Enjoy a selection of twelve children's books that were written by Urbandale native Susan Middleton Elya.

Susan has spent much of her career teaching English as a second language and her books reflect her passion.

Each book features fun to read English phrases that incorporate Spanish vocabulary.

• A soft throw blanket and t-shirt pillow make it easy to cozy up to read.

Be a judge of the Tribute to Bessie: Scrumptious Berry Pie contest on Saturday, August 17 at 2:00 pm in the Elwell Family Food Center during the Iowa State Fair.

Bessie Heiliger owned Bessie's Bus Depot in Bloomfield and was famous for her hometown cooking. You'll be judging berry pies that must use at least two berries and have a homemade crust.

• Sample a blueberry pie to get your tastebuds in training.
• Gate admission for two and a parking pass are also included.

Be a judge in the Iowa Orchards Creation food competition on Friday, August 9th at 12pm in the Elwell Family Food Center. The entrants must use a fruit in their dessert creation.

Gate admission for two and a parking pass included.

Take a peek at other prize-winning recipes with copies of the 22nd edition Iowa State Fair cookbook and Baking Blue Ribbons.

It'll be a puzzle figuring out the winner so practice with this farm-themed brain twister.

Take your cooking to the next level with this selection of seasonings and sauces.

• Amp up your BBQ with a selection of Da Kine Hawaiian BBQ sauces and rubs.
• Two koozies will keep your beverage cold while you spice it up.
• A garnishing squeeze takes your entree to the next level.
• Enjoy these five aioli's, pesto, ranch and chipotle garnishing flavors.
• Working with locally owned farms around Hatch, NM, the Fresh Chile Co. crafts delicious salsas and sauces.
• Enjoy a selection of six products featuring chile dijon mustard, jalapeno mustard relish, sweet & spicy chile mustard, spicy red chile "Hatchup", tequila lime BBQ sauce and Sweet & spicy red chile BBQ medium sauce.

Have a date night vacation with dinner, a movie and night at a hotel. No cooking or cleaning at all.

• Start in Ankeny at Filet Steakhouse for a perfectly cooked steak using a $100 gift card.
• Venture to the Varsity Cinema in the Drake neighborhood for a show with a $20 gift card plus a coupon for a medium popcorn and drink plus a candy too.
• Enjoy an overnight stay in a standard King or Queen/Queen room at the Rewind Hotel West Des Moines by Hilton. Reservations required and subject to availability. Expires 12/30/24.

Get in the celebrity spirit with a signed bottle of Jason Momoa's Meili vodka and Mark Wahlburg's Flecha Azul Tequila Anejo.

• With multiple gold ratings, Meili has a super clean flavor making it easy to sip.
• Flecha Azul has only 3 ingredients and is aged an additional 6 months in bourbon oak barrels.

Stop in at Hy-VeeWine & Spirits in West Des Moines and use a $50 gift card for mixers or other spirits.

The basket is filled with a few snack items to cure any craving.

Be ready to watch a Fever game with a basket of Hy-Vee snacks and a $50 Hy-Vee gift card to fill in the gaps.

This basket also has a box of Caitlin Crunch cereal and a Caitlin themed pillow.

Even better, it has a Caitlin trading card. Topps introduced a 2023-24 special Bowman U Now collector's card of Caitlin Clark when she broke Pete Maravich's all-time NCAA scoring record. This card was only available to buy between March 4-7, 2024. Add this card to your Caitlin collection as it is in perfect condidtion encased in a protective case.

Have extra storage for frozen food with a Black + Decker 5.5cu ft chest freezer.

Elevate your backyard BBQ with the all-new LEDGE PRIME 2.O pellet grill by Green Mountain Grills.

• Achieve the highest quality wood-fired flavor by harnessing 12-V Direct Power with unrivaled heat consistency and temperature control.
• The new rounded/peaked hybrid chamber design provides for optimal heat distribution and smoke circulation creating a superior 360 degree of wood-fired greatness.

Be ready for soup season with a Staub La Cocette 2.75 qt. stock pot. Serve your soup with a new ladle, bowls and spoons and get ideas for what to create from a new cookbook.

The Iowa State Fair is best when you get involved. Here are some fun activities you can try.

• Always a good philosophy, be a judge at the Life is Better with Cake baking contest on Friday August 9th at 11 am in the Elwell Family Food Center.
• This layered German chocolate cake, made by a ribbon winning baker, will get your tastebuds in training.
• See how low you can go at Llama Limbo on Saturday, August 17th at 6:00 pm in the Outdoor Arena. Don't worry, we'll provide the llama.
• Fair Games is the theme for the 2024 Fair After Dark program, a 21 year and older, exclusive event on Saturday, August 10 at 8:00 pm. Come be a participant with a friend as you'll have two tickets.
• Since you'll be coming multiple days, included are six gate admission tickets and three parking passes.

Brumate BackTap , the world's first stainless steel-lined backpack cooler with a tap.

The BackTap is made for the life of the party.

It holds 3 gallons of your favorite beverage and dispenses right from the built-in tap or works as a cooler and holds 14 cans + ice.

Includes durable, load-lifting backpack straps.

A vintage and new assortment of stuff that makes you think of Iowa.

• Did you know Iowa produces lots of popcorn? Enjoy eating a selection of gourmet popcorns and treats.
• Search for more cool Iowa things with a $50 gift card to Brass Armadillo.

Enjoy a baking lesson for four in your home. Learn how to bake a dessert of your choosing from baking champion Eileen Gannon. Eileen has won over 600 ribbons at the Iowa State Fair alone plus numerous other competitions. Date subject to mutual agreement and must be used by 6/1/2025.

Don't have a recipe in mind? Select one from either the 22nd or 21st edition Iowa State Fair cookbooks.

And be inspired to create with chocolate when you sample Sunday Night Foods' delicious chocolate sauce.

Feel like you have any seasoning needed for grilling with this basket of Weber spices and rubs made at B & G Foods, aka Tones, in Ankeny. In addition to the seasonings, they have included grilling tools too.

This package is full of gift cards to a variety of ice cream purveyors in the Des Moines metro. Stop in for a treat at:

• Al's Dairy Freeze ($20)
• Dairy Zone ($20)
• Home Sweet Cone ($25)
• The Creamery ($20)
• Uptown Dairy ($20)
• Waukee Ice Cream Shop ($25)
• Over the Top ($25).

Enjoy ice cream at home with three coupons from Kemps plus a cup set, scoop and assorted cones, sprinkles and toppings.

There's even a jar of Sunday Night Foods gourmet chocolate sauce.

And for a special occasion, enjoy a 9" customized ice cream cake from Sweet Swirls.

Lemons just scream summertime so enjoy this basket of lemon goodness.

• Two bottles of Lemoncello 50010 to sip, mix or bake with.
• Brisk lemonade to use as the mixer or just to drink from a lemon decorated stainless cup.
• There's also a lemon shaped dish, salt and pepper shakers, a cloth mat and Lemonheads.

The Ribbon & Pear cooking school will help you bake your best.

• Enjoy a two hour in person lesson on the baked good of your choice.
• Lost a recipe? Want to recreate grandma's banana bread?
• Always wanted a go-to dessert for potlucks? Sure thing! The location is in Ankeny.
• The lesson must be scheduled and completed before 11/9/2024.

This package comes with a fresh baked item for you to sample.

Gather recipe ideas by skimming through the 22nd edition Iowa State Fair cookbook and Baking Blue Ribbons.

Don't feel like making anything big? Satisfy your sweet tooth with a mini bundt cake maker.

It's always time for milk and cookies.

Enjoy Sandy's famous (at least in her family) gingersnap cookies. You'll take home a batch of delicious cookies and a $20 Fareway gift card for some milk.

Decorate for the holidays with a selection of gingersnap cookie themed dishes, napkins and signs.

Be a judge in the new Sunday Night Foods Baking Championship contest on Friday, August 9th at 2pm in the Elwell Family Food Center. Entrants are to use one of Sunday Night Foods sauces in their creation, so be ready for rich flavors.

Gate admission for two and a parking pass are included as well as a copy of the 22nd edition Iowa State Fair cookbook and a jar each of Sunday Night dark chocolate and sea salt chocolate.

Be a judge in the Always Room for Dessert's food competition in memory of Olive Tarbell, a long-time food department exhibitor.

• The contest is on Thursday, August 8th at 12 p.m. in the Elwell Family Food Building.
• We're sure Olive would have filled this special Iowa State Fair pie plate by New Harmony Pottery with a delicious dessert.

Find some dessert ideas yourself with both a 22nd and 21st edition Iowa State Fair cookbook.

Gate admission for two and a parking pass.

Want to improve your baking skills? Enjoy a casual, informative and hands on cooking lesson for up to four people.

• The two-hour lesson can be tailored to your desires - recreating your grandma's cake; replacing a lost recipe; needing the perfect go-to dessert?
• Sure thing! The location is in Ankeny.
• The lesson must be scheduled and completed before 11/9/2024.

This package comes with a fresh baked item for you to sample.

Gather recipe ideas by skimming through the 22nd edition Iowa State Fair cookbook and Baking Blue Ribbons cookbook.

Get up and grind with this coffee package. Snake River Roasting has included five 4 oz packages of their favorite blends which include G's Supafly, Gros Ventre, Kirby's First Tram, White Spider and Roam.

Mix it up with two 2 lb bags from Blind Dog Coffee. Enjoy their Organic Italian dark roast and Tanner's House blend which is a medium roast with flavors of nougat, roasted walnut, black tea, caramel and raw sugar.

A new grinder will have your coffee tasting fresher than ever.

If you like blackberry, this is your package. Featuring two bottles of Crown Royal's limited edition blackberry whiskey, there also are blackberry flavored beers, coolers, wine, chocolate, honey sticks and more.

Enjoy a three-tiered (yes that is 9 layers!) Vanilla Almond Wedding Cake with Buttercream Frosting to be made for your special occasion.

• The flower colors may be changed to accommodate your request.
• Delivery and set up included within a 25 mile radius of Des Moines.
• Must be used by 7/31/25.

Since it is hard to wait for cake, enjoy this 8" three-layer cake to give you an idea how beautiful and delicious your other cake will be.

The first image is the type of cake she'll make for you. The second image is what you take home this weekend.

With a 42 can capacity, the leak resistant Igloo Maddox XL cooler comes in handy when you need a quick, portable cooler.

A Life in Motion deluxe tote partners well to haul treats, like some Johnny Pop Kettle Corn.

Enjoy a fried taco dinner and some outdoor fun at the Carroll's 40+ acre home by Runnells.

• The taco meal is for 12 people and the fun can include fishing and a bonfire.
• Dates are available late Spring to late Fall and subject to mutual availability.
• Advance reservations required; fishing is catch and release.

Use this Cantaritos Mexican cocktail kit to streamline your margarita making.

• A bottle of Herradura Tequila and cutting board mean all you need are the salt and lime.
• Enjoy a selection of six Fresh Chile Company products featuring Chile Dijon mustard, jalapeno mustard relish, sweet & spicy Chile mustard, spicy red Chile "Hatchup", tequila lime BBQ sauce and Sweet & spicy red Chile BBQ medium sauce.

Enjoy deliciously fresh eggs from Black's Heritage Farm delivered to your doorstep every other week for 6 months.

• Your 2 dozen eggs are from hens allowed to roam outside, eat bugs and grass and scratch in the dirt.
• Delivery valid for those living in the Altoona, Ames, Ankeny, Clive, Des Moines and Polk City areas. Subscription begins in mid-July.

You'll have some fabulous flavors with this Fundamentals collection of spices which includes Royal Cinnamon, Silk Chili, Smoked Pimenton Paprika, Purple Stripe Garlic, Limestone-Rosemary and Flowering Hyssop Thyme.

A Pampered Chef egg cooker to quickly microwave your eggs and a Rae Dunn egg holder.

Depending on the day, use these Good Egg/Bad Egg coffee mugs.

You always have to clean up as you cook so here is a 2-pack of kitchen towels.

A 22nd and 21st edition Iowa State Fair cookbook will give you plenty of ways to use your eggs.

Deliver these jars of home canned goodness to your pantry to enjoy all year.

The selection includes pasta sauce, chili base, salsa, applesauce, jam, relish and a variety of pickles.

Enjoy one 2024 Farm Share - Half package from Black's Heritage Farm.

• It includes a weekly basket of locally grown fresh vegetables delivered to your home once a week for 13 weeks beginning in mid-July.
• Delivery valid for those living in the Altoona, Ames, Ankeny, Clive, Des Moines and Polk City areas.

Use this all-natural kit to make scrumptious dressings with almost no work.

Sugar Plum has crafted four mouthwatering dry spice blends: Balsamic Vinaigrette, Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette, Lemon Poppy Vinaigrette, and Chili Lime Vinaigrette.

A glass mixer bottle has a colorful salad inspired motif.

Get your chop on with this package of knives.

A meat cleaver plus a 5" and 3-1/2" santoku knives can handle about anything you care to cut up.

A large and medium bamboo cutting boards provide a perfect cutting surface.

• Mix up a Moscow Mule at home and discover new cocktails with private tastings and tours.
• Enjoy a private tasting and tour for up to six guests at nationally recognized Cedar Ridge Distillery, Iowa's first licensed distillery since Prohibition.
• Enjoy a private tour and tasting for up to four at the Foundry Distilling Company in West Des Moines.
• After your tour, have a drink or two with six cocktail drink cards.
• A sip it or mix it bottle of Lemoncello 50010 provides outstanding lemon flavor.
• Two copper cups and a shaker have you set and ready to mix.
• Sip some Green Frog Distillery caramel flavored corn whiskey this summer.
• A Knee-High Distilling Co. bottle of watermelon vodka plus a can of watermelon Red Bull and 7-Up mix up a refreshing beverage right away.
• Koozies and a t-shirt too.

Shop local using these gift certificates.

• $50 gift certificate to the Picket Fence Creamery Farm Store in Woodward.
• $50 gift card redeemable at Maytag Dairy Farms or call to place an order. Expires 8/30/2025.
• $100 gift card for Graziano Brothers' finest Italian sausage. Select between any combination of Med-Hot Italian sausage, X-Hot Italian sausage, sweet Italian sausage, garlic-flavored Italian sausage or Cajun-style Andouille sausage.
• Two Iowa State Fair cookbooks, 21st and 22nd editions will give you delicious recipes to try out.

The Italian-American Cultural Center promotes and preserves all aspects of Des Moines' rich Italian-American culture.

• Enjoy a taste of it with this package filled with oils, vinegars, pastas, sauces and more.
• Enjoy the only authentic Italian Lemoncello made in Iowa. This Lemoncello 50010 is made in the traditional Italian way using exclusively American products with absolutely no dyes or preservatives.

Channel your inner Italian as you help judge the Best Italian Lasagna competition at the Iowa State Fair on Monday, August 12 at 12 noon in the Elwell Family Foods Building.

Gate admission for two and a parking pass are included.

Enjoy one 2024 Farm Share - Full package from Black's Heritage Farm.

It includes a weekly basket of locally-grown fresh vegetables delivered to your home once a week for 13 weeks, beginning in July.

• The veggies would be enough for a family of 4. Delivery valid for those living in the Altoona, Ames, Ankeny, Clive, Des Moines and Polk City areas.

Use a customized "Blue Ribbon Seasoning" set that with all your fresh produce.

• It features a hamburger mix, Moroccan rose, Turkish and sweet maple heat seasonings.

Discover some delicious recipes in the 21st and 22nd editions of the Iowa State Fair cookbooks.

Spend some time pre-gaming with a wickedly good Bloody Mary.

This package has all the ingredients and some additional pickled items to load in the drink or just to eat.

Use a ceramic helmet for your chips and dip.

Don't know what flavor of coffee to brew? This package will make the decision harder!

• Caramel Machiatto, Dawn Patrol, Black Diamonte, Butter Pecan and Mocha Java flavors will make selecting what coffee to brew a hard decision. One 12 oz bag of each universal drip for your drinking pleasure.
• Enjoy this freshly roasted coffee package by Verena Street Coffee Co. of Dubuque. Sample six of their deliciously unique, top selling coffee blends featuring different roasts and flavors. Each pack contains 2 oz of ground coffee and brews a 12-cup pot.
• Blackbeard Coffee Roasters is keeping it deliciously simple. Enjoy a 12 oz bag of house medium roast coffee.
• Packed full of coffee mugs, there is also a wooden "On Break" sign.

Have a full day at the Iowa State Fair seeing and judging.

• The Iowa Egg Council has some egg-ceptional items of swag and included a $50 gift card to the Cluck'n Coop.
• Don't eat too much though as you'll be a judge at the Exceptional Eggs Cooking Contest on Tuesday, August 13 at 2:00 pm in the Elwell Family Food Center.

A 22nd edition Iowa State Fair cookbook plus Baking Blue Ribbons will give you many recipes to try.

Gate admission for two, a parking pass, two cup of cookie coupons and some Iowa State Fair swag make it a great day.

Go for a Sunday-type drive with a destination or two in mind.

• Visit Soldier Creek Winery in Fort Dodge to sample their wines. Use a coupon to bring home six bottles of wine. Coupon must be used in tasting room.
• Once that tasting is complete, journey to Luther to use a $100 gift card at Whatcha' Smokin' BBQ & Brew to sample your way through their delicious BBQ menu.
• In addition to the gift card, you also get a t-shirt, two bottles of Liquid Lava BBQ sauce and three rubs - Dream, Original Gangster and Diesel.
• A $50 Casey's gift card covers the fuel for the day.

With a lifetime warranty, this Grizzly 40 cooler is the versatile and Rototough rot-proof, dent-proof and leak-proof cooler to have.

• A Grizzly Ice Divider will help obtain maximum ice retention while keeping your goods separated.
• Two Grizzly Grip Cans mean business, keeping your beverage cold for up to 4 hours.

A $100 Fareway gift card will help pay to fill the cooler for the next outdoor adventure!

Indulge yourself with a $200 gift card to I Do Pretty in Ankeny for any of her salon services, excluding extensions.

Have fun creating with a class at Board & Brush in West Des Moines.

Savor a well-crafted cocktail and delicious meal at Bar Nico in Des Moines' East Village.

While out and about, a Selena the Label crossbody purse is a simple and functional accessory.

While away a few hours shopping at Brass Armadillo with a $50 gift card.

At home, savor a box of assorted chocolates from the Chocolate Storybook.

Spend some time pre-gaming with a wickedly good Bloody Mary.

This package has all the ingredients and some additional pickled items to load in the drink or just to eat.

Use a ceramic helmet for your chips and dip.

Stay hydrated this summer. This package has a case of Dr. Pepper in classic glass bottles, a case of CORE water, a case of C4, one of La Colomba draft latte and a case of Bai.

Keep these beverages cold in a CORE branded Coleman cooler. This is a 50qt wheeled cooler which can hold over 50 cans.

Stay and play a while with Corkcicle Chillpod - the head-turning, high-performing rotomolded cooler made for leisure maximalists.

We're talking a roomy 25 qt capacity for up to 32 cans, non-slip top that functions wonderfully as a table, and a triple-threat storage divider/cutting board/bottle opener.

The Chillpod keeps ice for multiple days so you can keep the good times flowing.

For the legit barbeque aficionado, here's a selection of rubs (bourbon molasses, sweet rib and mango) as well as BBQ sauces and grilling gloves.

Cajun cooking is known for spice combos that make a tongue zing. Enjoy flavor create from these five spice jars from Lucky Cajun - Voodoo, Natil, Bulgasari, Black Label and Sodium Free.

Pull some recipes from the 22nd and 21st edition Iowa State Fair cookbooks to use your new spices and rubs.

See if there are any of these flavor combinations entered in the Winner Winner Chicken Dinner food competition.

• Be a judge of this contest on Friday, August 9th at 9:30 a.m. in the Elwell Family Foods Building.
• Gate admission for two and a parking pass included.

Concoct your own delicious meal with a Lodge enameled cast iron 6qt Dutch oven.

Looking for a refreshing drink mix that is flavorful and not loaded with sugar? If so, you'll enjoy this selection from True Citrus.

Made with simple ingredients, no artificial sweeteners and citrus forward, they come in flavors ranging from lemon and lime to watermelon, peach tea and crisp apple.

At the end of a busy week, wine down with a friend by enjoying a bottle of Napa Valley's Joseph Cellars' Pinot Noir. Two swirled red wine glasses are at the ready. A wine tool kit is included which has a wine chiller stick, opener and bottle plugs.

Feel like being served your wine? Head to Brick & Ivy in Altoona to enjoy their selection with a $25 gift card.