Iowa PBS
Mike Rowley | Iowa Life
- Title
- Mike Rowley | Iowa Life
- Runtime
- 1:45
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Over the last 20 years, Mike Rowley and a small team of other volunteers have installed more than 400 headstones on previously unmarked veterans’ graves across the state. This year, in celebration of the country’s 250 anniversary, he has a goal of placing 76 markers.
Watch the full video on season 4 of Iowa Life!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5GpwMcBhh4
- Title
- Granny Basketball | Iowa Life
- Runtime
- 1:24
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Women from all over the country descend upon Ankeny for the annual Granny Basketball League National Tournament. The Iowa All-Stars, which are co-hosting the tournament, let Iowa Life host Charity Nebbe shoot a few hoops with them one evening to show her the ropes 🏀
Watch the full video on season 4 of Iowa Life!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqoi8AdUKuY
- Title
- Episode 401 | Iowa Life
- Runtime
- 25:58
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- Meet Mike Rowley, an Iowan honoring veterans with headstones, women keeping Granny Basketball alive in Ankeny, a young hobby horse competitor in Northeast Iowa and Perla Camacho Jimenez, a ceramicist creating healing through clay.
Chapters:
00:00 - Opening
02:14 - Granny Basketball
08:57 - Mike Rowley
14:14 - Perla Camacho Jimenez
17:56 - Gwen Maiers Hobby Horsing
24:35 - Closing
- Title
- 16-Year-Old Dubuque Native Gwen Maiers Is Hobby Horse Champion | Iowa Life
- Runtime
- 6:20
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
- Description
- At 16, Gwen Maiers is a national champion. The Dubuque teenager, who has always had an interest in horse riding, found her niche in the new competitive sport of hobby horse riding. Two years later she is still competing on the world stage in Finland, and has learned the sport is more about community than it is about winning.
- Title
- These Grannies are Off Their Rockers and Making Moves on the Court | Iowa Life
- Runtime
- 6:26
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- With more than 800 players nationwide, the Granny Basketball League is a great way for women over 50 to stay active and make friends, all while playing competitively. Step inside a practice and the 2026 national tournament to learn about the sport's culture and rules.
- Title
- Exploring the Des Moines Metro Opera's Of Mice and Men
- Runtime
- 4:44
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- This exclusive intermission segment includes behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the creators and principal cast members of Des Moines Metro Opera Presents Of Mice and Men. Learn about the creative process of bringing this remarkable production to the stage and the significance of this story as we honor America 250.
- Title
- Preview: Of Mice and Men With the Des Moines Metro Opera
- Runtime
- 5:20
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Explore Carlisle Floyd’s powerful operatic adaptation of John Steinbeck’s timeless story about George and Lennie, two migrant ranch hands searching for a better life.
Hear from the Des Moines Metro Opera Presents Of Mice and Men key creators and principal artists about this significant presentation of one of American operas greatest masterpieces.
- Title
- Birthday Monday, September 14, 2026
- Runtime
- 1:02
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Happy Birthday to all of these fabulous Iowa PBS Kids Club members!
- Title
- Birthday Monday, September 7, 2026
- Runtime
- 1:07
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- Happy Birthday to all of these fabulous Iowa PBS Kids Club members!
- Title
- 2026 Iowa State Fair Talent Championship
- Runtime
- 1:26:47
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The Bill Riley Talent Search shines a spotlight on Iowa’s most talented youth. This beloved Iowa State Fair tradition brings big talent, bright smiles, and show-stopping performances to the stage every year.
- Title
- Iowa State Fair On the Street: What Contest Would You Enter? – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 1:07
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- If you could compete in any Iowa State Fair contest—real or completely made up—what would you choose? We put Fairgoers on the spot and get some creative answers.
- Title
- Iowa State Fair On the Street: This or That? – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 1:03
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Butter Cow or Giant Slide? Corn dog or pork chop? Contests or rides? We put Iowa State Fair visitors on the spot with a rapid-fire round of "This or That?" Find out what they choose.
- Title
- Iowa State Fair On the Street: Would You Rather? – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 1:50
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Opening day or last day? Rain or 95-degree heat? We hit the Iowa State Fairgrounds with a series of impossible choices and ask Fairgoers: Would you rather?
- Title
- Iowa State Fair On the Street: Sky Glider Trivia – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 0:57
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Think you know the Iowa State Fair? We take to the grounds with a little Fair trivia: How many seats are in the main line of the Sky Glider? See who knows the answer—and who takes a wild guess.
- Title
- On the Street: Iowans Share Their Fair Memories – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 1:19
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Everyone has a Fair story. We hit the Iowa State Fairgrounds and ask Fairgoers one question: What's your funniest Iowa State Fair memory?
- Title
- Iowa State Fair On the Street: What Brings You to the Fair? – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 1:08
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- If you can only do ONE thing at the Iowa State Fair, what would it be? We take to the fairgrounds to hear quick, funny and unexpected answers from fairgoers.
- Title
- 4-H and FFA Sale of Champions: Celebrating Iowa's Young Leaders – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 5:45
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The 4-H and FFA Sale of Champions brings the Iowa State Fair's livestock competition to a culmination, celebrating the young people behind the animals. See the champion exhibitors, buyers and supporters come together for a special Fair tradition.
- Title
- One Last Look: Seeing the Iowa State Fair Through Our Cameras – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 2:01
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- For the past 10 days, our camera crews have been in the middle of the Iowa State Fair, capturing the people, competition, traditions and unexpected moments that make it special. Before we say goodbye, here's one last look at the Fair through their eyes.
- Title
- Lineman Rodeo: Iowa Utility Workers Put Their Skills to the Test – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 5:06
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- It takes strength, precision and teamwork to work safely on the power lines. At the Iowa State Fair Lineman Rodeo, utility workers put their skills to the test in a series of demanding events.
- Title
- Ladies Rubber Chicken Throwing: A Wild Iowa State Fair Contest – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:32
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- It's exactly what it sounds like: rubber chickens, a throwing line and a whole lot of competition. Meet the women taking aim in one of the Iowa State Fair's most delightfully unusual contests.
- Title
- Husband Calling Contest: A Hilarious Iowa State Fair Tradition – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:29
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- If you need to find your husband at the Iowa State Fair, there's a contest for that. The Husband Calling Contest has become a fan favorite—and our coverage of it has become one of Iowa PBS's most-watched Fair videos online.
Produced by @ResponsiblyWild
- Title
- How to Train a Stock Dog: Inside an Iowa Farm's Working Partnership – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:45
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- A good stock dog doesn't just know what to do—it has to learn how to work with its handler. We visit an Iowa farm to see how stock dogs are trained and how that partnership develops.
- Title
- 100 Years of Hog Calling: A Century of Iowa State Fair Tradition – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:44
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Grab your best "soo-eee" and celebrate a century of hog calling. The Iowa State Fair's Hog Calling Contest turns 100, bringing together competitors who know how to make some serious noise—and have a little fun doing it.
- Title
- Bird Box Building With the DNR at the Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:29
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- A bird box can provide an important place for cavity-nesting birds to raise their young. The Iowa DNR shows Fairgoers how to build one and explains how a simple project can help Iowa's wildlife.
- Title
- Adaptive Sports at the Iowa State Fair: Competition for Everyone – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:39
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The Iowa State Fair's adaptive sports competitions put athletes of all abilities in the spotlight. See competitors bring determination, skill and plenty of competitive spirit to the Fair.
- Title
- 4-H Rabbits: Young Exhibitors Show Their Skills at the Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:23
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Raising and showing rabbits takes plenty of care and attention. Meet 4-H exhibitors at the Iowa State Fair as they prepare their rabbits for the show ring and compete for top honors.
- Title
- 4-H Beef Grand Champion: A Big Win at the Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:22
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Winning Grand Champion in the 4-H beef show is the culmination of months of work. Meet this year's champion and see the dedication, preparation and pride behind a trip to the Iowa State Fair show ring.
- Title
- Fair 2026 – Saturday, August 22
- Runtime
- 53:26
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Highlights include the 100 years of the Hog Calling Contest, see how adaptive sports are creating opportunities and have some fun with one of the fair's quirkiest contests.
- Title
- Outlaw Truck & Tractor Pulls: Big Power at the Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 5:04
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Hold on tight—the Outlaw Truck & Tractor Pulls bring noise, power and plenty of dirt to the Iowa State Fair. Watch drivers put their machines and their skills to the test in one of the Fair's loudest competitions.
- Title
- Stock Dog Trials: Iowa Dogs Put Their Farm Skills to the Test – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:24
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- These dogs aren't just pets—they're working partners. Watch skilled stock dogs and their handlers navigate the Iowa State Fair competition, using training, teamwork and instinct to move livestock.
- Title
- Snakes Alive! Meet the Reptiles at the Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:36
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Snakes aren't everyone's favorite Fair attraction, but for some visitors, they're fascinating. Get up close with the reptiles at Snakes Alive! and meet the people who know how to handle them.
- Title
- Pedal Tractor Pull: Young Competitors Put Their Strength to the Test – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:28
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The tractors may be small, but the competition is serious. Young Fairgoers climb aboard and pedal their way through the Iowa State Fair Pedal Tractor Pull.
- Title
- Meet the Iowa State Fair's Women's Cow Chip Throwing Record Holder – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:39
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Pam Sufka-Boyd isn't just good at throwing cow chips—she holds the Iowa State Fair women's record. We hear the story behind her Fair victory, and learn some blue ribbon-winning secrets to a good throw.
- Title
- Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show Brings Timber Skills to the Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:36
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Axes, saws, speed and strength are all part of the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show. Watch professional lumberjacks demonstrate the skills and athleticism of working with timber.
- Title
- Louise Piper's Green Tomato Pie Contest Honors a Fair Legend – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:29
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Louise Piper was a legendary competitor in the Iowa State Fair food competitions, earning thousands of ribbons and inspiring generations of bakers. After her death in 2025, a green tomato pie contest honors her legacy and love of the Fair's food community.
- Title
- Kids Chef Baking Tournament: Young Bakers Compete at the Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:29
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- These young chefs have more than a sweet tooth—they have serious baking skills. Meet the competitors in the Iowa State Fair Kids Chef Baking Tournament as they put their creativity and technique to the test.
- Title
- Hot Glass Academy: Iowa State Fair Artists Work With Fire and Glass – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:30
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- At the Hot Glass Academy, artists work with molten glass, intense heat and plenty of precision. See how they transform a glowing blob of glass into something beautiful at the Iowa State Fair.
- Title
- Flower Identification Contest: Test Your Botanical Knowledge – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:32
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- It's one thing to enjoy beautiful flowers. It's another to identify them on the spot. See how competitors put their botanical knowledge to the test in the Iowa State Fair Flower Identification Contest.
- Title
- Cow Chip Throwing Contest: A Truly Iowa State Fair Competition – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:51
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- It's not every day you get to throw a cow chip for a ribbon. Watch competitors put their technique—and their throwing arms—to the test in one of the Iowa State Fair's most unusual competitions.
- Title
- Bubble Gum Blowing Contest: Big Bubbles at the Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:32
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- How big can a bubble get? Competitors stretch their skills—and their gum—in the Iowa State Fair Bubble Gum Blowing Contest.
- Title
- Fair 2026 – Friday, August 21
- Runtime
- 56:26
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Highlights from the Iowa State Fair include the Bubble Gum Blowing Contest, Snakes Alive, Outlaw Truck & Tractor Pulls and much more.
- Title
- Ice Carving at the Iowa State Fair: Art on Ice – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:37
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- With chainsaws, chisels and plenty of skill, ice carvers turn blocks of frozen water into works of art. See the precision and creativity behind the Iowa State Fair ice carving competition.
- Title
- ShenaniGuns! Comedy Brings Big Laughs to the Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:33
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Looking for a little Fair-time laughter? The ShenaniGuns! comedy show brings stunts, surprises and plenty of laughs to the Iowa State Fair.
- Title
- West Des Moines Methodist Church Stand: A Fair Tradition Since 1949 – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:29
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- It's the last remaining church food stand at the Iowa State Fair, and it's been serving Fairgoers for more than 75 years. Meet the volunteers behind the West Des Moines Methodist Church stand and the customers who keep coming back.
- Title
- Bur Oak Tree Planting Marks America's 250th at the Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 2:13
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- A new bur oak is taking root at the Iowa State Fair as part of the celebration of America's 250th anniversary. See the planting and learn why the tree is a fitting symbol for the occasion.
- Title
- Iowa State Fair Campground Grocery Expands to Serve Fairgoers – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:41
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Campers don't always want to leave the Fairgrounds for groceries. We visit the Iowa State Fair Campground Grocery, where an expanded store gives campers more of what they need just steps from their campsite.
- Title
- Lillie Lauzon: A 4-H Champion Prepares for Another Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:15
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Last year, Lillie Lauzon took home Grand Champion honors for her market broilers. This year, we visit her farm near Guthrie Center to see how she's preparing her chickens for another Iowa State Fair.
- Title
- 4-H Sheep Show: Young Iowans Put Their Livestock Skills to Work – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:25
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Raising and showing sheep takes patience, knowledge and plenty of hands-on work. Meet 4-H exhibitors as they prepare their animals and compete in the Iowa State Fair sheep show.
- Title
- AmirrorCAN MEN: Mirror-Suited Performers Bring Fun to the Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:28
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- They're almost seven feet tall, dressed in red, white and blue mirror suits, and impossible to miss. Meet the AmirrorCAN MEN, one of the Iowa State Fair's larger-than-life strolling attractions.
- Title
- Iowa at the Renwick: State Fair Craft at the Smithsonian – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:25
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The Iowa State Fair has a place on the national stage. At the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C., Iowa artists and makers are part of State Fairs: Growing American Craft.
