Iowa shines at county fairs
A Ferris wheel ride reveals the beauty of the Jones County Fair at dusk. Photo credit: Joseph L. Murphy/Iowa Soybean Association
I recently had a friend from Brazil ask what Iowa is like. Being summertime, my thoughts quickly turned to the county fair. In my mind, the essence of this state is encapsulated on the grounds of our county fairs.
Travel across the state during June, July and early August and you will have the opportunity to visit one of Iowa’s fine county fairs. Whether it is the Great Jones County Fair, Winnebago County Fair, Montgomery County Fair, Bremer County fair or the Des Moines County Fair you will be in for a treat. All the fairs across the state offer a glimpse at Iowa’s outstanding work ethic, empowerment of youth and traditions we hold dear.
A recent poll by the Des Moines Register reported 14 things Iowans love about Iowa. A clear majority of the 14 are tied to our county fairs and the Iowa State Fair itself. So, if you want to learn more about the people of Iowa, see family values on display, learn about livestock, taste some of Iowa's best food and watch a sunset from the top of a Ferris wheel, make plans to visit one of the remaining county fairs or plan a visit for next year.
You won't be disappointed!
Originally published for the Iowa Food & Family Project
For more than two decades, Joseph L. Murphy has had the pleasure of meeting and connecting with people from all walks of life through photography. He has photographed presidents and heads of state, traversed the winding alleyways of the Fes Medina in Morocco, photographed the sprawling countryside and people that make up Argentina and covered events that have defined the U.S. Most recently, Murphy’s travels have taken him to Cambodia, Mexico, China, Vietnam and Ecuador.
He has spent the past 20 years specializing in agriculture photography for multiple organizations, publications and marketing projects.
A graduate of the University of Iowa, Murphy determined at an early age that his love of photography would shape his vision for life.