Celebrating milestones at the Iowa State Fair

         It was three years ago when Debbie and I were featured in a display entitled “Love Stories at the Fair – Campground Love.”
         That year marked 20 years since we met at the Iowa State Fair in 2003. The display featured our photo, a copy of our Iowa State Fair book and a story about our lives together.
         We were one of about a half dozen Iowa State Fair attendees who met at the state fair and were featured in the display located in the Ralph H. Deets Historical Museum behind the Pioneer Hall. 
          And this year, we celebrate another milestone.
        It was 20 years ago in 2006 when we published our first book, “Iowa’s Tradition: An ABC Photo Album of the Iowa State Fair.”
          We took all the photos in 2005 and spent most of the next year laying out the book.
          Having grown up at the Iowa State Fair, Debbie came up with the book idea.
We met with Gary Slater, the now retired CEO of the Iowa State Fair, that spring and were given the official OK on the book project.
        We spent most of the fair working on the project. I took the photos using my film camera and Debbie took notes and got signed releases.
        After developing the film, Debbie edited the photos and we started laying out the book at the old Montezuma Republican office at night when I was off the clock.
          We self-published the book and had it printed at Sutherland Printing in Montezuma.
Somehow word about the book hit the airwaves and we received a call from Partners, a now closed book distributor in East Lansing, Mich.
         And through them, we got our new book in Barnes and Noble and also Borders, which is now closed, and other bookstores.
        We had author events at two Barnes and Noble stores and the Borders store in West Des Moines a few years ago. And we have also showcased our book at numerous craft and vendor shows. It was even available at the Machine Shed Restaurant in West Des Moines.
          One year later at the 2007 fair, we had a table set up in the food building where we sold our book and also sponsored a food contest entitled, “Fair Favorite Foods.”
           The contest centers around folks who have a special recipe they make and serve during the fair in their camper or at home. The contest is still going. It costs us a few dollars for prizes, but we feel it’s good publicity. We look at it as a way to advertise all of our books.
            We also sponsor a contest for kids to make a dessert based on their favorite book. The top prize receives a $25 Amazon card. And in the past, we had a contest centering around a food that would have been served during harvest time when steam engines were in use. We don’t sponsor that contest any longer.
         We have now published eight books. Debbie has five novels, including a novella entitled “Mr. Christmas,” and I have my book of newspaper columns along with our two Iowa photo books, one about the state fair and one about the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion, which was released in 2008.
           Debbie is currently working on her sixth novel, which is number five in the Hope Series.
There are a lot of opportunities to showcase your work at the state fair. I always enter antiques. I’ve done it for at least 15 years.
         The best I have done is winning a purple Best of Show ribbon for my Will Rogers mantel clock in 2019. And I’ve had years that I didn’t win anything.
           I’ve entered a little bit of everything from postcards to a cowbell, old barbwire, singletrees, glassware, photos, books and Iowa State Fair memorabilia.
          This year, I am entering an old Am/Fm tube radio that I inherited from my dad along with some postcards, a glass cornbread pan and an antique stereoscope viewer.
            I always thought it would be neat to create and display a doll house at the fair. 
And some years ago, I won third place in the black and white adult division in the fair photo gallery show in the Cultural Center.
          I’ve thought about entering photos again, but the deadline is in June and I don’t get around to getting my photos together that early.
          My favorite food at the fair is Beatties Watermelon Stand next to where the old giant slide was once housed. They make some of the best ham and roast beef sandwiches and pork tenderloins for fans of that tasty Iowa delight.
         The best part of the fair is meeting folks and sitting for spell and visiting, especially in the campground. Enjoy the fair and enjoy life.
           Always remember that Good Things are Happening, every day and always.