People from across the state ate food from around the world Saturday in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union at the International Food Fair. Nineteen groups prepared food for the fair, which ran from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mike and Bonnie Garvin from North Liberty attended the food fair with their 10-year-old twin daughters, Katherine and Elizabeth. Bonnie earned her undergraduate degree from Iowa State in ’79 and graduate degree in ’81.

“I have these 10 year olds that I’m grooming to become future Cyclones,” Bonnie said.

Bonnie said when she went to school at Iowa State there was not an International Food Fair.

“There’s definitely a lot more international students than when I went here,” Bonnie said.

The Garvins found the event while looking for a schedule of Veishea events in the Memorial Union.

“I think this is a neat addition to Veishea; I’m happy we stumbled upon it,” Bonnie said.

After 3 p.m., groups began giving away extra food. Nathaniel Anderson, freshman in linguistics, and Sara Linn, sophomore in agricultural biochemistry, helped devour the excess food.

“It’s good to have events that are an alternative to the standard Veishea greasy-something-on-a-stick food,” Anderson said. “This is top notch.”

Linn said she liked the native apparel. She also said she enjoyed the food.

“The Thai was the best,” Linn said.

Rachna Kacholia, International Student Council president and senior in accounting, said the food fair ran more smoothly than last year when most groups had run out of food within an hour and a half. After running out of food, people had to be turned away and refunds were given.

This year the international groups had help preparing food from Memorial Union Catering Manager Jennifer Ross.

“Jenni Ross has been a godsend,” Kacholia said.

Groups prepared food from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 2 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Friday and 6 a.m. to noon Saturday. Ross said there were times when more than 40 people were in the kitchen.

“I think it’s a good thing for the different international groups, and for the public to see what this is all about,” Ross said.

Kacholia estimated there were roughly 2,400 people who attended the food fair, buying around 34,000 tickets.

“It was our best food fair ever,” Kacholia said.

International students also sold cake to raise money to donate to ACCESS, the Ames women’s shelter. By the end of the day Kacholia said they raised around $300.