The Iowa State Fair has a long history
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By Olivia West
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa State Fair is the largest annual event in Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. The fair attracts more than 1 million visitors from around the world each year and is currently held in Des Moines.
However, it has not always been held in the state’s capitol. The first Iowa State Fair was held in 1854 in Fairfield. In its early years, the fair moved among several Iowa communities, including Oskaloosa and Des Moines. It settled permanently in Des Moines in 1879, where it has been held ever since.
Originally, the state fair focused primarily on agriculture, livestock, farm equipment and agricultural education. Over time, it expanded to include entertainment, food, competitions, rides and political events.
Because Iowa holds the nation’s first presidential caucuses, the Iowa State Fair often draws presidential candidates, particularly during election years. President Donald Trump attended the fair in July 2025.
The Butter Cow became a fair tradition in 1911, when J.K. Daniels sculpted the first life-size cow from butter. The sculpture was created to celebrate Iowa’s dairy industry and has since become one of the fair’s most recognizable attractions. The Butter Cow is displayed in a refrigerated case in the Agriculture Building.
Five artists have sculpted the Butter Cow over the course of the tradition: Daniels, J.E. Wallace, Earle Frank Dutt, Norma “Duffy” Lyon and Sarah Pratt. Lyon was the first woman to sculpt the Butter Cow, a role she held for more than 40 years. Pratt, who apprenticed under Lyon for 15 years, later succeeded her.
Since 1996, the Butter Cow has been accompanied by a second butter sculpture. The companion sculptures have featured people, events and cultural icons.
Today, the Butter Cow remains a symbol of Iowa’s agricultural heritage and one of the fair’s most recognizable traditions. Its combination of artistry, history and agricultural significance continues to draw visitors to the Agriculture Building each August.
