Secretary Naig Announces Iowa State Fair Schedule

DES MOINES, Iowa (Aug. 6, 2019) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has released his public schedule for the 2019 Iowa State Fair. Fairgoers and credentialed members of the media are invited to join Secretary Naig at these events.

Wednesday, August 7

6:15 p.m. Iowa State Fair Parade

Downtown Des Moines

Secretary Naig will be riding in the parade with the Iowa State Fair board members.

Thursday, August 8

9 a.m. 2019 Scale Sticker Ceremony

Varied Industries Building, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship booth

The Department of Agriculture will certify the official scale used for weigh-ins at the Fair. Secretary Naig will apply the 2019 certification sticker.

10 a.m. Opening Ceremony and National Anthem

Administration Building

Secretary Naig will participate in the opening ceremony along with the Iowa State Fair board members.

Friday, August 9

9 a.m. Super Pumpkin Squash Weigh-In and Awards

John Deere Agriculture Building

Secretary Naig will help announce the weight of the squash and present awards during the weigh-in contest.

10:30-11:30 a.m. Serving Eggs with Iowa Egg Council

John Deere Agriculture Building, Iowa Egg Council booth

Secretary Naig and Deputy Secretary Kenney will be serving hard boiled egg-on-a-stick to fairgoers.

11:30 a.m.-Noon Best Burger Feature

Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters

Secretary Naig will be sampling a burger from Iowa’s Best Burger contest winner, Wood Iron Grille.

1-2 p.m. USMCA Roundtable hosted by Farmers for Free Trade and the Business Roundtable

Varied Industries Building, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship booth

Senator Chuck Grassley and Secretary Naig will be participating in a pro-USMCA roundtable hosted by the Farmers for Free Trade and the Business Roundtable.

Saturday, August 10

4 p.m. Governor’s Charity Steer Show

Pioneer Livestock Pavilion

Secretary Naig will be showing "Rocky," a Maine Anjou steer raised by the Dight family from Floyd county during the Governor’s Charity Steer Show.

7 p.m. Bacon Buddies Swine Show

Swine Barn

Secretary Naig will welcome fairgoers to the first Bacon Buddies Pig Show. The event pairs an Iowan with special needs with a 4-H or FFA member and together they show a pig.

Monday, August 12

Noon - 1 p.m. Serving Turkey Legs with Iowa Turkey Federation

Iowa Turkey Tent, west of the Bill Riley Stage

Secretary Naig and Deputy Secretary Kenney will serve turkey legs to fairgoers.

Tuesday, August 13

9 a.m. Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest

Grand Concourse

Secretary Naig will meet with the chefs while they prepare award-winning recipes during the cookout contest.

10 a.m. Choose Iowa Coloring Calendar Contest Winners

John Deere Agriculture Building, Stage

Secretary Naig will recognize 12 students whose artwork was selected for inclusion in the Choose Iowa Coloring Calendar.

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Serving Pork Chops with Iowa Pork Producers Association

Iowa Pork Producers Association Tent, NE of Ag building on Grand Ave.

Secretary Naig will be serving pork chops on-a-stick to fairgoers.

Wednesday, August 14

10 a.m. Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards

Putney Family Cattle Barn, Penningroth Media Center

Gov. Reynolds, Secretary Naig and DNR Director Kayla Lyon will present awards to 53 Iowa farm families who take voluntary actions to improve or protect the environment and our state’s natural resources.

11:30 a.m. Luncheon for Environmental Leader Award Winners + Announcement by Environmental Protection Agency

Polk Co. Farm Bureau Pavilion

Secretary Naig welcomes EPA Asst. Administrator David Ross to the Iowa State Fair. Ross is expected to make a grant announcement during the luncheon.

Thursday, August 15

8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Century and Heritage Farm Awards

Pioneer Livestock Pavilion

Secretary Naig will honor 332 Century and 153 Heritage Farm families during this day-long event.

Saturday, August 17

1 p.m. Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement Sale of Champions

Putney Family Cattle Barn, Penningroth Media Center

Secretary Naig will give remarks to scholarship winners and their families at the scholarship picnic before attending the Sale of Champions.