Off Hours: Raegan Kime shows dairy cattle at the Iowa State Fair. She shares her top tips.

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Hello, Des Moines. I'm Raegan Kime and I am taking over Off Hours to tell you about the Iowa State Fair. This year, I am interning with the fair, working on graphic design. But this isn't my first fair. I have been showing dairy cattle at the Iowa State Fair for about 11 years, and participating in 4‐H and FFA events for seven. The craziest thing I have done at the fair is sleep in the Cattle Barns the night before the show. How about you?

The Deal

Here's the deal: Exhibiting at the Iowa State Fair has become a family tradition and highlight of the Kime family summer.

Every year, we pack up from our farm in Waucoma in northeast Iowa and head to Des Moines, ready for days filled with excitement, competition, and many memories made in the barns.

For us, the fair is not just about the ribbons and awards, although those are certainly rewarding. It is about the time we share with other friends and families who, like us, have a passion for dairy cattle. We create new friendships with fellow exhibitors from across the Midwest, bonding over early mornings in the barns, grooming our cows to perfection, and cheering each other on in the show ring.

Outside the Cattle Barn, the Iowa State Fair itself serves as our summer vacation away from the farm. Every year we find ourselves returning for our fair favorite food and activities. My mom always gravitates toward the gyros near the Bill Riley Stage; meanwhile, Dad’s must‐have is the hot beef sundae from the Cattlemen's Beef Quarters. Beyond the delicious foods, we also enjoy a ride on the famous Sky Glider and a walk through the Varied Industries and Agricultural Buildings.

This year, I will be at the fair as a marketing intern instead of exhibitor but the tradition goes on as myfamily visits as regular fairgoers and experience the fair outside the barn!

My Top Three Things To Do at the Iowa State Fair

Sky Glider: There are so many things to do at the Fair but every year I tend to do the same things. My favorite activity is taking a ride on the west Sky Glider that is close to the livestock barns. In my opinion, you have the best views on this one.

Shopping: Of course, it would not be the fair without buying something new. My favorite shops to visit are filled with western fashion, shoes and more right outside of the Jacobson Exhibition Center.

New food: The best thing to do while at the fair is to try new and crazy foods. While the corndog is a staple of the fair, something even better, in my opinion, is a corn brat. Located in a little yellow food stand across from Livestock Pavilion, instead of a hotdog with breading on a stick it is a bratwurst!

What are your favorite things to do at the Iowa State Fair? Drop me a line at Rkime18@gmail.com with your top tips.

Eat This, Drink That

One of my all‐time fair food favorites is the hot beef sundae from the Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters. If you’re looking for a savory meal on the go, this is the food for you. With mashed potatoes as the base and a pulled beef and gravy topping with cheese and a cherry tomato, it truly looks like a sundae but without the ice cream.

I might be a little biased, but one drink everyone should get is a milkshake from the Dairy Goodness Barn Located by the Cattle Barn, the line is always worth the wait. What better way to beat the August heat than with a chocolate shake!

48 Hours Off

Thursday night: He may write the songs that make the whole world sing, but Barry Manilow said he will hang up the microphone once his tour ends. The singer behind “Mandy,” “Can’t Smile Without You,” “It’s a Miracle,” “Looks Like We Made It,” and “Copacabana (at the Copa)” plays what he’s calling “The Last Des Moines Concert” at Wells Fargo Arena, 233 Center St., Des Moines, for a 7 p.m. show. Tickets start at $27.

Friday afternoon: Hinterland kicks off with a three-day music festival at 3357 St. Charles Road, St. Charles, with singer-songwriter Hozier headlining on Friday, rockers Vampire Weekend on Saturday, and singer-songwriter Noah Kahan , who played the fest last year, and indie favorite Chappell Roan on Sunday.

Friday evening: Mainframe Studios , 900 Keosauqua Way, Des Moines, opens its doors from 5 to 8 p.m. for First Friday. This edition features Photography: Visual Storytelling! Portraits, Abstract, Still Life, Fine Art, Landscape and Nature, showcasing 16 photographers and a filmmaker on the four floors of the building. The first 140 people to visit Jon Lemons Photograph on the first floor receive a free Polaroid to take part in an activity with the portrait instructor. Visitors can also participate in the Polaroid photo booth in the Sarah Rose Studio in studio #354.

Friday night: “Round Here,” “Mr. Jones,” and “Accidentally in Love” band Counting Crows flies into Vibrant Music Hall, 2938 Grand Prairie Parkway, Waukee, with a 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets start at $82. The band played Principal Park with Collective Soul and Third Eye Blind in 2007.

Friday night: Stick around after First Friday for the reveal and dedication of “Inhale…. Exhale….,” a new art installation on top of Mainframe Studios. Head over to 1401 Center St., Lot #301, Des Moines, from 8:15 to 8:45 p.m. when this piece of art created by internationally renowned artist Jordan Weber goes live — and breathes. Weber will be dedicating the piece to the late Teree Caldwell-Johnson , a longtime Des Moines Public Schools board member and CEO at Oakridge Neighborhood.

Sunday afternoon: Head over the Union Park at 2009 Saylor Road, Des Moines, to the Heritage Carousel for Clowns at the Carousel. The event features free carousel rides, a bounce house, food, drink, and entertainment, which includes the Urbandale Community Band and the Korn Patch Klowns.

My Day Job

Thanks for reading! As I finish up my summer in the marketing department at the fair, I will begin my senior year at Iowa State University studying agricultural policy and public relations! This internship experience has definitely been one to remember. My day is spent working with graphic design, social media and various writing projects. I even learned how to make the famous Barksdale Cookies! I encourage other college students to check out the various internships the Iowa State Fair offers because what’s better than spending the summer at the fair? Want to follow me? I'm on Instagram at raegankime .

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This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Off Hours: Raegan Kime shows dairy cattle at the Iowa State Fair. She shares her top tips.