So Now You Know

The Iowa State Fair was the inspiration for the acclaimed novel, 'State Fair', written by Iowa native Phil Stong. The novel was later made into three movies, the first starring Will Rogers, as well as a broadway musical Rodgers and Hammerstein's State Fair. Due to this portrayal, as well as recent media coverage of the fair, the Iowa State Fair is seen as the classic and quintessential state fair of the United States.

While the Iowa State Fair is not the oldest or the largest, some have deemed it a "must-see" event. The fair has been noted in a best-selling global travel book, 1000 Places to See Before You Die.