IOWA STATE FAIR
Today at the fair: Friday, August 8
Fairgrounds weather
It will be cool at today's Iowa State Fair with a 40 percent chance of rain. Skies will be partly to mostly cloudy.
High — 77; Wind — 9 mph
» Biggest pumpkin contest
9 a.m., outside Agriculture Building.
» Cowboy Mounted Shooting Contest
9 a.m., Jacobson Exhibition Center.
» Blue Ribbon Kids: Paint the Sidewalks
10 a.m., Kids' Zone.
» Fiddlers contest, under 17
10 a.m., Pioneer Hall.
» Grocery bagger contest
1 p.m., Susan Knapp Amphitheater
» The Nadas
7 and 9 p.m., Fairview Stage
» Happy Together Tour 2014
8 p.m., the Grandstand.
Iowan of the Day
Former Iowa Gov. Robert Ray of Des Moines is today's Iowa Blue Ribbon Foundation and Cookies Food Products Iowan of the Day.
Ray served as Iowa's governor for 14 years, from 1969 to 1983. He was CEO of two Iowa insurance companies, an educational leader at Drake University and the national Republican Party leader. He also was an interim mayor of Des Moines and president of Drake.
"Ray loves Iowa and its people," said Marcia Meller of the Iowa Hall of Pride. "He takes pride in being remembered for his ability to raise the level of appreciation for the state of Iowa."
Ray was instrumental in bringing the Character Counts program to Iowa. When he was governor, Ray stood up for refugees from Southeast Asia by helping them secure jobs and a place to live.
Ray will be honored at 2:30 p.m. today on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage. The Iowan of the Day program was founded in 1997. The Blue Ribbon Foundation has generated more than $100 million for improvements to the fairgrounds.
Fair tweets
Drinking brews watching the Big Bore contest at the #IowaStateFair. This is America!
— @InstaTad
You smell that? It's fair time! #IowaStateFair I'm on my way to Iowa! Save me a pork chop!
— @danajens
In the horse barn at the #IowaStateFair and all the scents - hoof polish, liniment, shavings (bedding) are bringing back memories.
— @SonyaHeilmann
DART Park & Ride Buses: Show your advance admission ticket at one of DART's three Park & Ride locations and receive half off the round-trip fare. Parking is free at all locations. Discounted round-trip prices with advance fair admission ticket are $1 for adults and 50 cents for children ages 6-10, seniors (65+) and those with disabilities. Ages 5 and under ride free. Regular round-trip fares are $2 for adults and $1 for children, seniors and disabled persons. One-way fares are also available. All buses are wheelchair-accessible. Cash only; exact fare required.
Hop on the No. 1 Fairgrounds route for a quick and easy direct trip to the fair, or catch it from one of the three free Park & Ride locations:
• Southeast Polk High School (Northeast 80th Avenue and Iowa Highway 163), six miles east of the fairgrounds.
• State Capitol (East 12th Street near the Capitol bell).
• Center Street Park & Ride (Seventh and Center streets, enter on Seventh Street).
HOURS: 8:30 a.m. to midnight.