The Iowa State Fair Begins..

Today was the opening day of the Iowa State Fair, which runs through August 23rd. This fair is an institution, filled with tradition and history, color and excitement, fun and flavors, and people of Iowa celebrating and remembering other fairs at other times.

The Pella Fountain is a favorite, particularly when it was 90 degrees and full sun, as it was today. The black and white photo was taken looking into the bright eastern morning sky, so it seemed best to portray it this way. Later in the afternoon, the sun created a magnificent rainbow and most of the kids did not notice, as the water was the most important thing to them.

There are some gorgeous gardens outside of the Agriculture Building that looked like they stepped out of a prize book! This Monarch was just having his nectar, and not worrying about all the fuss going on around his flowers! The butter cow had a sidekick in the image of Neil Armstrong, as the fair celebrated the 40th anniversary of the first Apollo moon landing of July, 1969. If you were there you may have watched the grainy television image as Neil stepped off the LEM (lunar excursion module) and spoke his famous words, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Your TV was not made of butter, but you may have had popcorn! Elsewhere in the Agriculture Building some pondering judges were evaluating the apple entries, and from my perspective they all looked delicious!



Down the road a way between zillions of food stands an artist was making air brush sketches, and this Mom and daughter gladly posed for the artist and me, as he created a State Fair keepsake. The hot pink Hibiscus blossoms were gigantic...each as big as a basketball, and while they were hidden by a food stand, there they were blooming like crazy in front of the grandstand, and incredible sight.

I will go to the fair at least one or two more times, and will attempt to gather a few more images that capture the spirit of the fair. In the meantime, enjoy these, and better yet...GO check it out yourself!

Bob Kelly