LO at the Iowa State Fair

David Lay · Post by **David Lay** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 9:09 am

Jennie & I visited the Iowa State Fair yesterday, which is well-known for its foods on a stick.

Enjoy the photos!

http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/ ... state-fair

Stan Austin · Post by **Stan Austin** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 9:42 am

Dave and Jennie--- Great pics as usual!!!

That's why we pay ya the big bucks

Stan

David Lay · Post by **David Lay** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:17 am

Thanks, Stan! Here's a couple more:

Jennie enjoying one of the 7 free (yes, FREE!) ears of corn at the Adel Sweet Corn Festival. This year, over 7 tons of free sweet corn was served 'til it was gone.

Here's Hogback Bridge, one of the infamous Covered Bridges of Madison County:

Here's a couple of the view around Hogback Bridge:

Also in Madison County, Winterset, Iowa is home of John Wayne's birthplace, and in nearby Van Meter is the Bob Feller Museum.

We visited the Sweet Corn Festival, John Wayne's birthplace, and saw a couple Covered Bridges...all in one day, and only a half hour's drive from Des Moines!

Jim O'Bryan · Post by **Jim O'Bryan** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:11 am

Nice work David.

/

Paul Schrimpf · Post by **Paul Schrimpf** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:15 am

David -- When I have to trek to the Midwest on business I love going to Iowa ... I often visit farms and agri-businesses out in the country there and it doesn't get the credit it deserves for being a really beautiful and diverse state, especially in the south. Have you found the American Gothic house yet?

I was down in Winterset back in 2003 and saw the charred remains of one of the "Bridges of Madison County." Apparently some guy proposed to his wife there, and after she filed for divorce he burned the bridge down. Crazies are everywhere.

All the best ...

Paul

David Lay · Post by **David Lay** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:46 am

I haven't been to the American Gothic house yet, but it's definitely on the list. We also want to check out the Boone Railroad in Ames, as well as going further west to Council Bluffs and Omaha.

Also on the list is the Paul Willis Farm in Thornton, about 100 miles north of Des Moines. The farm is the main pork supplier for Niman Ranch, which supplies pork to Chipotle.

The bridge you're referring to is the Cedar Covered Bridge. A replica was rebuilt and dedicated on October 9, 2004.

As a side note, the co-founder of RAGBRAI (John Karras) is originally from the Cleveland area!

Danielle Masters · Post by **Danielle Masters** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:40 pm

Great photos David. Looks like a lot of fun, I do have to wonder about pork chops and pineapple on a stick, interesting food choices.

David Lay · Post by **David Lay** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:44 am

Trust me, the pork chops and pineapple on a stick are delicious! The pineapple on a stick didn't hold up too well, probably because the pineapple itself was really juicy!

I'm working at the fair all week so I've been able to sample a lot of food!