Bannered as “America’s Favorite Fair,” the Iowa State Fair had several exhibits make appearances, including the annual sculpted butter cow and a butter sculpture of Tiger Woods.

“With all the notoriety and popularity, it kind of transitioned into ‘America’s Favorite Fair,'” said Lori Chappell, marketing director for the fair. The record-setting 150th anniversary of the fair in 2004 received a lot of local and national coverage, including Esquire and USA Weekend, which listed the Iowa State Fair as the No. 2 weekend trip to take.

At the ISU exhibit, information about Reiman Gardens was available, as well as tattoos, merchandise and admissions counselors.

Approximately 120 ISU faculty and staff manned the ISU booth throughout the week to answer questions, something that is unique in university exhibits, said Carole Custer, director of University marketing.

“The goal of this exhibit is to demonstrate to the people of Iowa the variety of opportunity at the university,” Custer said.

She said that although the exhibit is one way to attract potential students interested in Iowa State, it is not the main focus.

“The goal is to help the people of Iowa understand that Iowa State is their university,” Custer said.

Between 300,000 and 400,000 people usually come through the exhibit each year, Custer said.

Also making an appearance at the fair were several ISU students, including Danny Dreher, junior in agriculture education.

Dreher, who showed swine for the first time in the open-class division this year, said he was excited because he was up against people in their 40s, 50s and 60s who have been showing for several years.

“I had a really great time,” Dreher said.

Chappell said by all indications the Fair should have more than one million people visit this year.