FREE Fun for Kids at the Iowa State Fair

In between corn dogs and giant slide rides, there are lots of ways kids can learn about agriculture at the Iowa State Fair.

1. Little Hands on the Farm - Located near the Animal Learning Center, the Andringa Family Foundation Little Hands on the Farm ag adventure is celebrating 20 years. Little Hands on the Farm is where kids become farmers by visiting a swine barn, garden, grain bin, apple orchard, chicken barn, tractor shed, cattle barn, sheep barn and dairy barn. The last stop is the grocery store, where children can pick out a piece of fruit, a granola bar or an ice cream treat.

2. Baby Animals - You never know what you might see and learn in the Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center. Located just a short walk south of Little Hands on the Farm. Watch chicks hatch, a calf being born, baby ducks slide or goats play in a new playpen. This is your chance to get up close and personal with the animals that make Iowa's farms famous. Meet special farmers face-to-face in the new Farmers Bull Pen this year too.

3. Cowboy Experience - Go back in time and become a real-life cowboy at Cowboy Boot Camp, an educational kids' area with hands-on activity stations. Kids can try their hand at panning for gold, steer roping, horse saddling, bridling or grooming and more! Cowboy Boot Camp is located north of Little Hands on the Farm.

4. Kids in the Kitchen - Kids, you can learn how fun and simple it is to create delicious, healthy farm-fresh recipes at Kids Can Cook, located in the east room at Maytag Family Theaters. Kids ages 5 through 17 can participate in the demonstration kitchen while learning about cleanliness, food handling and preparation in a fun and engaging way.

5. Free Entertainment for Kids - Check out entertainment for the whole family at the Fun Forest Stage sponsored by Community Choice Credit Union. Watch an interactive music show with The Dollipops and a children's magic show by The Chipper Experience. Get ready to sing, dance and laugh. You can also find strolling acts like Bandaloni, the Illuminator and The Ice Cream Show near the triangle and the Pepsi Clock on Grand Ave.

6. Hands On Barn Experiences -Special hands-on exhibits in each barn - Cattle Corner, Horse Haven, Pig Place and Sheep Stop - show the importance of livestock. And don't forget to walk through the Avenue of Breeds presented by Iowa Bankers Association and media sponsor WHO The Big Show, located next to the Bruce L. Rastetter 4-H Exhibits Building, with over 70 different breeds you can't believe live in Iowa.

7. Pick A Vegetable - Learn how a garden grows by visiting The Garden sponsored by Corteva Agriscience. Located north of Little Hands on the Farm, this area is packed with garden beds and displays to teach kids how vegetables take root in Iowa soil and grow to feed the world. A special composting exhibit teaches the value of ecology and sustainability and there are opportunities to pick vegetables that are given to the Iowa Food Bank.

The whole family can also watch action-packed events at Elwell Family Park, where there's a mix of free and paid events. Check out the list of events, including truck and tractor pulls, a demolition derby, charros performances and figure 8 races, and buy tickets at iowastatefair.org.

New this year, enjoy a free nightly horse show with the family at the Jacobson Exhibition Center, from 4-H, FFA, Farm Team, Western Quarter Horse, Miniatures, Society, Percherons, Clydesdales, 6 horse hitches and more. Kids and adults alike will be captivated by the beauty and power of the different horse shows at the Fair.

Kids can also be a part of the Blue Ribbon Kids' Club, where they try hands-on, kid-focused special activities. All Kids' Club events will be held on weekdays at 10 a.m. at the Fun Forest Stage during the Fair. Meet and greets will be on Saturdays at 10 a.m. on the Fun Forest Stage. Check out the list of events at iowastatefair.org.

From hands-on ag learning experiences to the thrill of free entertainment, nothing compares to the Iowa State Fair for kids, August 8-18 in Des Moines, Iowa. For a listing of kid-friendly events or to enter family-friendly contests, visit www.iowastatefair.org.

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