Iowa PBS
Iowa DNR Aquarium Celebrates 100 Years at the State Fair – Fair 2026
- Title
- Iowa DNR Aquarium Celebrates 100 Years at the State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 4:02
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- For 100 years, the Iowa DNR has brought Iowa's fish and aquatic wildlife to the State Fair. Take a look inside the aquarium and discover why it's remained a Fair favorite for generations.
- Title
- Beard Growing Contest: Big Beards Take Center Stage at the Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:35
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- How long does it take to grow a winning beard? Meet some of the competitors putting their facial hair on display in the Iowa State Fair Beard Growing Contest.
- Title
- Governor's Charity Steer Show: Iowa Leaders in the Show Ring – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 5:35
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The 44th Governor's Charity Steer Show brings Iowa leaders into the show ring alongside 4-H and FFA exhibitors. This year's event marks Gov. Kim Reynolds' final appearance as governor, as she joins young Iowans for an event that combines livestock, leadership and charity.
- Title
- Fair 2026 – Thursday, August 20
- Runtime
- 56:12
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Highlights include the Governor's Charity Steer Show, the AmirrorCAN Men, the 100th anniversary of the DNR Aquarium and much more.
- Title
- Iowa State Fair Veterans Day Parade Honors Those Who Served – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:17
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The Iowa State Fair Veterans Day Parade is an annual tradition honoring the men and women who have served our country. See Fairgoers, veterans and communities come together for a celebration of service and sacrifice.
- Title
- Tumbling Competition Brings Skill and Energy to the Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:30
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Strength, flexibility and plenty of practice come together in the Iowa State Fair tumbling competition. Watch young athletes put their skills on display and compete for top honors.
- Title
- Picasso Plates: Kids Turn Food Into Art at the Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:32
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- What happens when kids turn food into art? In the Picasso Plates competition, young Fairgoers use their imaginations to create edible sculptures that are as fun to look at as they are to make.
- Title
- Little Butter Cows: A Fun Hunt at the Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 2:58
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The Butter Cow has some tiny competition. Little butter cows are being hidden around the Iowa State Fair, giving Fairgoers a fun challenge as they explore the grounds and search for these miniature sculptures.
- Title
- Iowa's Butter Cow Heads to the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:58
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The Iowa State Fair is home to traditions you don't find anywhere else. We travel to Washington, D.C., to see how the Butter Cow has earned a place in State Fairs: Growing American Craft at the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery.
- Title
- Meet the Grill Masters Behind the Iowa State Fair Pork Tent – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:21
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The Pork Tent is one of the Iowa State Fair's most recognizable food stops—and its grill masters are characters in their own right. Meet some of the people behind the grill and the tradition of serving up pork chops at the Fair.
- Title
- Iowa Horseman's Hall of Fame Gets a New Home at the State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:33
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The Iowa Horseman's Hall of Fame has a new home in the Jacobson Exhibition Center. Following renovations to the Horse Barn, the new display celebrates the beauty, history and heritage of Iowa horses.
- Title
- FFA Parade of Champions Celebrates Iowa State Fair Winners – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 5:30
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The FFA Parade of Champions puts some of the Iowa State Fair's top young exhibitors in the spotlight. Meet the students being recognized for their hard work and accomplishments.
- Title
- Farmer Chats: Iowa State Fair Conversations With Farmers – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:39
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Pull up a chair for Farmer Chats, where Fairgoers can have conversations with Iowa farmers. It's a chance to ask questions, share experiences and learn more about the people behind Iowa agriculture.
- Title
- America 250 at the Iowa State Fair: History on Display – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:11
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- America's 250th anniversary is woven throughout this year's Iowa State Fair. Explore exhibits and displays that connect Fairgoers with American history, including a new sculpture, a look at Iowa in 1776 and a display featuring 250 years of American flags.
- Title
- Cowgirl Queen: Western Horsemanship at the Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 5:04
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- It's part horsemanship, part showmanship and plenty of Western style. The Cowgirl Queen competition puts skilled horsewomen and their horses to the test at the Iowa State Fair.
- Title
- Fair 2026 – Wednesday, August 19
- Runtime
- 53:37
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Highlights include the FFA Parade of Champions, Cowgirl Queen Contest, the Iowa Pork Tent Grill Masters and more.
- Title
- Farm Team: Horsepower and Teamwork at the Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:30
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- It takes strength, patience and plenty of teamwork to compete in the Farm Team competition. Watch teams of horses and their handlers put their skills to the test at the Iowa State Fair.
- Title
- Charreria at the Iowa State Fair: Celebrating Mexican Ranching Traditions – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:48
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- For generations, Charros have celebrated Mexico's ranching traditions through horsemanship, music and community. Experience the color, skill and tradition of Charreria at the Elwell Family Park.
- Title
- Stash Bash: A Fabric Game at the Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:31
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Bring three fabric fat quarters, put them in the pot and get ready to play. Stash Bash turns fabric shopping into a game of chance, with one lucky player taking home the whole pile.
- Title
- FFA at the Iowa State Fair: Mackenzie Olsen – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 4:05
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- FFA member Mackenzie Olsen is bringing an old tractor back to life. Follow her restoration work and see the hands-on skills, patience and problem-solving that go into preserving a piece of agricultural history.
- Title
- Iowa State Fair Queen Contest: Meet Iowa's County Queens – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 7:19
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- County queens from across Iowa come together at the Iowa State Fair for the chance to become Iowa's next State Fair Queen. Meet the young women behind the crowns.
Watch the full 2026 Iowa State Fair Queen Coronation here ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8h4RSgcgjo
- Title
- I Milked a Cow at the Iowa State Fair: A Hands-On Experience – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:33
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Paul Yeager gets a hands-on lesson in the Iowa State Fair dairy barn, learning how to milk a real cow and getting a closer look at Iowa's dairy industry.
- Title
- Red, White and Blue Fabrics at the Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:18
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- America's 250th anniversary is inspiring plenty of creativity at the Iowa State Fair. Take a look at red, white and blue fabric creations celebrating the occasion.
- Title
- Behind the Fair: The Iowa State Fair Maintenance Shop – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:36
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Long before Fairgoers arrive—and long after they leave—the Iowa State Fair maintenance crew is at work. Meet the people who keep the 445-acre grounds operating, from utilities and buildings to livestock areas, cleanup and event setup.
- Title
- How to Pitch Horseshoes: Learning a Classic Fairground Skill – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:15
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Think you know how to pitch a horseshoe? We head to the Iowa State Fair to learn the basics of the game, from getting the right stance to getting that horseshoe to land around the stake.
- Title
- What's New in the Butter Cow Cooler at the Iowa State Fair? – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:26
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Get a behind-the-scenes look at this year's Butter Cow and find out what Sarah Pratt has created for Iowa State Fair visitors to discover.
- Title
- Iowa State Fair Beginner's Contest: First-Time Food Competitors – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:34
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- You don't have to be a Fair veteran to join the competition. Meet some first-time contestants taking their shot in an Iowa State Fair food competition—and finding out what it's like to put their skills to the test.
- Title
- Fair 2026 – Tuesday, August 18
- Runtime
- 55:40
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Highlights include Butter Cow, the Farm Team Contest, an FFA tractor restoration project and so much more.
- Title
- What to Do at the Iowa State Fair When It Rains – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:32
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- When rain pours down at the Iowa State Fair, plans can change quickly. Charity Nebbe finds other ways to enjoy the Fair—and shares some ideas for making the most of a rainy day.
- Title
- Rooster Crowing Contest: A Noisy Iowa State Fair Tradition – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:30
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- It's one of the Fair's noisiest traditions. Meet the competitors—and their feathered contestants—in the Iowa State Fair Rooster Crowing Contest.
- Title
- Meet the Iowa State Fair’s Winningest Canning Competitor – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 4:41
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Rod Zeitler has made it his mission to enter every single canning category that the Iowa State Fair food department offers -- and he takes home ribbons for the majority of them. Step inside his kitchen to get some blue ribbon-winning secrets.
- Title
- Prettiest Bird Contest: Feathers and Finesse at the Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:37
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder—and at the Iowa State Fair, it's also in the feathers. Meet the birds and exhibitors competing for top honors.
- Title
- PRCA ProRodeo at the Iowa State Fair: Western Action in the Arena – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:31
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The PRCA ProRodeo brings the excitement of professional rodeo to the Iowa State Fair. Watch cowboys and cowgirls put their skill, speed and nerve to the test in the Elwell Family Park.
- Title
- Iowa State Fair Parade: A Celebration of Iowa Tradition – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 4:06
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The Iowa State Fair Parade kicks off another year of the Fair, bringing together colorful floats, marching bands, horses, community groups and plenty of Iowa pride.
- Title
- New Fair Foods 2026: Taste the Iowa State Fair's Latest Creations – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 4:20
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- What's new on the Iowa State Fair menu? Sample some of this year's newest creations, including foods inspired by America's 250th anniversary.
- Title
- Fine Art at the Iowa State Fair: Creativity on Display – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:36
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The Iowa State Fair Fine Art competition showcases Iowa artists working in a wide range of styles and media, with paintings, drawings and other works on display.
- Title
- FFA Swine: What Students Learn Beyond the Iowa State Fair Show Ring – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:34
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Raising an animal for the Iowa State Fair is about more than winning a ribbon. Paul Yeager meets FFA students and learns what they take away from showing swine.
- Title
- Euchre Tournament: A Favorite Card Game at the Iowa State Fair – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 3:37
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Grab a partner and deal the cards. The Iowa State Fair Euchre Tournament brings players together for a little strategy, luck and plenty of friendly competition.
- Title
- Big Animals at the Iowa State Fair: Meet the Fair's Biggest Stars – Fair 2026
- Runtime
- 6:39
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Meet the Iowa State Fair's Big Boar, Big Ram and Super Bull, and hear from the Iowans who raise and care for them.
- Title
- Fair 2026 – Monday, August 17
- Runtime
- 57:21
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Highlights include big animals, new fair foods, rooster crowing, the prettiest bird and much more.
- Title
- 2026 Iowa State Fair Queen Coronation
- Runtime
- 35:28
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- This annual fair tradition brings together county fair queens from across the state who showcase the very best in personality, leadership, citizenship and involvement in their local communities.
- Title
- 2026 Iowa State Fair Parade
- Runtime
- 1:54:35
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The Iowa State Fair parade, featuring high school marching bands, floats, cool cars, special causes and more.
- Title
- Ford Model T | Artifact Iowa
- Runtime
- 5:22
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The Ford Model T put America on wheels—and Iowa helped make it happen. From a Des Moines assembly plant to the rural roads it transformed, this story explores how mass production, mechanical changes and a groundbreaking automobile reshaped the way Americans lived, worked and traveled.
Artifact Iowa tells Iowa’s story through real objects from Iowa’s past. Each episode will center on a single artifact to unpack the larger human story behind it - revealing moments of innovation, resilience, creativity and change that define our state’s history. www.iowapbs.org/artifactiowa
- Title
- 1919 Milburn Electric | Artifact Iowa
- Runtime
- 6:16
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- In 1890, the innovation of Iowa chemist William Morrison inspired one of the first practical electric cars.
Considered a refined alternative to gasoline vehicles due to its lack of a hand-crank start, the Milburn Electric became popular among women and was driven by several prominent figures, including First Ladies Taft, Wilson, Harding, and Coolidge.
Artifact Iowa tells Iowa’s story through real objects from Iowa’s past. Each episode will center on a single artifact to unpack the larger human story behind it - revealing moments of innovation, resilience, creativity and change that define our state’s history. www.iowapbs.org/artifactiowa
- Title
- 1910 Maytag Mason | Artifact Iowa
- Runtime
- 3:15
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The Maytag name is synonymous with washing machines, but the company also ventured into automobile manufacturing.
The 1910 Maytag Mason automobile represents a unique intersection of Frederick Maytag’s automotive ambitions and August and Fred Duesenberg’s emergence as pioneering automobile innovators.
Artifact Iowa tells Iowa’s story through real objects from Iowa’s past. Each episode will center on a single artifact to unpack the larger human story behind it - revealing moments of innovation, resilience, creativity and change that define our state’s history. www.iowapbs.org/artifactiowa
- Title
- 1907 Mason | Artifact Iowa
- Runtime
- 5:08
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The Mason Runabout was known as a capable hill climber. August and Fred Duesenberg of Rockford, Iowa, developed and designed the car, which gained attention after successfully climbing the west steps of the Iowa State Capitol.
Artifact Iowa tells Iowa’s story through real objects from Iowa’s past. Each episode will center on a single artifact to unpack the larger human story behind it - revealing moments of innovation, resilience, creativity and change that define our state’s history. www.iowapbs.org/artifactiowa
- Title
- 1903 Cadillac | Artifact Iowa
- Runtime
- 5:25
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Few Americans realize that two icons of the automotive industry share a common origin. After Henry Ford left his second automotive venture, the Henry Ford Company, machinist Henry Leland persuaded investors to reorganize it as Cadillac—a brand that would become synonymous with precision engineering and quality craftsmanship.
The 1903 Cadillac Runabout emerged from that remarkable turning point. Combining a reliable single-cylinder engine with familiar technologies, it marks the beginning of two competing visions that reshaped the American automobile.
Artifact Iowa tells Iowa’s story through real objects from Iowa’s past. Each episode will center on a single artifact to unpack the larger human story behind it - revealing moments of innovation, resilience, creativity and change that define our state’s history. www.iowapbs.org/artifactiowa.
- Title
- 1899 Locomobile | Artifact Iowa
- Runtime
- 3:39
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- The 1899 steam-powered Locomobile bridged the technologies of its era, helping launch the automotive age. Its bicycle-inspired wheels and boat-inspired tiller steering reflected the innovations of the time. Often called a "horseless carriage," the Locomobile brought the power of steam transportation to everyday Iowans.
Artifact Iowa tells Iowa’s story through real objects from Iowa’s past. Each episode will center on a single artifact to unpack the larger human story behind it - revealing moments of innovation, resilience, creativity and change that define our state’s history. www.iowapbs.org/artifactiowa.
- Title
- IHSAA Roundup
- Runtime
- 29:37
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Take a look back at a handful of the incredible and inspiring stories and achievements of Iowa's top male student-athletes from the 2025-2026 school year.
- Title
- Class 5A — Waukee Northwest vs. Ankeny Centennial
- Runtime
- 2:11:31
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- The Waukee Northwest Wolves play the Ankeny Centennial Jaguars for the 5A title.
Programming support for the 2026 IGHSAU Girls State Softball Championships is provided by Fareway, Farmers Mutual Hail, Pella Rolscreen Foundation and Musco Lighting.
