Why we (still) love the Iowa State Fair

Depending on who you ask, The Iowa State Fair should be one of 30 items on every Midwesterner's list of 'must do's” (Midwest Living). One of 1,000 things everyone, regardless of where they come from, should see before they die (New York Times). It's considered the quintessential state fair. Better than Disneyland (USA Weekend).

For Iowans, the spectacle is more personal. We appreciate the fair seems to have one foot planted in our agricultural past and the other in our present, still dominated by agriculture, to be sure, but encompassing so much more.

We get how the two go hand in hand in a way that, frankly, isn't always that obvious to visitors.

Part petting zoo, part talent show, part exhibition, part friendly competition, all wrapped up and served deep-fried and on a stick and slathered with a thick smear of butter for good measure - we can see how the fair might look odd to the gaggle of political reporters following presidential contenders making their rounds at the fairgrounds this past week (another 'must do,” according to a consensus of national political reporters).

In their defense, they all but had to be there. We've read that no candidate in recent memory has been elected president without first campaigning at the Iowa State Fair. We don't doubt that it's true.

Iowans have seen more presidential candidates at the fair than you can shake a pickle-on-a-stick at. Just add 'sidestep out-of-state governor or senator on your way to get an ice cream cone” to the list of fair traditions.

Even though candidates come to display their authenticity - by shucking corn, flipping pork chops and wearing down-home attire with shirt sleeves rolled to the elbows - their presence visibly changes the fair. They're like those wildfires that burn hot enough to create their own weather systems; a storm of boom mikes and confused expressions.

Iowans patiently explain what the livestock show and auction is, and that, yes, that cute little lamb is destined for the dinner plate. They even try to explain the butter cow. They chuckle good-naturedly at jokes about fair food and manure.

In return, national journalists offer up 'color commentary” and dare each other to eat a deep-fried Oreo. Later, analysts will debate whether various candidates 'did” the fair correctly.

That's OK. It's all part of the spectacle. Just another exhibition.

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