>>> Funding for Fair 2021 is brought to you by friends, the Iowa PBS foundation, and by -- >> Since 1911 emc insurance has partnered with local independent insurance agents to provide protection to our customers, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa emc now serves policy holders through 20 locations across the country.

Count on emc.

>>> Caring for pigs is not just a individual job.

It truly does take a village to put a safe healthy food on your table and keep farming sustainable.

>>> Investing in a college savings Iowa 529 account can give your future scholars financial support to pursue their educational dreams.

They grow up fast.

Learn more about planning for their tomorrow at collegesavingsiowa.com.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >>> Hi.

I'm Bill reilly, and we're here, we're smack dab in the middle of the Iowa state fairgrounds.

And man, it is so nice to be back.

I hope you're all healthy and happy out there in the wonderful communities of our state.

And I'm thrilled to be able to share highlights with you from the 2021 great Iowa state fair.

Whether you're joining us from your living room, your computer, maybe even on your cell phone, we're glad you're along for the ride.

Tonight we'll hear the roar of monster trucks as we peek in on the action over at the new elwell family park.

Some young rooster crowers will vie for ribbons on the pioneer hall stage.

And our own charity nebby shares the flavors of some new fair foods.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Right?

So it's no wonder we're all ready to have some fun as we celebrate the Iowa state fair.

Let's get it rolling with a look at the state fair parade, a tradition that makes everybody smile.

>> At last the summer's Main event is here.

It's the return of the Iowa and kicking off the week is the tradition of the Iowa state fair parade.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Joe and Virginia barksdale were named the 2020 parade Marshals, while Al and nina fincham were chosen for 2021.

Joe, you had to wait a year.

You're still going to be grand Marshal.

What's that going to mean to Go down in front in this parade tonight?

>> Well, it's an honor for my wife and I to be selected to Be the Marshal of the Iowa state fair.

It's -- we're just overwhelmed by it.

Absolutely.

Everybody is talking to us about what takes place on it.

But we've been looking forward to this now ever since we found out that we're going to be the grand Marshals, or co-grand Marshals.

>> Al, anita, congratulations on being grand Marshals of the parade.

What was it like when you got that call?

>> It was amazing.

It's beyond our wildest dream.

We didn't think that would ever happen.

>> So it's a simple -- you get a lot of phone calls from the fair.

Did you expect this one to be different?

>> No.

Not really.

I was very impressed that they would consider having us be grand Marshal of the Iowa state fair parade.

We're just thrilled to be here.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> For complete coverage of the Iowa state fair parade visit Iowapbs.org/fair.

>> She's like get my best side.

That's good.

>> Since the fair was canceled last year, it feels like everybody is trying to make up for lost time this year.

And I think that's why the list of new fair foods is so incredibly long.

It was really hard to narrow it down to figure out what I'm going to try.

But I got the job done.

>> I would like one flaming hot cheeto.

>> You got it.

>> I hear you are the creative genius behind the flaming hot cheeto pancake?

>> Yes, ma'am.

>> How did you come up with this?

>> This one was actually derived because my customers would come up and see the red velvet and they'd go oh, is that one spicy?

And I'd go like no.

But it will be.

>> So no pressure on me or anything like that.

But do you like it?

>> I don't eat them.

>> Because they're too spicy?

>> Well, that plus I don't eat funnel cakes.

I've just eaten way too many of them in my lifetime.

So no, I don't eat funnel cakes.

I just have the fun of creating them.

>> Here it is.

The flaming hot cheeto funnel cake.

Not something I ever thought I'd eat.

I actually really like this.

At first it tastes like cornbread with nacho cheese sauce on it.

And then the heat starts kicking in.

And I will be feeling this for a while.

>> Can you describe for us what's in the Tennessee twinkie?

>> Yeah, so inside our Tennessee twinkie is a mixture of Monterey Jack cheese, cream cheese, barbecue chicken, stuffed into a jalapeno wrapped in bacon and smothered in barbecue sauce.

>> All right.

I'm here with a group of cousins that has volunteered to try these delicious-looking Tennessee twinkies for us.

All right.

Are you a fan of spicy food?

>> Yeah.

>> Good.

How about the rest of you?

>> Not so much.

But I'll try it.

>> Have you ever had a jalapeno pepper before?

>> No.

>> Are you a little scared?

>> Yes.

>> Not too spicy?

>> mm-mm.

>> Messy.

>> It is messy.

It has a little bit of kick to it.

But it's good.

>> That's really good.

>> So what makes it atomic?

>> The atomic strawberry shortcake is we take bread, cut it in half, put it on the bottom, scoop of strawberries and whipped cream, then a scoop of ice cream, whipped creak, strawberries, dollop of whipped cream and then strawberry on top.

>> It's the ice cream that makes it atomic, then.

>> No.

It makes it so that it's double.

The original one is just half of that.

>> Shortbread, strawberries.

That is a very good strawberry shortcake.

And in the heat of the fair i think it tastes better than any strawberry shortcake I've ever had.

The ice cream does not hurt.

>> Well, I have once again eaten my way across the Iowa state fair.

It was delicious.

I'm stuffed.

I'm exhausted.

It's time to give these trotters a rest.

>> We are in the chute barn for the ffa sheep show.

This year there are 245 exhibitors showing 325 sheep in 20 classes.

But it all comes down to one winner.

This year the judge is Josh Kuehns from Seymour, Texas.

>> My judging career started, i was a 4h student and started showing when I was 10.

That's when my passion began for livestock.

Growing up on a farm in central Indiana I got a junging scholarship to Texas university.

So I started judging at 18.

Some county fairs through Indiana and Illinois and doing about 30 shows a year.

So my day job I'm actually a county extension agent for 4h and ag both in baylor county, Texas.

Prior to that I was a high school ag teacher for eight years in both Indiana and Texas as well.

So today in market lambs it doesn't vary from show to show.

My priorities in setting a good market lamb are the same.

A market animal has to look like a show animal.

It's a livestock show.

So they have to be well cared for.

They have to have that quality look and that show ring presence out there.

And they have to be a market animal.

So they have to combine the carcass traits that are deemed necessary by the industry in terms of muscle and fat cover and that sort of thing.

So really you look at the whole animal.

It needs to be a combination of a lot of good traits.

And at the end I always ask myself which one is the hardest one to mate from a breeder's perspective or standpoint?

Which one is the hardest one to develop over a time of breeding and genetics?

I think the type of livestock that we're raising has changed and if you look back into the 60s and 70s in particular cattle really small framed heavy muscled cattle low to the ground.

Sheep were ind coo of the same.

And then we went to an increase in size, brain size, but We brought that back down and now we're moderating livestock again and still having an acceptable amount of muscle.

So I think just by maybe some of the industry trends we've seen just better livestock being raised I think.

And more emphasis on muscle and structure and that combination.

I'll try to talk to every kid that comes in the gate.

On the microphone it's really hard to come in and discuss 25 or 35 kids in every class and their lambs.

And to be honest, a kid's attention span's very brief and a parent's is even more brief i think.

So I try to discuss the top five on the microphone and then I'll talk individually to those kids throughout the show on why did you place last.

They deserve I think an explanation.

I was that kid one time that got a lot of Brown rib sxonz they said participation on them.

That's how I got better, is by judges just telling me this one needs more muscle or you need to get more fat on this lamb or it needs less fat.

I try to offer just a little bit of information to each kid as i place them and hopefully they can work with next year's project.

Just like to see him handle a little fresher.

I'd like to see him handle just a little bit harder right through here.

Okay?

Good heighted.

Good presented.

Just a little bit more tone.

>> And Phoebe sanders of clarion gold field ffa is our grand champion.

She's a junior at Iowa state studying ag business.

>> My sheep weighed 137 pounds.

He was from salinas and his name was cal.

Yeah, I won the state fair last year but it wasn't the real fair.

So this means a lot more.

>> Well, that's all from the sheep barn.

Congratulations to all our winners.

>> Hey, this year we're going to test your state fair knowledge with some trivia questions.

The first one tonight is true or false.

This is the only location in des moines that has ever served as the state fairgrounds.

We'll bring you the answer a little later in the show.

But right now we're going To meet an impressive 4-her, a welleder who was won numerous ribbons for his work in metal art.

>> I'm J.D.

I'm a welder.

Time to spark it.

I am kind, thoughtful, nice, creative, and passionate about my artwork.

I'm going to take six of these pony horseshoes and make it into a little frog.

It's the first piece that started the metal art.

It started with the bucket of junk challenge through 4-h.

It's a cyclone or it could be whatever else.

You get a bucket of junk and they say make something.

I say the first time was a little hard.

I didn't have the right shoes on the first day.

My dad taught me.

Then my job coach taught me a little bit.

And I just kept learning from there.

And I taught my mom a little bit.

I just had to throw that in there.

I am unique because I have special needs.

That means school was a little harder for me.

Another thing that makes me unique is how I see things.

I kind of see things in 3-d or puzzle kind of view.

How I see things laepds into the creation of my business, J.D.

'S creations.

My mission statement is inspiring others while giving junk metal new life.

What I like about my businesses, I can be creative, make New things and take special orders.

It's just fun just to kind of see what special orders or just unique pieces you can get from auctions, junk, whatever else.

This is a special order here.

These are two hay forks I put together to make a -- it's going to be a blue stripe here.

Sometimes I do like this here.

Which could act as a cell phone holder also.

4-h taught me hard work pays off.

It also helps with communication and life skills.

My cutting board made it to the state fair and won the blue ribbon.

And also made it in school in the shop class.

Just a feeling of accomplishment.

I'd recommend 4-h to others because it lets them try New things.

>> Welcome, everyone.

We are about to have the youth rooster-crowing contest.

♪♪ Are you ready, guys and gals?

[ CHEERS ] Okay.

It sounds like you are.

Thank you.

That was better.

We heard that, thank you.

K [ ROOSTER SOUNDS ] >> 378.

[ ROOSTER CROWING SOUND ] 372.

[ ROOSTER CROWING SOUND ] [ One more time.

One more time.

[ ROOSTER CROWING SOUND ] That was fun.

Thank you.

♪♪ One.

You might want to cover your ears.

Two.

Three!

Whoo!

Here's our winner.

And I'm going to have each of you step over to the microphone.

>> It's fun, and I was very surprised.

My cousin leah said that one of us would get first place, and she was right.

>> And 287.

287.

>> Here's our winner.

And I'm going to have each of you step over to the microphone.

>> Welcome to my normal domain now of studio interviews.

But I'm going out to the Iowa state fair, which means I need to have a corn dog conversation.

We have loaded up on a golf cart and we are going to have a chat today with Lois Martin.

She's from Marion, Iowa.

She first came to the fair in 1946.

And she also exhibited a hog at another fair in Kentucky back in June.

Oh, did I mention she's 92 1/2 years old.

>> What was the Iowa state fair like in 1946?

>> Well, many people lived in tents up in the campground.

I happened to be able to sleep in the trunk of a car.

The car my boyfriend had, the seat somehow folded in so you could lay in the trunk.

>> You brought your kids.

How many kids do you have?

>> Five children.

>> And did they all experience the fair the same way or were some different?

>> Well, they all came when they were little.

But I'm sure that as the years had gone by camping got a lot different than it was.

Think remember -- some of them remember how the horses came up through the campground with the big thing and picked up the garbage.

>> We are right outside the swine barn on the South side of the Iowa state fairgrounds.

They're prepping animals.

I see a family that just had lunch together.

I know you've said you made several lunches for everybody here.

What's the fun like, or is it fun with everybody hanging out here between shows?

>> It's a bonding of people, of not neighbors necessarily next door but people that you've known for years that have been showing pigs and their kids are growing up now.

And they're bringing pigs and their kids -- just like a big giant family reunion.

You get to see all these people.

Oh, I just met a lady a while ago and she says oh, I know you, I've been out to your house.

I don't know what they are name was.

But she knew me.

But she must have seen me i don't know where.

>> Do you want to go for a ride?

>> Sure, I'd love that.

>> Do you ever get golf cart envy?

>> No.

No.

>> Have you ever done the fair of the golf cart?

No.

Not at all.

>> We're going to go up the back side.

>> All right.

>> Up the area you know best.

>> What are your memories of going by this area?

>> Unloading and loading up hogs.

Waiting in line for your turn to get backed up to the chute.

Yep.

You have to -- sometimes when it's time to check in everybody wants to be first and some get a little rowdy.

So you just have to have patience.

Oh, this is a nice cool place, isn't it?

>> It is.

>> Yeah.

>> The joy of all of this.

Even when we're recording we have to watch for people.

>> Absolutely.

I have an electric car, or cart.

And boy, you've got to really watch because people don't watch where they're walking.

And they have a lot of speed, those carts do.

>> Yeah.

Well, Lois, thanks for going along with my inaugural corn dog conversation.

>> I've had my corn dog today.

True.

>> When you visit the fair, do you enter any contests?

There are so many choices.

Here are some of the top winners.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Okay, my friends.

We're going to take a very short breather, but we'll be back in a flash with even more highlights from the Iowa state fair.

Like the monster trucks as they rumble along.

The delicate beauty of the decorated cakes.

And the magnitude of the big pumpkin tonts.

The state fair celebration continues.

Meet us back here for more on Iowa PBS.

>>> Visit Iowa PBS at the state fair to get a glimpse of sneak peeks of new projects that celebrate Iowa and feature some amazing stories.

Plus you can stay cool at the fair and show off your love for Iowa PBS with our free fan giveaway.

New name, same fairgrounds location.

Find us in the varied industries building.

We can't wait to see you at the fair.

>>> That's the best news I've heard all day.

>> On "finding your roots," roseanne cash.

>> It's odd how it makes me feel a little differently about myself.

>> And Clint black.

>> I've joked with friends about what kind of rascals we'd find.

>> Stars of country music.

>> You're descended from a patriot.

>> We were in the fight.

>> Plus -- >> Would you like to meet your dna cousin?

>> Yes.

>> "Finding your roots."

>> Tune in or stream Tuesday at 7:00 P.M. >>> Welcome to Iowa PBS passport.

The best way to stream your favorite PBS shows.

With thousands of hours to choose from and something new every week.

Lions, llamas and Leopards, dolphins donkeys and deer, mofrpgies mules and meerkats, wolves Wallabies and warthogs.

Oh my.

It's TV for you.

Everything you love about Iowa PBS on demand at your fingertips.

Go wild and lose yourself in Iowa PBS passport.

>>> Now ladies and gentlemen, the greatest bronc rider of all time, casey tibbs.

>> I ride a horse with balance and with my spirit.

I have to feel my spirit at all times or he's going to buck me off.

>> Whether you were an adult -- >> Say, aren't you -- >> -- or 5 years old.

>> You're casey tibbs.

>> You were drawn to him.

He's like a magnet.

>> He's gone but not forgotten.

That's for sure.

>> Tuesday at 8:00 P.M. >>> Today at the reilly stage We saw some phenomenal talent.

Here are the young Iowans advancing from today's competition.

P ♪♪ ♪♪ >> We'll bring you talent championships here on Iowa PBS Sunday August 22nd at 8:00 P.M. >>> Welcome back, folks.

There's a famous quote that says patience is the art of hoping.

These talented Bakers are hoping for ribbons in the decorated cakes competition.

>> When visiting the elwell family food center an absolute must is checking out the decorated Kakds display.

The skraeftty is neverending.

But getting a Behind-the-Scenes look at the judging and what it takes to get these cakes here Is a story Al its own.

>> So you're entering this cake into the competition.

>> Yep.

>> Can you tell us a little about your cake?

>> So it's a flower cake where i did different techniques from painting to fondant work and then different molds and then the top's butter cream.

>> I wanted to do something fallish.

So I decided to carve a pumin and made a wood grain board and made some leaves and put it around for a fall touch.

>> Yeah.

It's beautiful.

So which one of these cakes are your favorite?

>> Probably medusa.

>> Medusa?

>> Yeah.

>> Can you tell me a little bit about her?

>> I had her in my brain for a while and just decided to make her and I feel like all of the snakes just totally pop.

I love it.

>> I have a sculpted cake here.

It's a helmet from the video game fallout new vegas.

It has battery-powered working lights.

It's got a little bit of rice Krispie treat, giving some stability as well.

>> Do you play fallout?

>> No, my son does.

>> Your son does.

>> Yeah.

He wanted me to make something like that for his birthday a few years ago.

>> I'm sure he loves it.

>> He's been showing it to everybody.

>> Chocolate cake that I made a couple of different times with some really cool Golden sprinkles on top, and I added some snickers and Reese's peanut butter cups.

That way it's a chocolate explosion is what I call it with little gold flakes all over it.

>> Thank you for entering it.

It looks beautiful.

I hope you had fun doing it.

>> Yes, I did.

>> What do you think of the entry so far?

>> It's always a variety of skill levels, of inspiration, of colors, of techniques.

It's fabulous every year and it's always different.

>> We're all excited about this.

This is so cool.

I'm going to have the judges introduce themselves.

They're going to start right away.

>> So what is your favorite thing about the cake decorating competition?

>> My favorite thing is to see the growth.

A lot of time we have people that enter year after year.

And even though I don't know whose cake belongs to whom, you can see oh, this style I've seen before and perhaps it belongs to a former contestant and you debt to see the progress that they've made, all of the practicing And energy and time they put into it.

That's the best thing, is from year to year have people grow and experiment with tech nooerkz and then have new people that have never done it before.

>> Every year this competition never disappoints.

And for 2021 these cakes delivered.

[ MOTORS REVVING ] >> Wrap it up there.

Want to give the people a show.

We want them excited.

So great to see the young new fans coming, the little kids all bright-eyed.

So excited and stuff.

It's like I'm still excited to do it.

We're going to be jumping the cars, clearing the cars, hitting the barrier, doing wheelies.

We're going to destroy everything out there.

>> How about another round of applause?

Oh, yeah.

It's time to introduce our drivers.

First off, driving unnamed and untamed, Anthony ritter!

Driving the red, white and blue, cyclopse, out of Bakersfield, California it's Terry woodcock.

And in the Rat-A-Tat Jacob ladwig!

Who's ready for some monster make some noise.

>> I started off in motocross and then I went to street racing.

Evolved to four-wheel drives.

And all of a sudden in 1979 i got a crazy idea, it was a good idea to run over a couple cars behind a friend of mine's dad's car lot.

It's a blast.

I'm 61 years old and everyone goes when are you going to quit?

And I go, never.

>> And give it a start.

Here we go!

>> Here we go.

Let's see what he can do for you.

Oh, boy.

Up he goes.

Hello.

Make some noise, here he goes.

Crush some cars.

And fits in another round.

Nice job.

♪♪ >> My dad was in the military.

And then I spent my summers in Washington State working on farms.

And you know, farming as everybody knows in this area, harvest is important And everything and something breaks down you figure out how to fix it and keep going.

That's the same thing as monster trucks.

You have a one-hour show or a two-hour show, so you learn real quick how to make things work so you can entertain the fans who bought a ticket to come watch your show.

>> Now, he is going to find a good spot to park that jet engine facing that car on those two concrete blocks.

He's got to get it just in the right position to fire up 7,000 pounds of thrust.

Here we go.

Oh, you can feel it!

>> The jet engine.

>> I like to take the time and thank everybody for coming out, thank the parents for bringing the kids out.

Sign the shirt you're wearing or whatever.

Anything we can do to give you that memory.

>> My mom's going to be very happy.

>> Oh, yeah.

>> Demographics is huge.

You've got a 2-year-Old kid and a 102-year-Old guy that just loves it.

>> Wow.

That's got to be the most air so far.

>> One of the great things about vegetable gardening is how scalable it is.

You can start with a few containers of tomatoes.

Maybe the following season you graduate to a couple of raised beds.

Eventually, you could start sell your produce at the farmer's market.

And finally push your skills to become a year-round csa.

But then there are the Iowa state fair vegetable gardeners.

The blue ribbon aficionados.

People who know how to met I can lously pick uniform shapes, colors, and sizes for a wide variety of vegetables.

People like Don Francis.

A vegetable gardener who is in a class all his own.

>> I put it all in a spreadsheet so I can keep track of it.

There's probably about 160 or 70 classes at the fair.

And so I probably will, depending on how the hail affected me, probably 130 to 140 entries maybe.

I kind of really got into the state fair and showing vegetables at the state fair.

I started about 24 years ago.

And under three inches is called a -- but you kind of get drawn into it and addicted.

>> Yeah, that's a nice one.

>> The ag building's just a fun environment to be in the day they judge them.

>> I don't know if I'll have the right entry this year because of the hail.

>> We call it veggie day.

My team of people is my -- whether they like it or not, my family and my kids and my wife.

And it's just a fun day.

You know, the state fair is obviously part of the reason i do it.

There you have it.

I think I got them all.

But I've just always loved gardening.

I have to keep the stem on for the state fair, but although we're just practicing now.

Oops.

I broke it.

So the whole gardening thing is the drive behind it.

The state fair is the push to say okay, I'm going to do this.

This is what was planted, what date it was planted.

You know, it's a year-round process.

>> Every two days.

Pick, pick, pick, pick.

Pick beans, pick beans, pick beans.

>> You start right after last year's fair is over, you have to order your garlic, you have to think about ordering your onions for the next year.

>> These are grown the prior year.

These are grown in 2020.

>> So I know to be ready for fair I need to plant cucumbers on this day or beans on this day and then it just picks up from there.

>> I'm sure that's an heirloom and that is going to taste wonderful.

You get to eat everything you grow.

Don't forget that.

>> That might be an entry.

Two that match.

Not quite.

A little longer.

>> Once the fair's over you can sit back and say we can eat it now and just -- we eat it clear through the season.

But the pressure goes off of gosh, I hope I don't eat the blue ribbon.

>> And now the answer to our trivia question.

True or false.

This is the only location in des moines that has ever served as the state fairgrounds.

The answer is -- false.

When the state fair first moved to Des Moines, it was held in the area between 38th and 42nd streets just West of terrace hill.

I can't imagine that.

Wow.

Hey, history is something we cherish here at Iowa PBS.

And we're going to bring you a little more history right now as we start our nightly look back at 50 years of Iowa PBS state fair coverage with a look at the '70s.

♪♪ They were the days of disco and bell bottoms.

The Iowa educational broadcasting network, as we were known then, was young and so were many of the folks working there.

In 1970 the Iowa state fair parade was set to go right by the studios at tech high school.

So they said hey, let's put a camera in the sxwoend see what happens.

Well, the rest is history.

Iowa PBS and the Iowa state fair have been intertwined ever since.

In the beginning we covered every aspect of the fair for three hours a night.

Everyone at the network was a part of it.

Compared to now, the equipment was large, heavy and cumbersome.

>> You're looking at the mobile unit, which is used for the coverage of the Iowa state fair.

And really there's no simple thing.

There's a lot of work that goes into it by a lot of people who really never get the credit for the work that they put in.

And it's a fantastic amount.

>> It takes a lot of work and a lot of people to do it.

There are about 30 people involved in covering the state fair.

>> It was a lot of work but everyone had fun doing it.

The 1970s saw the start of our favorite traditions in our coverage.

The butter cow.

The races.

Livestock shows.

Contests.

Spectacles.

And of course live music.

♪ Stand by your man ♪ ♪ Oh, my darling knock three times on the ceiling if you want me ♪ ♪ Sleeping single in a double bed ♪ ♪ Don't tell me ♪ ♪ I have nothing to do ♪ ♪♪ >> We were proud then as we are now to work on a project that really means something to Iowans that they enjoy so much.

>> Had a pretty good growing season.

>> This is like the big steer, big boar contest, and so we're the big pumpkin contest.

It's all about weight.

It's whoever has the biggest pumpkin.

>> I don't know if he's ever broke 100 yet but he's working on it.

>> We celebrate the strangest things.

Sauerkraut, pumpkins, beef.

It's a celebration.

This is Iowa.

And we don't need much to have a party.

>> Laying it down.

Weighing it up.

94.

Dave's grown bigger ones.

>> Oh, you look and say wow, look at that.

And then they go on down the line ane see a bigger pumpkin and then they're really amazed.

Even the small ones the little kids love.

>> Their reaction is what is this?

Is this a pumpkin?

It's like yep.

Is this a pumpkin pie pumpkin?

Nope.

>> We've got a first-time grower.

>> 78 pounds.

>> That's why you let the professionals do that and the growers take care of their own.

We start with the smallest because you know, it's -- you draw up to the big one.

And sometimes it might not Be the big one.

It might be the one before that or the one, you know, before that one.

>> What do you think?

>> We have a 400 and a 500.

All right.

We're going to find out.

637 pounds.

In first place right now Paul Harrington.

>> Every one of them can't be a home run slugger or whatever.

Every now and then it comes to anybody you get one on the vine that's a certain special one.

>> Dave Miller.

Whoa.

716.

>> The seasoned pumpkin growers help the new people.

They visit, go back and forth and give them tips.

>> I will say this to you.

You've got to have the right genetics.

You're not going to take any old donkey and head to the Kentucky Derby.

It ain't going to work for you.

These are all Atlantic giants but it's more than that.

We study this to the tenth degree.

We use the performing ones that win and produce big ones.

I seen these Atlantic giant pumpkins seeds.

I grabbed them.

I came home made a hill in the garden put about ten seeds in there.

They grew to the biggest mess you've ever seen.

So then I said I've got to learn more about this.

I started doing techniques and stuff.

So basically, we make a plant about the size of a two-car garage, 24 by 30, with one pumpkin for each one of them.

>> It's a good one.

915 pounds!

First place champion right here.

Learned at Des Moines city water the ph is 9 1/2, which is a little too high for fertilizers to work great.

Maine water why comes in about 6.

And I learned about parts per million and all the stuff in the water.

My rain water comes in like 00.3, so I can add more fertilizers to it without getting it too high.

But the city water's like 375.

It limits the amount of fertilizer you can work to make it effective.

I say rain water to water it all I can.

That helps a lot.

>> The best bagger competition is an opportunity for us to highlight the important role that baggers play in the customer service at a grocery store.

So today we really get to bring them on stage and we have 16 contestants that are going to be competing to be named Iowa's best bagger.

And to represent our state at the national competition in las vegas.

>> On your mark, get set, bag!

>> These are baggers you will see in your local grocery store.

Many of these folks already competed in their own competition with their own company to qualify to be here at the state event today.

>> I think the best way to do it is looking at this competition is getting all the heavy stuff spread out across the cans.

Because you don't want them to rip off.

Like once you lift it off the container you don't want it to fly everywhere.

The best thing to do is things like bread, chips, eggs right on top so it doesn't get squished all over the place.

>> It was just go, pretty much.

I wasn't really trying to think that hard about it.

I was just let's move, move, move.

>> Each contestant will be bagging an identical order up to 35 commonly purchased items at the store.

So everybody will be having the same layout, the same items that they will be bagging.

>> When you get toward the end, you want to save the real light stuff on top like the paper towels and bread.

There's not much room.

You've kind of just got to wedge it in there however much you can.

>> There are absolutely penalties for the eggs or the bread at the bottom.

That would be part of the proper bagging technique.

Also if you leave any items on the table.

Sometimes folks get going too fast that they might miss an item and forget to put it in the bag.

There are penalties for that as well.

>> I saw a lot of people they were talking about it back there too, was the magazine.

It threw a lot of people off.

Typically when we check out we don't see as many magazines.

People don't buy those anymore.

>> Even if you're at the store, once in a blue moon someone might come along and get one.

But they don't buy them so you don't bag them and when you see them you're like he O', shoot.

That's right.

>> Then also presentation to an extent.

But I was far more concerned about getting it done on time.

Mine weren't too pretty.

>> Many of the folks you see today will be very fast.

It's going to come down within, you know, very similar margins usually between the weight distribution and then the technique.

>> First place today the 2021 Iowa best bagger is Vance Miller.

>> I was throwing the heavy stuff, go to the next bag, throw more heavy stuff in there.

Third bag, throw more heavy stuff, then start building the walls around it.

So like cereal box or a little popcorn box that was up there.

I was going pretty fast up there.

I was thinking through the whole time even before about where I'm putting these items and which bag's going to weigh more than the other.

>> Go into it to have fun.

Don't try to be -- just don't worry about winning.

Just have a good time.

And you'll most likely come out on top.

>> If you can't make it to the fair this year, here's your chance to soak up the atmosphere in the segment we call "as if you were there at the fair."

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> We've come to the end of our first hour of fair highlights for this year, but we've got production teams all over the fairgrounds covering a wagon full of stories that we'll bring you all week long.

We love that you've made these fair highlight programs part of your family and friends' viewing tradition, but we also want To make sure that you have our fair content right at your fingertips.

So we want you to know that you can check out our Website and our youtube channel as well as our facebook and instagram pages to get your daily dose of state fair fun.

There are several ways you can engage with us about our beloved state fair anytime and anywhere.

Tomorrow we hope you'll join US Again.

We'll have some ladies calling chickens, some champions parading through the crowds, and some kiddos enjoying the rides.

Thanks for being here with me, everyone.

I'm loving every minute of this.

We'll see you here tomorrow night for more highlights from the incredible Iowa state fair.

Until then, I'm Bill reilly.

Have fun at the fair.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >>> Funding for fair 2021 is brought to you by -- friends.

The Iowa PBS foundation.

And by -- >> At emc we're committed to improving the communities We serve and the schools within them by donating our time, money, and resources.

And by supporting the education of those pursuing a career in the insurance industry.

Count on emc.

>>> I am Kevin rasmussen and i am a pig farmer.

We feel a deep responsibility to protect our environment And ensure sustainability.

I think it's important to share our story and that others know we're always striving to do better.

>> Investing in a college savings Iowa 529 account can give future scholars financial support to pursue their educational dreams.

They grow up fast.

Learn more about planning for tomorrow at collegesavingsiowa.com.

>> Tonight's programming has been brought to you by friends, the Iowa PBS foundation.

If you'd like to see more programs like tonight's show donate at Iowapbs.org.

♪♪ >>> You're watching statewide Iowa PBS.

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Subscribe to Iowa PBS on youtube.

Connect with us on all our social networks at Iowapbs.org/social.

>>> Iowa PBS create broadcasts the best of public television's how-to shows in cooking, arts and crafts, gardening, home improvement and travel.

Iowa PBS create can be found on the dot four subchannel of your broadcast tuner or check your cable channel guide.

Taste, grow, imagine and explore with Iowa PBS create.

>>> Join the conversation online with Iowa PBS.

Follow us on facebook.

Connect with us on all our social networks at Iowapbs.org/social.

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So does Iowa PBS.

@Iowapbs or snap our code.

Get live peeks at our production as they happen in real time.

See exclusive Behind-the-Scenes content.

Connect with all our social networks at Iowapbs.org/social.

>>> Be a part of Iowa PBS's state fair coverage this year by sharing your favorite pictures with us.

Just tag your photos on social media with hashtag Iowa PBS fair photo.

They'll be included in our fan gallery at Iowapbs.org/fairphotos and highlighted on social media.

>>> This month in passport on the PBS video app, your online library for the best of PBS.

>> It's exciting, isn't it?

>> We'll have fun.

>> See the sights.

>> Let's make it a rule, live in the moment.

>> This has never been done before.

We have no idea what's going to happen.

Wow.

>> I like objects that tell a great story.

>> Come on inside.

>> How much would you say that's worth?

>> One.

>> These and other shows from your PBS station are available with passport.

On the PBS video app.

Download it today.

>>> I'm here and I'm showing the world that you can stay yourself and get respect from the world.

>> There are many, many films about Muhammad Ali we think we tell a story in a kind of complete way.

>> This film, it's the whole picture.

It's the good, the bad, the inspiring.

It's everything.

>> I am the greatest.

>> I am drawn to boxing whp the person and the bouts seem to reflect something larger.

And the person who's doing the fighting is one of the most extraordinary human beings that I have ever, ever met.

>> Boxing was his platform that he used to be able to change the world.

>> He was a pioneer.

He was a revolutionary.

A guy known simply as the greatest.

>> We talked to a lot of people interested in boxing in Muhammad Ali.

Todd Boyd.

Gerald early.

The novelist Walter mosley.

A scholar of Islam.

Sherman Jackson.

And we interviewed his family.

His brother.

Rapman.

His daughter rashida.

And another daughter, Hannah.

>> There was a clip where my dad was saying you know how your daddy's the greatest?

>> Do you know your daddy's the baddest man in the world?

>> I've never seen that clip before.

And I just had tears was rolling down my face.

>> Maybe you'll come for the boxing.

Maybe you'll come for the religion.

Maybe you'll come for the politics or for the conflict.

But I think you'll leave with an elevated sense of an amazing America.

>> To have that chutzpah and to be a black man in America, it was outlandish.

>> I am so pretty.

>> "Muhammad Ali."

Coming to Iowa PBS September 19th.

>> PBS is proud to present "wicked" in concert.

Join Kristen Chenowith and idina menzel for a celebration of the music of "wicked."

Featuring ariana debose, cynthia erivo, Rita moreno, Jennifer nettles, Alex newell, amber riley, Gabrielle ruiz, and more.

>> Only on Iowa PBS, August 29th.

>>> Iowa PBS is bringing you more ways to get involved in our Iowa state fair coverage.

Find us on facebook and youtube for live coverage of the fair parade and Queen coronation.

Follow us across social media for daily questions, quizzes and more ways to engage.

And visit Iowapbs.org/fair to watch highlights of 50 years of fair shows.

Join us online for state fair fun.

>>> Tonight's programming has been brought to you by -- friends.

The Iowa PBS foundation.

If you'd like to see more programs like tonight's show, tonight at Iowapbs.org.