Every morning before I leave the house for another stop on my 21-county tour or head to Washington to fight for Iowa, one of my kids asks me some version of this question: How many days until the Iowa State Fair?Â
This morning, the answer was 35.Â
But the State Fair isn’t the only one worth counting down to. Across all 21 counties, communities are celebrating a year of hard work, homegrown talent, and some of the best food you can eat with one hand. And today, I got to make my kids a little jealous with a visit to the Ringgold County Fair. 🎡
From the livestock barns to the show ring, I spent the day with Ringgold County’s outstanding 4-H members and FFA students. These young Iowans are up before sunrise feeding animals, fixing fences, and learning the responsibility, discipline, and work ethic that have always defined our state’s agricultural heritage. They’re tomorrow’s farmers, veterinarians, entrepreneurs, and community leaders — and they’re exactly the kind of talent that keeps our state strong.
That’s what county fairs are really all about. They’re a chance for families to reconnect, neighbors swapping stories, kids to showcase a year’s worth of hard work, and communities to celebrate the people who keep Iowa — and America — fed.
Bottom Line: The Iowa State Fair may still be 35 days away, but fair season is officially underway, Ringgold is just the first stop on our summer tour, and I hope to see you at your county fair in the weeks ahead.