Born and raised in Iowa moved around as military wife around US and currently a truckers wife of 18 years that's been to 47 of the lower 48 and nothing compares to Iowa state Fair.
I'm now grandma and love passing down the traditions of spending our last few days of summer before school starts showing the Iowa love to them.
It definitely has had a lot of changes and changes are hard but it seriously is worth spending at least 1 full day if not all 11 days enjoying Iowa Pride.
My oldest grands are aging out of kids activities like little hands on the farm and little kid stuff but we had an amazing day doing things people of all ages do.
We have a large family and usually have at least one family or friend involved in the events somehow. This year we had my uncle enter a pumpkin and a cousin that won lots of ribbons with her sheep.
Even if you don't know someone going in you will make a new friend before you leave.