DES MOINES, Iowa — In one week, the Iowa State Fair returns from Thursday, August 8 until Sunday, August 18. With this year's fair approaching, we thought it was a good time to dig into the archives and show you some memorable moments from previous fairs.
We searched Local 5 News archive footage dating as far back as the 1990s to find some top moments from previous fairs that had us feeling nostalgic and in anticipation for the 2024 Iowa State Fair.
Just last year, the Pratt family showed us how to sculpt the world-famous "butter cow" and... the world-famous Caitlin Clark. In butter? Yes!
You all told us what you were "Most Proud Of" in 2023 when Local 5 News walked around with the Local 5 "Ear of Corn."
Back in 1997, former Local 5 reporter Jay Villwock went around the fairgrounds trying to create the ugliest cake for the fair's usually, annual, ugliest cake competition. And he got a lot of help from fairgoers.
"She found a dirty comb. I like that. I'll put it in like that," Villwock said as others stared in awe (probably disgust too). "We're probably going to have to codemn that," said a health official with the state.
The cake featured someone's green hair, wood shavings, gum, Doritos, a corn dog, wood shavings, an orange slice and much more.
Hopefully the fair memories you create with us this year won't feature cakes like this one from 1997.