JOHNSTON — Iowa Public Television has brought Iowa State Fair highlights statewide for 48 years and will once again broadcast extensive coverage of the Iowa State Fair. This year’s coverage begins with a live broadcast of the 2018 Iowa State Fair Parade 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, August 8. It continues August 13-18 with Fair 2018. Airing 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Saturday, and 9:30 p.m. Friday, these hour-long programs are among the network’s most-watched of the year. The 2018 Iowa State Fair Parade and Fair 2018 will also be live streamed on Facebook and Iptv.org. Bill Riley will return as host of this year’s coverage, which is full of feature contest results, unique stories, food, animals, music and more. IPTV will also broadcast coverage of the finals of the State Fair Talent Championship 8 p.m. Sunday, August 19.
Below is a list of topics scheduled for each Fair 2018 episode. Please note, topics are subject to change.
Monday, August 13 at 9 & 10:30 p.m. (Also airs Sunday, August 19 at 2 p.m.)
•State Fair Parade
•New Fair Foods
•FFA Sheep
•Photo Salon
•Mountain Man Skills Demo
•Twins, Triplets & More Contest
•Concrete Pigs
•Grape Stomping
•Dollhouses & Miniatures
•Fair Flashback-Fairgrounds Map
•Food Contest-Canned Vegetables
•Chainsaw Carver
•Tall Corn Contest
Tuesday, August 14 at 9 & 10:30 p.m. (Also airs Sunday, August 19 at 3 p.m.)
•Sheep Shearing Contest
•Vet Camp
•Cowgirl Queen Contest
•Fair Flashback-Grandstand Entertainment
•Potter Profile
•Big Animals
•Food contest-Cinnamon Roll Contest
•FFA Parade of Champions
•Red Trouser Show
•FFA Urban Kids
•Cowboy Mounted Shooting Contest
Wednesday, August 15 at 9 & 10:30 p.m. (Also airs Sunday, August 19 at 4 p.m.)
•Big Pumpkin Contest
•Fiddlers’ Championship
•Quilts
•Little Hands on the Farm
•Chatting at the Grill
•Queen Contest & Interview
•4-H Sisters
•Governor’s Charity Steer Show
•Fair Flashback-Fair Fashion
•Food Contest-Frosted Sugar Cookie
•Butter Cow
Thursday, August 16 at 9 & 10:30 p.m. (Also airs Sunday, August 19 at 5 p.m.)
•Pigeon Rolling
•4-H Swine
•Art Access
•Fair Flashback-Gone But Not Forgotten
•Farm to Fair Meal
•Water Globe
•Veterans Parade
•Ice Carving
•Food Department’s New Leader
•The Nadas 25th Anniversary
•Fitness on the Hill-Drumsticks
•Egg Rolling Contest
Friday, August 17 at 9:30 & 10:30 p.m. (Also airs Sunday, August 19 at 6 p.m.)
•Rubber Chicken Throwing
•Micro Mini Tractor Pulls
•4-H Grand Champion Steer
•Fair Flashback-Horses
•Irish Dancers
•Fruit & Veggie Identification Contest
•Beard Growing Contest
•Food Contest-Super Special Corn Creations
•DNR Junk Art
•Sale of Champions Explainer
•Animals After Dark
•Outhouse Races
Saturday, August 18 at 9 & 10:30 p.m. (Also airs Sunday, August 19 at 7 p.m.)
•Mutton Bustin’
•Iowa History 101 Mobile Museum
•Fair Booth
•Tractor Display
•Kids Joke Telling Contest
•Clydesdales, Percherons & Draft Ponies
•Food contest-Innovative Chocolate
•Fair Flashback-Themes of the Past
•Harmonica Contest
•Blue Ribbon Bricks
•Big Wheel Races
•4-H & FFA Sale of Champions
Support for Fair 2018 is provided by EMC Insurance Companies, the Iowa Lottery and the Gilchrist Foundation.
Visit Iptv.org/fair for more Fair 2018 activities and additional broadcast times.
For more information about Iowa Public Television, please contact Susan Ramsey at 515.725.9703 or Susan.Ramsey@iptv.org.