Best County Fair in Iowa

[FarmerWanna-Be]

Im from Michigan but am very interesting in visiting (and maybe living in) Iowa someday. I was wondering what people think is the best county fair in Iowa? Also, kinda different topic but what is the need like for large animal veterinarians out there?

 

[DCB70]

Iowa County, Iowa

 

[CAB]

Clay county fair boast itself as the largest county fair in the U.S. I don't really know if that is a fact, but they claim it. There are alot of good county fairs in Iowa. There is still alot of livestock raised up in that Clay/Sioux county area if you are looking for large animal vet areas.

 

[RochholzFarms]

Guthrie county its the first part of september and its ussaly pretty cool lith lots of stuff going on all through out the fair it is the fair that i show cattle at so i have to gone on a head and say its the best fair in iowa

 

[Till-Hill]

Dairy/Ultrasound vets in NE Iowa very much needed. 5 years ago we didn't have a one. Now our local clinic has 2 and they barely get time to make emergency calls. Most clinics too have an older staff and need some new blood in there.

 

[PLKR]

There are a bunch of really good county fairs in IA. I think to pick 1 "best" county fair would be very difficult.
What would your criteria be?
Most competitive? Which species?
Best facilities?
Largest livestock shows?
Biggest attendance?
Most community support?
The list could go on and on. I can say that most people who have grown up with IA county fairs are a bit spoiled compared to many places.
My guess is you'll be satisfied with the county fair wherever you locate in Iowa.

As for the demand for large animal vets...I think your options would be plentiful. I haven't heard of a good large animal vet having difficulty finding a position in a very long time.
JMO on both topics.

 

[Angusboy]

I live in Warren county and it is a very very tough fair for cattle. Pretty good facilities and its free.

 

[ploughshare]

Jones and Clay counties, JMHO.  I almost forgot Wayne co. too.

 

[rjb]

Scott co. Don't think there's a tougher steer show out there for a county fair. And there are plenty large animal vet offices around the davenport area

 

[iowabeef]

I would have to disagree....I would say based on the number of people who have had regional, state and national success in Cass County in Atlantic, Iowa-their fair would have to have about the toughest county cattle show in the state. 

 

[rjb]

I don't disagree that cass co isn't tuff but its a little unfair because they are a month after state fair so everyone shows up. Most other co fairs are before state so many of the good one stay home. Last yr Scott co had 2 breed champs and 4 class winners in the xbreds all steers were shown at co fair a week earlier!

 

[hamburgman]

Sioux county has a great swine show, and the lamb show is darn good also.  Plymouth county had just over 89,000 people enter the gates over 5 days.  Livestock shows are really impressive.  Over the last 4 years there have been a number of calves that where at Plymouth county or came from Plymouth county in the top 5 of both steers and heifers.  Lamb show is great with the top end doing respectably well at State Fair. Swine show is impressive and deep.  Poultry show is pry on of the top 3 in the state and the rabbits aren't shabby either.

 

[iowabeef]

I don't disagree that cass co isn't tuff but its a little unfair because they are a month after state fair so everyone shows up. Most other co fairs are before state so many of the good one stay home. Last yr Scott co had 2 breed champs and 4 class winners in the xbreds all steers were shown at co fair a week earlier!

The Cass County Fair is the first weekend in Aug.  BEFORE state fair.  Scott Co. may have had a nice run this year which is great...love when the shows get tough....but historically I don't think you can beat the show in Atlantic.  I am not from there so I don't have a "dog in the race" but just from my observations of attending roughly 35 shows a summer.

 

[CAB]

Marion county fair has some serious competitors. Core's will be a power to be reckoned with here for some time locally and nationally.

 

[Chap]

Scott County is very competitive.  Cedar is pretty good.  Southeast IA counties of Des Moines, Louisa, Washington and Lee are tough with a great show at the end of county season that puts the winners of each against each other.  Marion County may be the toughest heifer show in the state if the big dogs all bring their full string.  I have judged lots of county fairs around Iowa on the cattle side and there are usually good cattle at all of them, but depth separates the top counties.  I am pretty confident you won't find a better pig show than Washington County. 

 

[Steffco]

Clay county fair in Spencer, Ia.  "The Worlds Greatest County Fair"  Nine days starting the first Saturday after Labor Day in September.  2011 attendence was just shy of 328,000 people. A great livestock and agricultural fair.    Also lots of vet opportunities in the area.

 

[farmin female]

Pretty interesting as an outsider to see who has the bragging rights in Iowa-I'd love to see a few of these shows. 

 

[farmin female]

Forgot to add that I don't think there's a place in this country that doesn't need large animal vets except maybe in the middle of New York City.

 

[iowabeef]

Scott County is very competitive.  Cedar is pretty good.  Southeast IA counties of Des Moines, Louisa, Washington and Lee are tough with a great show at the end of county season that puts the winners of each against each other.  Marion County may be the toughest heifer show in the state if the big dogs all bring their full string.  I have judged lots of county fairs around Iowa on the cattle side and there are usually good cattle at all of them, but depth separates the top counties.  I am pretty confident you won't find a better pig show than Washington County. 

I would agree that Washington County has a pretty amazing hog show.  The thing that I LOVE about Iowa is county fairs are alive and well.  There is so much pride in each one of these and you would be hard pressed to find a state that pours its soul into showing off what we do well like Iowa does.  There is no better way to spend a summer week than "living" at your county fair...camped out on lawn chairs  near your projects watching the people...chatting with friends new and old...participating in all of the events....letting the kids run wild and not having to worry about them.  I am thinking about making a county fair tour one summer and trying to spend one day at each county fair in the state.  Too much pie but it would be oh so fun.  Then to top it off, we have the great Iowa State Fair...the largest and best agricultural state fair in the country.  The state made a committment a few years ago to begin pouring money into the Fairground and boy has it paid off.  Americana at its finest.