[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.

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.

♪ ♪ Hello, I’m Bill Riley and welcome to# our Thursday night edition of Fair 2025!

We’ve been telling fair stories# for decades, but every year brings something new — and tonight we’ve# got a lineup that’s pure Iowa fun.

We have the best hour ahead of us.

Here’s what’s# coming up in tonight’s show.

We’ll step into the Livestock Pavilion for the Governor’s# Charity Steer Sh.. to fire up the flavor with the Cookout# Contest.

And we’ll head to the Cultural Center to see how Art#WORKS is bringing# a burst of live creativity to the fair.

But first, Hayley Schaefer is ready for some serious whisker-watching at# the Beard Growing Contest.

♪ ♪ [Hayley Schaefer] It's a hairy showdown# year.. just grow overnight.

Awards will be given# for longest beard, best groomed, most unique, best beard with costume, and most historic in# nature.

Let's go comb through the competition.

My name's Levi Walter.

I'm from Grand# Mound, Iowa.

It's better than shaving.

[Contest Emcee] Now today we have# the new Iowa State Fair Queen, and she will be the one measuring the length.

First place with 28 inches is number 275.

[Hayley] What made you decide that# you wanted to start growing a beard?

[Harold Stephenson] Well, I saw the PBS show on the winner 15 years ago and# I thought I could beat him.

[Hayley] How many times have you won?

[Harold] 15 out of 16.

[Hayley] And how long do you think you'll# keep continuing to enter this co.. [Harold] Well, this might be my last year because# it keeps breaking off shorter and shorter.

[Emcee] And first place for 2025 for# the best groomed beard is.

Number 283.

[Hayley] Is this your first# time at the Iowa State Fair?

[Ron Spradling] Yes, it sure is.

[Hayley] How did you hear about# the best b.. you know this was a thing before, like, this week?

[Ron] No, I didn't, actually.

I was standing# at the Waldorf booth over by gate 11 in that building, and those two gentlemen I just# yelled at came by and said, “you need to be at the beard competition.” Figured I'd at# least give it a shot.

I had no idea I'd win.

[Emcee] And now a tie for first,# and that is between 115 and 274.

[Hayley] And what made you# decide that you wanted to enter?

[John Shaffer] I look good# in a beard, man.

Why not?

[Hayley] How long have you had your beard for?

[John] I've been growing the beard for about# two and a half years.

I only have about six, seven months on the mustache, though.

Took about# an hour and a half to get this whole look done.

[Hayley] What made you decide to start# growing a beard in the first place?

[Nathan Anderson] It was a two# year challenge.

It was two years, keep it growing, no trimming.

And I pulled# it off and I just started loving it.

My daughter will not allow me to shave it# now, so I'm pretty much stuck with it.

[Emcee] And first place for 2025, number 276.

[Hayley] And what made you# want to enter this competition?

[Will Garriott] I've been growing# a beard for the past four years or so.

Knew that they had a competition# down here.

Thought it would be fun.

[Hayley] Is this your first time entering?

It is.

[Will] Yeah, it is.

[Hayley] Okay.

And you# walk.. [Will] I did.

I got first place# in the costume competition.

[Hayley] And then talk me through your# costume.

Who do we have here with us today?

[Will] We have, I will just# say, an iconic sea captain.

♪ ♪ My name is Emily Wynn.

I'm the education and# .. and I coordinate Fair After Dark.

And# tonight we're at the Little Hands Fair After Dark.

This is an adult event.

It's# 21 and over, and people get to come.

They get to experience Little Hands,# mostly people who probably grew up bringing their kids through Little# Hands on the Farm.

And tonight, it's all about them.

It's all about# making that connection from the farm to the plate while also having a few drinks and# enjoying themselves at Little Hands After Dark.

I am Kylie Peterson, and I'm representing# the Iowa Beef Industry Council here tonight at the Fair After Dark event.

And# here in Little Hands on the Farm, we have a cattle barn that represents a feedlot# in Iowa.

And so we are teaching people how to make a cattle ration.

And they're going to be# doing that by adding each ingredient that you would be adding to a steak seasoning, and that# would be very similar to making a cattle ration.

And so then afterwards, they'll be able# to take home their steak seasoning.

I'm Joyce Hoppas with Iowa Pork Producers# Association, and I have with me tonight Calla Langel, who is one of our pork ambassadors,# and Amanda Ostrom, who is our pork queen.

We'll be having a pork trivia question as well as# giving a sample of a pork belly on a stick.

I'm Elycia VanVacter.

I'm here with the Iowa Egg# Council.

Today we are out here at the Fair After Dark to serve up our new fair.

Food of the year is# the Fairgrounds Fiesta Wonton, which is a jalapeno popper egg salad in a wonton wrapper with some# hot honey and pico on it.

It's really delicious.

I'm Alyson Vendrick.

I am an ag# affairs manager with Midwest Dairy, and we are here tonight at Fair After# Dark, and we're going to be serving up some delicious Thelma's ice cream cookie# sandwiches after they milk the Bessie cow.

♪ ♪ [Monica Walker] So I saw on social media# an awesome.. the fair.

And I thought, what better# way than to spend a night out at the fair?

And it's just fabulous.

It's been# so awesome, and I'm so excited to be here.

[Woman 1] Pull down.

There you go.

Yep,# that'd be perfect.

Yeah.

Excellent.

You guys have cattle?

[Man 1] No, but I got family.

We raise show pigs.

[Denise Youngers] I have all my adult# kids who grew up coming to Little Hands on the Farm for years.

And then when we# saw that Fair After Dark was going to be here this year we just had to come.

Oh,# this is fantastic.

So we actually have a friend who came up with the concept# of Fair After Dark several years ago.

And so we've been coming to most of the Fair After Dark events each year that# they've had them.

They're great.

♪ ♪ Cheers to Fair After Dark.

♪ ♪ [Stephanie Jessen] Art Works is over a 20 year# tradition at the fair where we used to be very special arts and we used to have a festival down# at Fun Forest.

A couple years ago the fair said, “let's move all the art up at the top.”# Put us in the Cultural Center and you can find us every day on the third# floor in between photo and fine art.

♪ ♪ It is a carnival plus art activity.# It is entertainment from 3 until 8.

We have a punny wall where kids can put# a pun on the wall.

We have a fair show, talk show every night at 6:00, we have# a balloon artist every day from 10:00 to 4:00.

We have Janice Baker who's right# behind me doing everybody dance now.

And then at 5:00 we have a local talent# showcase where we feature a local Iowa artist.

[Payton] Do you have a joke?

You look# like the man who would have the joke.

No, you are the man who would have the joke.

Where do farmers get their# medicine?

From the pharmacist.

[Payton Kokke] I really like teaching.

I really# like working with kids.

I think that's really, really fun.

Maybe something# with like crowds.

I'm really good with the crowds and like talking# in front of people and public speaking.

Does anybody else have a joke?

Joke# in the crowd, joke in the crowd?

♪ ♪ Art Works was started based on celebrating# the creative power in people of all abilities.

So we had artists with every disability# of all abilities.

And now we've decided that we're going to be all inclusive, all# art, all abilities.

So it's for everyone, anyone that loves art, affordable# family fun.

I do this because I'm pretty passionate about artists and helping# artists build their career in the arts.

♪ ♪ Earlier this year the spirit of the Iowa State Fair showed up in full force,# in April, on the East Coast!

With corn dogs!

We’re taking you to that celebration# to see how one of the fair’s signature flavors brought a little taste of# home to a history making moment.

[Lt. Cmdr.

Scott Carper] Good morning, ladies# and gentlemen.

It is my distinct honor and privilege to welcome you to Submarine Base# New London and the commissioning of USS Iowa.

♪ ♪ The crew of USS Iowa salute you.

We are proud# to serve in America's Navy.

Iowa.

Ready two.

♪ ♪ [Jeremy Parsons] You know, we were honored# to.. Iowa in Connecticut.

You know, nothing# more Iowan than the Iowa State Fair.

So of course it made sense, I guess,# that we were part of that celebration.

♪ ♪ The ship's sponsor is former Iowa First Lady# .. her specifically when planning the commissioning# ceremony is she wanted an Iowa State Fair themed reception, of course, mainly to feature Iowa# State Fair food.

And we were happy to accommodate.

[Christie Vilsack] Officers and crew of the# USS Iowa, board our boat and bring her to life.

[Jeremy] It's a very historic ceremony.

They've# been commissioning naval ships for more than 200 years.

But then, following the formal ceremony,# it was just the Iowa State Fair.

It was people standing in lines, great photos of Navy officers# eating corn dogs and pork chop on a stick.

[Man 1] That's the last one.

[Jeremy] I think sometimes we forget that the# Iowa State Fair is more than just an 11 day event.

It's really part of the culture of our# state.

And it really was a humbling experience, probably more humbling than even I really# understood going into it about what it meant that the Iowa State Fair was chosen# to represent Iowa at this commissioning.

Standing on the pier there in Groton, Connecticut,# there were obviously a large contingent of Iowans, you know, were present, including the governor.# Just a great way to celebrate our state.

[Gov.

Kim Reynolds] After# nearly eight years as governor, some occasions stand out as special# reminders of the great privilege it is to serve.

Today's ceremony is# certainly one of those occasions, and in fact it may very well top the list for# Iowans.

Today's commissioning will spark memories of our state's numerous connections to the USS# Naval history.

This history matters to Iowans.

The countless crew members, living and dead, who wrote that history matter to us.# And that's why so many from our state, including many veterans, have made the 1,200# mile journey here to Groton, Connecticut to honor the much loved name of USS Iowa.

May God# bless the new USS Iowa and all who built her.

May God bless her crew and give success# to her mission.

And may God bless Iowa and the United States of America.

God bless you.

♪ ♪ [Travis Graven] All you have to do is follow your nose here# to the Grand Concourse for the Farm Bureau's annual Cookout Contest.

Dozens of home cooks are# showcasing their grilling and smoking talents, and more than half of them are participating here for the very first time.

Let's# go see what they're cooking up.

♪ ♪ Caitlyn Lamm with the Iowa Farm Bureau.

Tell# us just a little bit about this contest.

[Caitlyn] The Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest# is a celebration of Iowa raised meats and the Iowa farmers who produce it, with animal# care and sustainability as top priorities.

It's actually been around since# 1964, and since that time, we've had 2,500 Iowans compete in this contest.

♪ ♪ We have our spare ribs.

And then once you get back# here, you have an apple cider drink with honey and raw sugar rim with a smoked cinnamon stick.# Smoked cornbread, smoked mac and cheese, the full spare rib here, homemade coleslaw, and a smoked# baked potato with lots of butter, Iowa style.

[Travis] Do you have a favorite aspect of this?

Do you get around?

Do you get# to sample some of the goods?

[Caitlyn] Well, the thing that I love about# it is just like Iowa agriculture is diverse, so are our entry categories.

We have# beef, pork, chicken, turkey, lamb, and then also we have a youth division for# ages 13 to 17.

I really like that because I certainly wasn't grilling or trying new recipes as# a teenager, and it's fun to see their enthusiasm.

[Travis] Theo, how old are you?

[Theo Baumer] I'm 17.

[Travis] And tell us what# you barbecue.. [Theo] We did a pork loin with some# cowboy candy.

It's a mixture of pineapple, apple cider vinegar, and chili pepper flakes# with our homemade barbecue sauce on top.

We really want to go really hot with it, but# we realize not very many people like that.

♪ ♪ [Travis] Describe for me what you've made here.

[Ana Hall] Okay.

This is a famous# Filipino barbecue.

This is a famous food in the Philippines.

My recipe is# from my grandmother.

When I was young.

I always watch her cooking.

She always# used unique ingredients from her garden.

♪ ♪ [Travis] Chef Michael, what# are you looking for here?

[Michael Hirst] Oh, I think creativity.# I'm looking for that magic moment when you pop something in your mouth, and# it's like a really pleasant surprise when someone does something unique# with pork or chicken or beef that you haven't had before.

And it happens every year.# There's always a moment when you're like, wow.

[Emcee] The first place winner# of the youth category is Theo Baumer from Wyoming.

And that's# Wyoming, Iowa.

He is in Iowa.

Congratulations.

And our showmanship# winner is Kaden Weber of Clinton.

♪ ♪ [Emcee] Welcome our Governor Kim Reynolds.

[Brooke Kohlsdorf] This is the 43rd annual# Governor's Charity Steer Show.

Here at the Livestock Pavilion, 25 celebrities# and their steers are competing for the title of grand champion of# this iconic state fair event.

The celebrity parade is underway.

♪ ♪ Next are the celebrity interviews.

♪ ♪ [Emcee] It looks like you# got a good one this year.

[Gov.

Kim Reynolds] I got a good one this# year.

This is the favorite part of my Iowa State Fair.

It's for such a good cause.# And I especially want to thank the USDA Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, for# joining us today.

We are so proud.

And we set a record last year, so we're hoping# we can break that record this year.

[Emcee] But have you ever showed a steer before?

[Brooke Rollins] I have four kids that have# been showing Herefords for about 15 years, so I have never showed, but I've been yelling# through the arena rails to lift his head up hundreds and hundreds of times.

So I'm trying to remember that now with my new best# friend.

How about Snoop Dog, everybody?

[Jeff Angelo] I noticed that Jimmy and I have# two things in common.

We like to be the center of attention, and we like getting our bellies# scratched.

So we're getting along just fine.

[Casey Manser] This is my first time.

This# is the closest I've ever been to a steer, so way out of my element.

But I am# delighted to be here and represent the Iowa SIDS Foundation.

And this is a special# way to honor baby Maxwell and his memory.

[Sec.

Mike Naig] This is great to# be here.

What a great way for our cattle industry to show up and give# back.

Very proud of this whole event.

♪ ♪ [Brooke] Judge Kirk Stierwalt from Leedy, Oklahoma, is already looking# over the group of entries.

♪ ♪ Now it's time to select the Community# Hero Award.

Th.. from Hull.

Every year, proceeds from the# auction that immediately follows the show here at the Livestock Pavilion go to the# Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa.

Next, it's the award for Showmanship.# This year's winner is Dr. Dan Grooms with the steer Trice.

Let's go across the# ring for the People's Choice Award.

It's gonna get loud in here.

This year's# pick is Ralph Lents, the Iowa Corn Promotion board president (exhibitor, Tucker# Freimuth), with the steer, Burt Reynolds.

Let's go back to the other side of the arena# where Stierwalt is picking his top five.

[Gov.

Reynolds] I'm happy I'm here.

They# put so much work into these animals this year.

This was a fun day.

I'm wearing# my steer, though, that's for sure.

[Brooke Rollins] Oh, I'm so excited# I'm here.

I am completely covered in cow slobber.

But that's how it should be.# There's nowhere else I'd rather be.

And listen, Chandler, this is her hat.

She's amazing.

[Jeff] Here we are again.

And# I gotta credit, first of all, Brenna's amazing.

Jimmy's amazing.

And Don# Foley that picks out these steers every year, also amazing.

This is such a great experience.

[Casey] Yes.

I'm just delighted.

I'm just so# impressed with Elery and all the kids here and the work they do.

It's just.

It's amazing.

So# I've learned a lot, and this is really cool.

[Sec.

Naig] We love being# able to showcase, really, some of the greatest cattle and families in# the state of Iowa.

So it's a wonderful event.

[Brooke] It's time for a few words from the# judge before he picks this year's champion.

[Kirk Stierwalt] These are not livestock.

We're# raising kids with cattle.

And they represent dedication, hard work, expensive feed.

I# mean, it's long hours, and then, you know, and you're going to feel like some are going to# win and some are going to be disappointed.

So, I mean, that's kind of what we do.

But there,# again, I think that adds so much stability to these young people, and they're going# to be our future leaders.

So let's go get your champion steer.

How about a# big round of applause out here today?

[Jeff] Is there crying and cattle showing?# Because there is now.

Amazing.

Amazing.

Just an amazing feeling.

And for me,# you know, the Iowa State Fair is one of the greatest events in the country, in# the world.

And to say that I've won a contest, any contest, but this incredible contest is# just amazing.

And to do it and raise money for the Ronald McDonald House, I'm a little# bit emotional.

Talk amongst yourselves.

♪ ♪ It takes both creativity and courage# to compete at the fair.

Here are some of the talented winners who rose to the challenge.

♪ ♪ We’re going to take a quick break,# but the state fair celebration is far from over.

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

♪ ♪ [Blair Ryan] You guys just got# off the Down Dra.. [Child 1] Well, pretty, pretty scary.

[Child 2] It was adrenaline inducing.

[Blair] Are you scared to ride any of the rides?

[Child 3] About half of them.

[Blair] What would you say to someone# who's scared to ride these ri.. [Child 2] Don't be scared.

[Teen 1] They're really not.# They're easy compared to some.

[Child 1] I mean, your pupils will# dilate and you might black out.

[Blair] What tips would you give someone# that wants to win on Whack-A-Mole?

[Child 4] Oh, you just gotta# keep on going.

You can't give up.

[Child 5] You'll need four players,# and one of you have to win.

[Blair] All right.

I like it.

Awesome.

* * * * * Bill Welcome Back * * * * * Welcome back, everyone to Fair 2025.

We’re going to start the second half of our# show in the Fabric and Threads Department.

The quilting competition is more than# patterns and fabric; it’s bold color, sharp skill, and a touch of heart.

We’ll# meet the judges, admire the winners, and see why these quilts are# true masterpieces of the fair.

♪ ♪ [Anna Pilcher] The Fabric and Threads# Depart.. several different divisions, one of which# is quilting.

Inside the quilting division, we have over 60 classes that folks# can enter their projects into.

The quilting division has over 500 entries.# This year, we have four highly qualified judges looking at all of the projects, evaluating# them against a standard set of criteria.

[Judge] We're going to give this an E for# the visual impact.

All the points are evenly spaced.

No matter where you go, you've got a# different quilting pattern just for that area, and that enhances the quilt beautifully.

Good depiction of cat's face# created through the use of fabrics.

[Anna] One thing that's different about the# quilting division at the Iowa State Fair is that all projects that are entered are exhibited# at the fair.

So everything that's entered makes it onto the floor to be displayed.

Anyone# who lives in Iowa is eligible to enter their project in the Iowa State Fair.

We have classes# that cover all age groups and all techniques.

[Judge] The gold and black fabrics complement# the Caitlin Clark Iowa focus fabrics.

The quilting adds movement through the piece.# Kind of mimics a basketball bouncing down the court.

Visual impact on this# is excellent.

That's an easy one.

The quilting is different in every section.# You can see more of a feathery design here.

Just some little loops in here, and then,# of course, the feathers through the corners.

[Anna] Quilting is a tradition that's# often passed down within families, and you'll see this at the Iowa State Fair, with multiple generations of family members# entering their projects into t.. [Maribeth Schmidt] I started quilting as a very# young person.

I finished my first quilt when I was 15.

I have judged over 19,000 quilts# in my career.

So far, we're still counting.

Oh, this is incredible piecing.

I can see# every single point on these flying geese here.

Hand quilted stitch is beautiful, and what I mean# by that is that the stitch is even and consistent.

Here at the Iowa State Fair,# we are blessed to have so many talented people.

The workmanship,# the creativity is spectacular.

[Judge 1] There's lots of detail.

[Judge 2] I agree.

[Judge 3] Yeah.

Jean?

[Judge 4] Yep, yep.

[Judge 3] Best of show.

(Janet Rabe, Ottumwa) [Maribeth] Coming to a show such as# this, we can become very inspired by what has been created and the visitors as# well.

People love bringing their family, showing off their creativity and# inspiring the next generation.

We need quilters.

It's a lifelong journey.

♪ ♪ [Charity Nebbe] Walking into.. and that is by design.

It also comes# with a 50 year family fair legacy.

So, Larry, the soda fountain is# a little more than 30 years old, but this is a story that goes back 50 years.# How did your family get into this business?

[Larry McConnell] Well, we were in# the A&W business in Indianola, Iowa, since 1956.

And we had the opportunity in# 1975 to put our first stand at the Iowa State Fair.

My dad says, “oh, Larry, you# like that?

Why don't you do it instead of me?” And he loves the fair and always wanted# to do this.

So really it's him that started.

And then I had the first stand in ‘75 and# the second one in ‘76.

They were both A&Ws.

[Charity] Did you dream up the# old fashioned soda fountain idea?

[Larry] Actually, I did.

That# used to be the pharmacy museum and at least 10 or 12 people a year went# in it.

And I asked the fair board if I could just take a window and do flavored# Cokes.

Because pharmacy and soda fountain.

[Charity] .

inseparable.

[Larry] It just happened that# they were moving out to Living History Farms, and said, “could you take the# whole building?” And I said, “absolutely.” [Charity] Except at first maybe it# wasn't the perfect location, was it?

[Larry] Oh, no.

We were up the hill.

At# the time, everybody in the campgrounds, which is a large population, would ride# the tractors from the triangle.

Well, then years later, they started dumping# people off farther up the hill because there was just so much traffic down there.

And# then the Susan Knapp stage right behind us, when they put that in, it was# like, we're part of the fair now.

[Charity] What are the most# popular items that people order?

[Larry] You know, just a fountain Cherry Coke,# you know, because everybody gets a Cherry Coke or Vanilla Coke now.

But we actually do it# from the fountain.

But malts and shakes.

We make our own ice cream.

Make vanilla ice# cream so it's soft enough so we don't add any milk or anything.

You can just feel your# arteries clog up.

It is just good stuff.

[Charity] And it's air conditioned.

[Larry] You know, it's air conditioned.

And# we want you to come in and enjoy the air conditioning, but we also want you to leave so the# next group can come enjoy the air conditioning.

Charity.

Here's what we're gonna do# today.

We're gonna do one of our most popular things, which is a fountain Cherry Coke.

[Charity] All right.

[Larry] All righty.

.. [Charity] And how many squirts?

[Larry] And you're kind of a sweet girl.

Well, I#.. tell you everything.

And add Coke.

And then we're# going to grab a spoon and mix it up.

There you go.

[Charity] All right.

Perfect.

[Larry] Very good.

[Charity] Do I get to try it?

[Larry] You?

Absolutely.

[Charity] I know that's not# no.. [Larry] No, but I think that's good.

How do we do?

[Charity] That's delicious.

[Larry] All right, then, you're in.# .. and she's going to go to work.

I appreciate that.

[Charity] So the whole family doesn't work in# the soda fountain.

What are your kids doing?

[Larry] Well, you know, my son James has bought# his own stand and he has a tater ribbon stand down on Rock Island.

And then my daughter and# her husband bought a stand down by The Depot.

It's a root beer stand and it's called# Georgie's after her husband and her son.

[Charity] This is obviously an enormous amount of work and I can tell that it's a labor# of love.

What do you love about it?

[Larry] It's mostly the people.

Two or three# people have been with me for seriously 40, 50 years.

And back then it was just us,# you know, it's a family.

I just had a 50 year celebration this winter at one of the# buildings here on the fairgrounds.

We had over 400 people.

Just a great group of people here.# I mean, this is really the cream of the crop.

♪ ♪ From singers to dancers and everything in between, today’s Riley Stage competitors brought# serious talent!

Here’s who’s moving on.

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

♪ ♪ If you’re looking for raw# power at the Iowa State Fair, nothing delivers like the# Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pulls.

From roaring engines to dirt-flying# showdowns, these machines — and their drivers — are built to impress.

We’ll head to# the pull track to see who can go the distance.

But first, we’re going to let the kids# test their power in the Pedal Tractor Pull.

♪ ♪ [Abby Brown] The next generation of tractor# pullers are ge.. right here, right now.

But we're not talking# about horsepower.

We're talking about kid power.

♪ ♪ Tell me about what's going on today.

[Katie Cordray] So we have the kids Pedal# Tractor Pull.

Ages 3 throu..

Anyone who places 1st through 3rd in our 4-12# year olds will advance on to the state Pedal Pull.

[Man 1] Push, push, push, push, push, push, push.

[Katie] The kids will get on the tractor,# they'll pedal their .. and whoever pedals the farthest# in the first three places.

[Abby] But it's not just pedaling,# right?

There's a little bit more of a challenge to this than some# people realize.

Tell me about that.

[Mike Cordray] So how this works.# The sled is built with an axle, turns a drive chain which carries the# box up the sled, and as it goes up, it spins and the weight goes up on the sled,# making it challenging for the contestant.

How we know how far they go.

We got a little meter# that treads the tire and counts the distance.

So a full pull is 40 foot.

So we get to the end# of the sled, and it's 40 foot, I'll say full pull.

♪ ♪ [Abby] Do you do anything to prepare# and get in shape for this?

[Canon McGrew] Yes.

[Abby] What do you do?

[Canon] We have our own pullin.. [Abby] You do at home?

Your own?

And so are you out there every morning before the sun# comes up, just pushing those petals?

[Canon] Yeah.

[Abby] That's what I thought.

(Indistinct chatter) Tell me about your trophy.

[Paisley Klein] I got first place.

[Abby] You got first place.

How far did you go?

[Paisley] Full pull.

[Abby] A full pull!

Have you done this before?

You have?

How many times?

[Paisley] I don't know.

But I have gotten# to nationals, and I got second .. [Abby] No way.

Mason, tell me what you've done# at Tractor Pedal Pull before.

[Mason Curtis] I've been in# state and I've been in nationals.

[Abby] What would you tell kids here# today that want to go to nationals?

[Mason] Pedal your hardest.

[Abby] Have you done the# pedal tractor pull before?

[Kymree Verbick] No.

[Abby] This is your first time?

[Kymree] I do lawnmower pulling, basically, like# tractor pulling, but you just .. [Abby] You think you got this in the bag?

[Kymree] Yeah.

[Abby] Blue ribbon?

[Kymree] Yep.

[Abby] Ella, you and I talked almost a.. at this same event here at the# fair.

You did great that year.

[Ella Waske] Yeah.

[Abby] So this year you're not.. [Ella] I'm here with my sister and my dad.

My# sister's competing, and then we're gonna help out.

[Abby] Have you given any# wisdom to your younger sister?

[Ella] Go fast, pedal hard.

[Abby] Do you think we've got some# future tractor pullers coming today?

[Katie] Absolutely.

Our boys make comments that they want the big tractors.

I'm# sure they're not the only ones.

♪ ♪ Welcome to Iowa PBS Sports coverage# of the 2.. Pulls at the Iowa State Fair.

I'm Paul# Yeager.

We'll kick up the dirt at the Elwell Family Park with highlights# of a handful of classes.

But first, the Iowa Tractor Pulling association paid tribute# to charter members and Hall of Fame inductees.

There's Ron Warschkow of Iowa Falls.

Wayne Longnecker from Cambridge.# Out of Odebolt, it's Carol Youngren and Warren Ropp of Kalona.

They even snuck a# Cornhusker in there.

Fred Petsch of Milford, Nebraska.

Let's get it started# with the Limited Light Modifieds.

Andrew Beckman, Pure Pressure, out of Hoskins, Nebraska.

He will take third on# this pull with a distance of 312.85.

Wes Sievers, Runnin’ Rowdy, out of# Wayne, Nebraska, heads down the track to a second place finish.

He takes the# rock a great distance of 317.47 feet.

And your champion in this class is Dalton# Henery.

He's working Double Overtime.

Norfolk, Nebraska.

Heads down University.

Look out, man.# You're not street legal here.

349.06.

Great pull.

Let's move now to the Limited Pro Stock.

Bill Figanbaum, the Instigator# out of Tripoli.

Northeast Iowa, well represented.

Look at the crowd looking him# on, cheering him on, watching him pull.

306.08.

Here comes the International.

Brian# Miller, Diggin Bone out of Marengo.

The Eastern Iowa tractor heads.

Look out.# He's coming for you, mom.

319.23.

Great pull.

And Bryan Deck, Dream On out of Winside, Nebraska.

This is a first place pull.# Watch him go.

Opens it up.

319.75.

Now to the Light Superstock.

Allen Ulmer, it's Never Enuff.

The rock# moves through.

Stops him at 264.44.

Frank Bohaboj from Howells, Nebraska.

He's driving# Green Lightning.

Kachiga kachiga down this track.

287.33.

And in first place.

The Last One# Standing is Justin Hoffman of Dunlap.

He gets airborne in the front, hammers it# down, stops at 292.53.

That's first place.

Now onto the Pro 4x4.

We got a noise complaint.

Miles Jumps,# “Noise Complaint.” Pretty quiet.

No, it's loud, it's proud and it# is a great pull at 309.77.

Longtime fair participant Marty Seleman.# He's in “Rat Trap” out of Garden City, Missouri.

My oh my, what a pull.

Sets a trap# there for first place.

What can beat 312.32.

It's gonna be this one.

Philip Kreisler.

“Show me Chevy” and I will show you# a first place pull of 313.46.

And now to the Lite Limited Pro Stock.

Scott Struthoff is “Dearly Devoted.”# We are gathered here today to see a great pull at the Iowa State Fair.

That# is a fantastic start to this 315.95.

Brady Goslar, “Spare Time,” out of# Ute.

This has been a ridiculously close class.

Haul those feet.

And# it's gonna come down to inches.

Or should I say barely an inch at# 315.98.

Oh, oh, oh.

So close.

And now your first place pull.

Brett England,# “Running Late” out of Diagonal.

First place on the line.

Well, we already know he's gonna be in# first place, but by how much?

That's the big as we go to this pull.

There it is.

316.08.

First place.# Hey, the fans love it.

They're giving a big cheer.

We hope you loved it.

And that is a wrap# of our state fair coverage this year.

I'm Paul Yeager.

Have fun at the fair.

♪ ♪ (Parranderos Latin Combo singing in Spanish) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ What a fun way to wind up our coverage for# this Thursday of Fair 2025.

We’ll be back here again tomorrow night with another full# hour of highlights, but until then your daily dose of fair fun is just a click away on our# website, our YouTube channel, and the PBS App, as well as our Facebook and Instagram pages.# Follow along with us anytime, anywhere!

Here’s what we have planned for tomorrow# night’s show.

A fair experience that’s equal parts relaxation and laughter — goat# yoga!

An underground adventure as we explore the DNR Cave.

And a high-stakes moment as the# Iowa Lottery tries to break a world record.

You won’t want to miss tomorrow night’s# fair coverage — it’s a lineup full of surprises right here on Iowa PBS.# Until then, I’m Bill Riley — thanks for joining us tonight, and get ready for# another unforgettable night 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.

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.