with Bandaloni—a# performance you have to see to believe, and finally, we’ll celebrate the achievements# of Iowa’s youth in the FFA Parade of Champions.

You won’t want to miss a second of it.

So stick around for more Iowa State# Fair Highlights on Iowa PBS!

♪ ♪ [Brooke Kohlsdorf] We want to know some of your favorite things.

Are you more of# a lemonade or a ro.. [Man 1] Definitely a lemonade.

[Woman 1] Lemonade.

[Woman 2] Root beer.

[Woman 3] Lemonade.

[Child 1] Ooh, probably root beer.

[Woman 4] I'm also a root beer person.

[Brooke] Are you corn dog or turkey leg?

[Man 1] That would be a corn dog.

[Woman 2] Corn dog.

[Woman 1] Corn dog.

For sure.

[Child 1] Corn dog.

[Woman 4] Corn dog all day.

[Brooke] Sweet or savory?

[Woman 1] Ooh, probably sweet.

[Woman 4] I go on the sweet side.

[Man 2] Savory.

[Woman 2] Savory.

[Woman 3] Sweet.

[Child 1] Probably sweet.

[Woman 5] Savory.

[Man 1] Sweet.

[Brooke] Milkshake or ice cream?

[Child 1] Milkshake.

[Woman 2] Milkshake.

[Woman 1] Milkshake.

[Woman 5] Ice cream.

[Woman 4] Ice cream.

[Woman 3] Ice cream.

[Man 1] I'm going to go with the shake so I can#.. ♪ ♪ Welcome back, everyone!

I’m Bill Riley.

One of the first stops for many fairgoers is# the Agriculture Building—and for good reason.

It’s where Iowa’s agricultural# roots meet pure creativity, the beauty that comes from working the land.

Charity Nebbe takes us inside to explore the artistry that makes this corner# of the fair a true showstopper.

♪ ♪ [Woman] You come here to the fair to be a judge.. [Man] We look at grain, we look at live# plants, and it's a fabulous experience.

[Charity Nebbe] So what are your artistic# credentials that you bring to this category?

[Corey Nikkel] Yeah, that's where it# falls off.

We know the crops and the grains that are going into this, but it's on a# totally different level than judging commodity crops.

So we collectively probably can put# together one art judge out of all of us.

[Charity] What do you think about this category?

[Linda Pollak] Oh, I think this is great.# I've been doing FFA for several years, and the students have gotten so much better every# year.

I'm amazed at some of the art.

I mean, it's incredible the way they take the most# obscure parts of the plant and use them.

[Charity] The expertise that you# bring is more related to crops.

How do you feel you're qualified# to look at these art projects?

[Erik Christian] Yeah, well, art might# be on the limits of my qualifications, but certainly corn and soybeans and# thinking about all the cool things you can do with it are pretty exciting.

All# the people that come to judge are really enthusiastic and are experts at what# they do, and so that's what I enjoy.

[Corey] So our criteria, a lot# of it's around originality as well as best use of the whole# crop, not only just the grain.

[Corey] I'd vote for that one.

[Charity] Do you have a# favorite item over there today?

[Linda] Oh, it's a little toss up# between the barn scene and the rabbit.

[Charity] Ronda.

The overall winner is the# farm scene, but the runner up is this bunny.

Tell me why you're so impressed with the# bunny rabbit.

I mean, it's really cute.

[Ronda Magnusson] It really is cute.

And# also, they've used a lot of products that we haven't had before, because you can use the# whole product.

You can use the corn cob, any part of corn or soybeans, and we've never had it# used in that fashion before, so it's really neat.

[Larry Skellenger] I was the# floriculture superintendent many years ago.

It's just kind of# fun to see what the kids are doing, making sure that we're encouraging them.# You know, like today with the seed art, it was so hard to make the decisions.

I mean,# we really, really talked about some of them.

[Julie Marlin] These kids are so talented.# It was not an easy decision for either of us.

I want to tell everybody out there,# submit your designs again for next year.

It was .

make it hard for us.

Make it# really hard for us next year as well.

[Charity] So you are a guest judge.

This is quite the honor.

How did you get# the opportunity to be here?

[Julie] The Blue Ribbon Foundation.

We did# bid on a package at the Corn Dog Kickoff, and we won the bid.

And this was one of the amazing# packages that was in the entire package.

And I'm so excited I got to do this.

I'm gonna tell you,# these kids are so creative and so accomplished.

[Charity] Do you have a favorite piece?

[Julie] I am partial to raccoons.

My aunt# actually had a raccoon as a pet, so I think that division was —it was really hard for me, but# I loved the designs for the raccoons, for sure.

♪ ♪ [Sarah Al-Mazroa Smith] So today we have the# .. all over the state that come, and they are# in teams of three individuals ranging from at least one kid has to have less than three# years of experience in the sheep industry, and the other two can have as# much experience as they want.

These kids are going to be working together,# going through five different stations, and they're going to be tested on various topics# within the sheep industry, such as nutrition, health, biosecurity, breeds, and they# work together to answer those questions.

[Woman 1] Is she at risk for catching# the influenza from the pigs at all?

[Sarah] So we have experts here volunteering# their time to be that facilitator.

They judge them.

It's out of 20 points, they hand in their# card, and whoever has the most points wins.

[Woman 1] Why did you decide to put the.

increase the distance between your healthy# and sick animals with aerosols?

[Libby Dix] I've personally done# it all 8 years so far of my 4-H experience.

So right now we're here doing# different meat labels.

These are my two siblings.

So it's just an opportunity to# get closer to them and learn about sheep.

[Woman 2] We're gonna know your answer.# That is correct.

All right, question two.

Which mineral is toxic to sheep if they get# more than 25 parts per million in their diet?

[Ally Baumhover] So mine is focused on trace# minerals and different supplementation.

So I ask them questions and ask them to# identify what these minerals are, and then I ask them questions on the# significance that those have in their diet.

Is that what you want to# go with?

That is incorrect.

[Sarah] You know, you might be inexperienced# within an industry, but you learn as you do it, right?

Yes, it's a competition, but there's# also learning that goes about it.

Every year we have Skillathon, so the# topics change year to year.

[Boy 1] I don't know anything about pneumonia, so.

[Caleigh Grote] A lot of its# life skills, honestly, is how to take care of something to the# best of their ability, provide it the best start and the best finish that they can# and really be able to stick with something.

[Boy 1] I don't know what this is.

[Caleigh] So we're talking about health# specifically.

We're ta.. and health issues of sheep.

And so my station is# to match some symptoms, treatments and preventions to specific diseases of sheep.

And it's a tricky# one, but the kids have been doing good with it.

[Woman 1] You ready to go through them?

[Grant Farnham] It's just fun to kind# of get to see what the kids are up to, see what they know and get to teach them something# new.

While I'm learning something new.

I mean, I learned today that, you know, copper# can kill sheep if you give it too much.

[Weston Paul] So I'm not very good.

But, I mean,# I'm trying.

I'm having fun.

That's the most important part.

There's stuff my dad doesn't# even know that we're learning.

And he goes, he says, this is the best time to learn# it when you're young.

When you're young, it'll drill into your mind and you'll# remember it forever.

When you're old, you don't really want to take anyone's advice.# I mean, I learn more here than I do in school.

♪ ♪ [Blair Ryan] We are here with one of the# strolling acts at .. the infamous Bandaloni.

Tell us what we're# gonna see as you stroll around the streets.

Wow.

[Bandaloni] Well, I basically sort of do# three shows a day.

11:00, 1:00 and 3:00.

Right by the Pepsi clock, by the way, which is# in front of the Admin Building.

So it's a one man band show.

I perform with a full drum kit# on my back which includes high hat, tambourine, the kick drum, a snare drum.

I even# have a cowbell because you can never have enough cowbell.

You always need more cowbell.

I have a trick guitar here that allows me# to play bass as well as rhythm guitar at the same time.

I can also do open tunings.

I# have a microphone device here that I've made and this has three microphones on it.

One is# for my main vocal, one is for my harmonica, and this one is for doing real live harmonies# so I can sing harmony at the same time as well.

So all together I'm doing about 10, 11 things.

♪ Sweet home Alabama ♪ ♪ Lord, I'm comin' home to you ♪ ♪ ♪ This is my 26th year doing this, if you# can believe it.

Last year I celebrated my 25th anniversary reunion tour and that's# where we got the band all back together.

♪ ♪ ♪ Well, I bet there's rich folks eating.

♪ [Blair] How do you keep your mind organized?

[Bandaloni] Well, surprisingly, you know# what, the secret behind being a really good one man band is not to think about it.# It becomes a dance routine after a while.

It's kind of like it's a flow.

[Blair] You're flowing, [Bandaloni] I'm flowing.

There's a vibe, there's a feeling and it's all# about feel.

You got to not think.

♪ I'm a believer ♪ ♪ And not a trace ♪ ♪ Of doubt in my mind ♪ ♪ I’m in love, I’m a believer ♪ ♪ I cou.. ♪ ♪ I come here every year and there are so many# lovely people that come up and thank me for being here and are grateful and come out to the shows.# And I love that as well.

And it's just become a really great symbiotic relationship between us# all where we all just kind of have a good time, we have fun and we forget about our troubles# as we know there's many in the world today.

And it's a really great opportunity# just to get together, have some smiles, some laughs and celebrate joy.

All right, I'll wear them out,# you take them home, folks.

♪ ♪ The talent just won’t quit.

Today’s# Riley Stage competition was packed with show-stopping moments—here’s who’s moving forward.

Catch the Talent Championships this# Sunday, August 17 at 8pm on Iowa PBS.

The Iowa State Fair is all about fun - and the# Fair Police work really hard to keep it that way.

We spent some time behind the scenes to see# how they make the fairgrounds safe for everyone.

♪ ♪ [ Darin VanRyswyk] How you doing, buddy?

Have a good day at the fair.

We're going to go over to gate 11 here.

It's# one of our busiest gates.

It's the main entry point on the west side.

At every gate we# have at least one guard on the gate.

Last year when we looked at gate 11, we realized# that for foot traffic it was the only ingress point on the west side of the grounds and# it sees a tremendous amount of traffic.

So fair made a quick decision last# year that we would open gate 13A, which is a pedestrian pass# through just north of gate 13.

And it allows the pressure on gate 11 to# be decreased.

We also put a big sidewalk in.

We'll wander down to gate 10.

Our# number one goal is to enhance the safety of the fairgoers as# much as reasonably possible.

We partner with other agencies.

State Patrol# obviously is a huge partner.

They bring a tremendous amount of resources and# professionalism.

But we have over 60 part time police officers and about 40# armed security officers and about 40 unarmed security officers.

But that's fair time.

The rest of the time we operate on a crew of# eight people.

But this is gate 10 and this is the Dart transit gate.

This one is meant# only for people that use the park and ride, which is a fantastic program.

It saves the# headache of parking, right?

Such a fun thing to go somewhere and then you get there# and you're like, okay, where do I park?

Starting this year, they were allowing people to# bring food and drink in.

Obviously no weapons, no alcohol.

But if you want to# bring a soft sided cooler with food, that's fantastic.

If you want to bring your# morning coffee in, that's great, bring it in.

I think the decision was made that it just# is not going to impact the bottom line of the fair, but it's going to enhance the# experience for the fairgoers so much.

And honestly, it saves hassles at the# gates.

It makes it more efficient to get in.

[Producer] Does it have any# impact on safety efforts?

[VanRyswyk] I don't believe so.

I think that, you know, we work closely with CSC,# we test their mags every morning.

Very positive partnership in how we# manage gates throughout the grounds.

Let's walk over and talk about pedestrian safety# and our vehicle barriers.

And so this year we significantly limited the use of carts.

We# effectively have a red area where you just don't drive a cart.

We have a yellow area where we# tell staff and vendors you need to use discretion.

And then we have the green areas which tend to# be the outer perimeter.

And that has been just a fabulous way to get things done.

New this year,# these archer barriers by Meridian are designed to stop a vehicle.

Now we've got them spaced where# a golf cart would fit through them, but a car, they would either have to slow down and try to get# through, which would give us the opportunity to intervene better.

Or if they tried to ram these,# they will, they will stop a car pretty well.

You know, it's created more work for# us, but that's what we're here for.

So, you know, I don't want people# to have to worry about safety.

I'll do that.

When I tell people I work for# the state fair, they get excited about it, which I'm excited about it.

I think I# might have the best job in law enforcement.

♪ ♪ [Brooke Kohlsdorf] More than 2,000# students with almost 10,000 entries come to the state fair each year to# compete for top honors.

There are 13 categories including everything# from photography to livestock.

And the winners come here to the livestock# pavilion to take a well deserved victory lap.

In the Ag Mechanics & Technology# show there were 91 exhibits shown by 87 members representing 44 chapters.

♪ ♪ This year, 1086 photographs were brought to# the fair by 377 exhibitors from 92 chapters.

♪ ♪ In the Farm Crops Division, 67 students from 22 chapters had 360 exhibits that were# judged here.

At the Iowa State fair, there were 840 exhibits in the horticulture# division shown by 53 FFA members from 27 chapters.

♪ ♪ 71 students from 24 chapters brought 767 flowers to the fair for judging.

In# the Floriculture division, this is Chloe Zittogruen.

She is# both a participant in the parade and president of the Iowa FFA# Association.

This year will be my fourth time walking in the parade# of Champions.

All for floriculture.

[Chloe] The parade is insanely important# to me.

One from the experiences that I've had being able to walk into# it but also getting to highlight the members of IOFFA and seeing their# hard work.

Yes, you do get a ribbon, but no one sees the work that you do at home# in the barn or that you do out in the garden.

♪ ♪ The Rabbit show had 285 exhibits that# were b.. members from 28 chapters.

The# poultry show saw 52 exhibitors from 34 chapters bring 527 exhibits to# the Iowa State Fair for competition.

♪ ♪ The Avenue of Breeds is celebrating its 47th# .. at Alleman, which is responsible for the# exhibit has more 90 animals on display.

♪ ♪ There were 1,030 exhibits in the# Swine division.

In the commercial Gilt division alone there were 253 animals# shown by 198 FFA members from 107 chapters.

In the sheep show, 711 exhibits were shown in# three divisions.

On its own.

The market lamb division had 334 animals that were brought to# the fair by 196 exhibitors from 111 chapters.

♪ ♪ The beef show had 282 exhibits.# Judges in just the Breeding Beef show looked at 215 animals from 92# chapters exhibited by 176 members.

♪ ♪ The dairy cattle show had 65 animals# shown by 28 members from 17 FFA chapters.

♪ ♪ 63 FFA members from 44 chapters brought 93 ent.. ♪ ♪ Congratulations to everyone# who participated t.. ♪ ♪ [Travis Graven] Boy, do we have a royal treat# .. heart stopping acrobatic extravaganza is# sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

♪ ♪ April, what are the Flying Royals?

[April Chodkowski] So we are one of the only# crisscrossing trapeze acts in the world.

We travel all over the United States# and we performed internationally in several countries.

We use three bars and the# catcher simultaneously sharing the airspace, coming up with different patterns and# maneuvers that can only be done on our rigging.

It does take a lot of practice because we're trying to do stuff that no# one else is doing in the air.

We're here at the Iowa State Fair.

It gives# us a chance to do something a little different every day so the audience doesn't sit and see# the same 30 minute show over and over again.

The other benefit of changing our routine# as frequently as we do is that it gives everybody a chance to either like grow their# really big skills for a week or kind of take a step back and let your body rest and be# on the kind of easier track maybe that week.

Now during this performance, ladies and# gentlemen, you're going to see a wide variety of tricks and skills on the trapeze.# From beginning swings and maneuvers to the more advanced feats across to the hands of# our catcher.

Now, some of the maneuvers.

T The trapeze is a game of inches.

We do everything# we can to make it successful.

Consistency is key, but we do try to make it look as easy as we can.

The crowds here have just been so expansive.# It's incredible to be up there 35 feet in the air and just look around and it's a sea of people# and everybody's excited to be there watching us.

♪ ♪ Ladies and gentlemen, Tony, To.. [Travis] What'd you think of the show?

[Jessica Brewbaker-Hills] Oh, I loved# it.

I've bee..

I was really little, so this is a thrill to see.

[Travis] You were, you know, loudly# cheering and clapping and very enthusiastic.

I'm sure they probably# heard you and played off your energy.

[Jessica] Oh yeah, exactly.

I know how# hard they work.

Cause I'm actually in trapeze class right now, so I want to# try to appreciate them as best I can.

[April] Together we are the Flying Royals.

Have# a great day out there at the Iowa State Fair.

Well, PBS, this is Justin Chodkowski here at the# Flying Royals.

We hope you thoroughly enjoyed that edition of Meet the Royals and Royal Spectacular.# We hope you come again and we'll see you soon.

♪ ♪ Well my friends, we’ve come to the end# of another hour of Fair Highlights, but there is so much more.

We have three more# nights of coverage for you.

But if you can’t wait until tomorrow night we’re sharing# even more fair moments on our website, our YouTube channel, and the PBS App, as# well as our Facebook and Instagram pages.

Check in with us anytime and join the# celebration from wherever you are.

Of course, we’ll be back tomorrow night# with another line up of fair favorites, packed with competition.

Where the whiskers are# wild at the beard growing contest.

The engines roar at the truck and tractor pulls, and the kids# dig deep for victory on the pedal tractor track.

You won’t want to miss it.

So thanks for joining us as we share# the stories and traditions that make the Iowa State Fair so special.

It’s# always an honor to be your guide.

Until tomorrow night, I’m Bill# Riley.

Have fun at the fair!

♪ ♪ [Announcer] Funding for fair 2025 is provided by — At Iowa Corn we know that corn is more# than just a crop.

It fuels our cars, feeds our livestock, and is in over# 4,000 products on your grocery store shelves.

Iowa doesn't just grow corn.

Corn# grows Iowa.

Learn more at iowacorn.org.

As Iowans, we all want clean air, land,# and water.

Iowa's pig farmers do too.

The Iowa Pork Producers Association invites# you to learn more at iowapork.org/wecare.

(Text on screen: What you love about# the fair...Vermeer is proud to support.

Learn more at vermeer.com.)

Since 1929, Wellabe has offered insurance# solutions to help people protect their health and financial well-being.

Wellabe# strives to empower people to be well, well prepared and well protected.# Learn more at wellabe.com.

The Pella Rolscreen Foundation is a# proud supporter of Iowa PBS.

Pella Windows and Doors strives to better our# communities and build a better tomorrow.

Banking in Iowa goes beyond transactions.

Banks# work to help people and small businesses succeed, and Iowa banks are committed to building# confident banking relationships.

Iowa Banks.

Your partner through it all.