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SHERRY RUGGLES, 78, of Boone (Svcs. 8/16/24)

Obituaries

August 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

SHERRY RUGGLES, 78, of Boone, died Monday, August 12, 2024, at Boone County Hospital in Boone. Funeral services for SHERRY RUGGLES will be held 10:30-a.m. Friday, August 16, 2024, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Public Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 on Thursday, August 15, 2024, at the funeral home.

Interment is in the Evergreen Cemetery in Anita. A luncheon will be held following the interment at the Anita Community Center.

Memorials may be directed to the Anita Fire & EMS Department in memory of Sherry and mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.

SHERRY RUGGLES is survived by:

Her husband of 58-years: Jim Ruggles.

Her sons – Michael (Dawn) Ruggles, of Bondurant, and Daren (Tammy) Ruggles, of Slater.

6 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren; Many friends and relatives.

Posted in Obituaries |

Hawkeyes Open with Rumble in the Rockies

Sports

August 13th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

THIS WEEK

University of Iowa women’s soccer travels to Missoula, Montana, for the Rumble in the Rockies. The Hawkeyes take on Oregon State at 4 p.m. (CT) on Thursday before facing Colorado College at Noon (CT) on Sunday in the season-opening event.

WATCH/FOLLOW LIVE

  • Both matches stream live on ESPN+ (subscription required).
  • Links to streaming and live stats can be found at the gameday page on hawkeyesports.com.
  • Fans can follow the Iowa soccer program on Twitter/X (@HawkeyeSoccer) for live in-game updates.

SCOUTING THE BEAVERS

  • Interim Head Coach Caroline Kelly was elevated in July after seven seasons as an assistant at the Division I level. Kelly previously headed recruiting and defense for Oregon State, guiding the team to seven shutouts in 2023, a high watermark for the past decade of Beaver women’s soccer.
  • Oregon State finished 4-8-7 last season with a 1-6-4 conference record. Leading scorer McKenna Martinez brings back 15 points from the 2023 campaign, including six goals. Six of the team’s top seven point-scorers return on offense.
  • The Beavers averaged 1.79 goals against last season, compared to a program-record 0.76 goals against average posted by the Hawkeye defense a year ago.
  • The Beavers will compete in the West Coast Conference for the first time this season.

SERIES HISTORY – OREGON STATE 

Iowa and Oregon State meet for the first time in program history.

SCOUTING THE PREDATORS

  • Colorado College posted a 3-13-2 record last season, scoring 15 goals on the year and allowing 2.72 goals against.
  • Midfielder Kaelin Enga joined utility players Alexis Wessler and Makenna Kolson as Mountain West Preseason Players to Watch. Enga and Wessler join defender Ava Risser and midfielder Alex Sandoval as the squad’s leading returners on offense, where they each tallied three points apiece, last fall.
  • Sophomore goalkeeper Regan Wallace started in all 18 games last season. The Predators return all three keepers who saw the field in 2023.
  • The Predators were voted 12th in the 2024 Mountain West Preseason Poll.
  • Colorado College advanced to the national semifinals or championship match five times in seven years during the1980s and is considered a pioneering program in collegiate women’s athletics.

SERIES HISTORY – COLORADO COLLEGE 

Iowa is 0-2-0 against the Predators, historically. The last meeting between the two schools was in 2005.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

  • Head Coach Dave DiIanni enters his 11th year at the helm of the Iowa women’s soccer program. Last season was another for the history books, as Iowa won the program’s second Big Ten Tournament Championship. Iowa qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the third time since 2019 and fourth time in school history.
  • Iowa is ranked No. 25 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll to start the year. The preseason ranking is a first in program history. The Hawkeyes also earned their first postseason ranking last fall, checking in at No. 24 to finish the year. Iowa peaked at No. 14 in the national polls, another all-time best.
  • The Hawkeyes return three of four starting defenders from a team that posted program records for shutouts (13) and goal against average (0.76). Graduate-student Maggie Johnston, sophomore Eva Pattison and sophomore Millie Greer return alongside veteran goalkeeper Macy Enneking.
  • Greer (#39) and midfielder Sofia Bush (#87) were ranked top-100 freshmen at the end of the season by Top Drawer Soccer.
  • Offensively, Iowa returns five of six leading point scorers, including leading-scorer Kelli McGroarty.  The graduate student brings back a team-best 18 points and seven goals from 2023.
  • The roster features 10 newcomers, including six freshmen and four transfers.
  • Bush, Enneking and Greer were named Big Ten Players to Watch. The Hawkeyes were ranked eighth in the Big Ten Preseason Poll. Enneking is a United Soccer Coaches national preseason honoree.
  • Johnston and Enneking are captains, with graduate-student Rielee Fetty serving as vice captain.

RUMBLE IN THE ROCKIES

The preseason event is hosted by the Montana Grizzlies. To win the event, teams must sweep their two matches, with a scoring differential to be used as a tiebreaker.

FRESH FACES
Iowa welcomes six freshmen and four new transfer additions.

  • Three freshmen hail from the state of Michigan, including Charlotte Bien (M), Keira Biils (M) and Caliegh Collard (F/M). Forward Abby Warner is a native of Pella, Iowa, while Berit Parten is from St. Paul, Minnesota, and Berkely Binggeli (F/M) hails from Heber City, Utah.
  • Parten posted a hat-trick in the preseason exhibition against South Dakota last week.
  • Graduate-student Maya Hansen (F) joins the Hawkeyes from South Dakota State, where she holds program records with 44 goals, 107 points and 18 game-winning goals. The Savage, Minnesota, native is a three-time All-Summit League First Team selection and a two-time all-region honoree.
  • Graduate-student Lauren Geczik (F/D) joins the program from Texas A&M, where she made 29 starts through 39 games. Geczik scored 13 points on four goals and five assists with the Aggies.
  • Graduate-student Madison Wilson (M) led Dayton with 16 points last season, where she started for four seasons.
  • Junior Alexia Griffin (D) started in every game at Southern Miss over the past two seasons. Griffin tacked on one goal a year ago while leading the Golden Eagle defense.

RETURNING FIREPOWER

Five of Iowa’s top-six point scorers return from last season. Of that group, all but one are seniors or fifth-year players.

  • Returning Totals/2023 Totals: 80/105 Points, 26/36 goals, 28/33 assists
  • McGroarty led the Hawkeyes with 18 points and seven goals last season. Senior Kenzie Roling led the team with five assists and totaled 11 points for the year.
  • Senior Elle Otto scored 13 points on five goals and three assists in 2023.
  • Fourth and fifth-year players combine for 19 of Iowa’s 26 returning goals and 55 of 80 total points returning on offense. Iowa is 43-2-3 in its last 48 games when scoring two goals or more, which dates back to October of 2017. The Hawkeyes scored multiple goals in 10 matches last season.
  • Bush secured eight points on three goals and two assists as a true freshman in the midfield.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Iowa allowed just 17 goals in 2023, setting new program bests for goals against average (0.76) and shutouts (13). Both records had stood since the first season under Head Coach Dave DiIanni in 2014.

  • Three starters return from that top statistical defense in program history, including sophomores Greer and Pattison with captain Maggie Johnston. Senior Miah Schueller also has starting experience at defender.
  •  Iowa outscored opponents 36-17, dominating opponents in shots (307-164) and SOG (149-75).

A KEEPER!

Goalkeeper Macy Enneking set a program individual record for goalkeeper shutouts last season (12.5), tying for fifth nationally.

  • The Hilliard, Ohio, native has started all five years at Iowa, anchoring the team to two NCAA Tournament appearances and conference tournament championships.
  • Enneking is the first Hawkeye named to the United Soccer Coaches Players to Watch List.

BIGGER BIG TEN
The Big Ten Conference welcomes UCLA, USC, Oregon and Washington to the conference this season. The Bruins are ranked 11th nationally while the Trojans check in at No. 23.

  • The Bruins were national champions in 2022 and 2013; the Trojans were national champions in 2016 and 2007. Along with Washington, the three programs combine for 62 NCAA Tournament appearances; Oregon has never qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
  • Iowa hosts Washington on Oct. 17 and Oregon on Oct. 20.

SINCE 2019, IOWA…

  • Won both Big Ten Tournament Championships in program history (2021, 2023)
  • Won each of two NCAA Tournament victories in program history
  • Made three of four NCAA Tournament appearances in program history
  • Has earned 10 postseason wins
  • Has posted 42 shutouts
  • Defeated seven ranked opponents, six top-15 opponents and two top-five opponents
  • Saw Coach DiIanni surpass 300 career wins and become the winningest coach in program history
  • Set a new home attendance record (2,629); the overtime win over Bucknell was the first NCAA Tournament game hosted at the Iowa Soccer Complex

NEW HAWKEYE HEIGHTS

Iowa women’s soccer alumni are reaching new heights.

  • Samantha Cary (‘23) became the first Iowa women’s soccer product selected in the NWSL Draft. Iowa’s all-time minutes leader was picked 48th overall by Racing Louisville. Cary later signed with IFK Norrköping, which plays in Sweden’s top-tier league.
  • Cloé Lacasse (‘14) became the first Hawkeye to compete at the Olympic Games this summer. Lacasse made started and scored a goal competing for Canada Soccer in Paris. Lacasse is tied for first in Iowa program history for career points (112) and sits atop the Hawkeye record book in career shots (306).
  • Lacasse plays professionally for Arsenal W.F.C in London, where she tallied three goals through eight starts and 13 substitutions last season. Lacasse was player of the year for 2023 at her previous stop in the top Portuguese league for  S.L. Benifica.

UP NEXT
Iowa travels to Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Aug. 22 to take on Western Michigan. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. (CT). The Hawkeyes face Texas on Aug. 25 at 1 p.m. on the road.

Posted in Sports |

Cass County Sheriff’s Office (IA) – arrest report for 7/26-8/12/2024: 7 arrested on drug charges

News

August 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Tuesday), released a report on arrests that occurred from July 26th to August 12th (today).

On August 12th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Andrew Nickum, 35, of Casey, on a warrant for Theft 5th Degree.  Nickum was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked; and 33-year-old Jennifer Avey, of Casey, was arrested on a warrant for Theft 5th Degree.  Avey was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release after her initial appearance.

Four arrests took place Sunday (August 11th), in Cass County: 54-year-old Craig Griffin, of Atlantic, was  arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance – 2nd Offense, Possession of Marijuana – 2nd Offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Griffin was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance; 33-year-old Tera Reyes, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Reyes was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance.; 57-year-old Danny Devore, of Cumberland, was arrested on a warrant for a Controlled Substance Violation as well as an additional charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Devore was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held; and 49-year-old Stacey Ashton, of Elk Horn, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Ashton was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance.

On August 10th, Cass County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 36-year-old Timothy Chandler, of Atlantic, on the charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Chandler was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance. And, 33-year-old Morgan Leeder, of Lewis, was arrested on three charges of Child Endangerment as well as Interference with Official Acts.  Leeder was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on bond.

On August 7th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Jeremy Nolan, 43, of Westville, IL, on the charges of Driving while Revoked, Providing False Identification to Law Enforcement and Speed.  Nolan was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On August 6th, 2024, 69-year-old Ricky Roby, of Atlantic, was arrested on two warrants for Possession of Methamphetamine.  Roby was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On August 4th, 2024, 65-year-old Timothy Meyer, of Massena, was arrested on the charges of OWI 1st Offense, Driving Under Suspension and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Meyer was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On August 2nd, 2024, Edward Neff, 34, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Child Endangerment causing Bodily Injury.  Neff was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

On July 29th, 2024, 45-year-old Ronnie Chandler, of Avoca, was arrested for OWI 1st Offense and Open Container.  Chandler was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On July 26th, 2024, 22-year-old Walter Sanchez-Balcazar, of Kennesaw, GA, was arrested for Trespass 1st Offense.  Sanchez-Balcazar was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

All criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in the court of law.

Posted in News |

Cyclists will soon have a 120-mile paved loop to ride in central Iowa

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A long-anticipated connection between two of Iowa’s most popular bike trails opens this weekend. The trail extension from Woodward to Perry creates a nearly-continuous 120-mile paved loop for bikers, runners and walkers on the Raccoon River Valley Trail and the High Trestle Trail. Andrea Boulton is the trails and community conservation director for the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, one partner behind the nine-mile project that’s been years in the making.

“There’s so much excitement to see this project finally come to fruition,” Boulton says. The new segment links two iconic and nationally-recognized trails, and makes the network a destination for Iowans and out-of-state visitors. To mark the opening, the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association has organized a bike ride and ribbon cutting on Saturday and Boulton says there are more trails to come.

The High Trestle Trail (Natural Heritage Foundation photo)

“We’re not done yet as a state,” she says. “We’ve got a very big vision.” Linking Lake Red Rock to Saylorville, Eldora to Marshalltown, and filling in gaps across the Great American Rail-Trail are part of that vision. Boulton says developing long-distance, destination trails gets more people outdoors. “As they’re doing that, they’re discovering new places, new restaurants, new stores, new parks, and places that they’ve never been to before,” she says, “and they’re realizing they can make a whole vacation out of it.”

A 2012 study found cyclists and trails generate over 360-million dollars in direct and indirect economic impacts on the state. A new study is underway.

(Rachel Cramer, Iowa Public Radio)

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

End of Summer Traffic Enforcement

News

August 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa – Last year, during the final weeks of summer, there were 54 traffic fatalities in Iowa; 44% involved impairment.* To prevent future tragedies, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) is partnering with law enforcement across the state to decrease impaired driving. August 16-September 2, agencies will be participating in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement project. You’ll see officers working together to remove impaired drivers/motorcycle riders from the road.

“We want drivers to understand it’s law enforcement’s first priority to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to make a plan,” says GTSB’s Law Enforcement Liaison Randy Kunert. “The drive sober/ride sober campaign is an awareness effort to spread the message that impaired driving is illegal, and it takes lives.”

There are plenty of options to get impaired drivers home safely. Designate a sober driver or call a taxi/rideshare service. If available, use your community’s sober ride program. If you see a drunk driver/rider on the road, contact local law enforcement.

GTSB works with city, county, state, and local organizations to develop and implement strategies to reduce deaths and injuries on Iowa’s roadways using federally funded grants.

Posted in News |

Bortz High School Jersey to be Retired

Sports

August 13th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

PARDEEVILLE, Wis. — Former University of Iowa football player Mark Bortz will have his high school jersey retired at Pardeeville High School on Aug. 23 prior to the season opener.

Bortz, who was a four-year letterman for the Hawkeyes from 1979-82, earned second-team All-America honors as a senior. The defensive tackle was also a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 1981 and 1982.

As a senior, Bortz was named team captain and was selected for the East-West Shine Game. He finished his Hawkeye career with 231 tackles and was named to Iowa’s All-Time Team in 1989.

After being selected by the Chicago Bears in the 1983 NFL Draft, Bortz enjoyed a productive professional career. He moved from defense to offense guard, where he went on to earn two Pro Bowl (1988, 1990) and one first-team All-Pro distinctions (1990).

The Bears won the 1985 Super Bowl, and he made a franchise record 13 playoff appearances. Bortz played in 171 career games with 155 starts in his professional career.

Posted in Sports |

Clark Named CSC Division I Academic All-America Team Member of the Year

Sports

August 13th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Former University of Iowa guard, Caitlin Clark, was named the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Division I Academic All-America Team Member of the year for all sports in 2023-24.

Clark earns her second straight award after becoming the first University of Iowa student-athlete to receive the overall Academic All-America® Division I Team Member of the Year honor in 2022-23. She is the second Division I two-time winner joining the University Division’s Sarah Pavan of Nebraska (volleyball, 2006-07 and 2007-08), and the fifth overall along with the NAIA’s Giovanna Tapigliani of Missouri Baptist (volleyball, 2020-21 and 2021-22), Division III’s Maryann Gong of M.I.T (women’s track and field/cross country, 2015-16 and 2016-17), and College Division/NAIA’s Leah Esposito of Carroll (women’s track and field/cross country, 2015-16 and 2016-17).

Clark was the No. 1 overall draft selection by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She repeated as the Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year for Division I women’s basketball in 2023-24, becoming the seventh player to earn the honor in back-to-back seasons.

Clark won the 2024 Honda Cup and was named Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year as by THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA). She also won the 2024 Naismith, Wooden and Wade Trophies along with the Associated Press and USBWA Ann Drysdale Player of the Year honors. She was also became the first Hawkeye to win back-to-back Big Ten Athlete of the Year honors.

She is also a three-time winner of the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award and is the first-ever three-time winner of the Dawn Staley Award. She also won the Honda Sport Award for Basketball in April.

Clark, who now plays for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever, is the NCAA basketball all-time leading scorer and the only player in NCAA Division I men’s or women’s basketball history to lead her conference in scoring and assists in four consecutive seasons. Clark led the nation in 10 different offensive categories, including averaging 31.6 points and 8.9 assists per game and also broke the NCAA women’s tournament scoring record during the Hawkeyes’ final NCAA Tournament run.

Posted in Sports |

Higgins, Jackson Named to Butkus Award Watch List

Sports

August 13th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa linebackers Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson have been named to the Butkus Award Watch List, it was announced Tuesday.

Higgins and Jackson are two of 51 linebackers named to the watch list this season – a nod to the storied “51” pro jersey worn by the award’s namesake, the late Dick Butkus. Candidates represent 44 colleges and universities and includes two 2023 semifinalists – Higgins and Alabama’s Deontae Lawson.

Iowa is one of seven programs, along with Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, South Carolina and Utah, to have two linebackers on the list.

Higgins (6-foot-2, 232 pounds) recorded 171 tackles (79 solo, 92 assists) during the 2023 season, which led the Big Ten and ranked third nationally. The tackle total tied Iowa’s single-season record. The Indianapolis native was a FWAA first-team All-American.

This season, Higgins is Phil Steele’s Preseason National Defensive Player of the Year. He is also on the watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award and Wuerffel Award, while being a preseason first-team All-America selection.

Jackson (6-2, 235), finished with 110 tackles (51 solo, 59 assists) to rank second on the team and fourth in the Big Ten in his first season as a Hawkeye. The Atlanta native earned third-team All-Big Ten honors by the league media and honorable mention recognition by the league coaches in 2023.

Jackson, who enters his sixth year with 464 tackles – the 12th-most in FBS history – has also been named to the Nagurski and Bednarik Watch Lists leading into the 2024 campaign.

Jack Campbell won the Butkus Award in 2022, while Larry Station finished second in the voting in 1985. Josey Jewell was a finalist in 2016 and the program had semifinalists in 2005 (Chad Greenway), 2017 (Jewell), 2021 (Campbell) and 2023 (Higgins).

Award semifinalists are expected to be named Nov. 4, with finalists named Nov. 25 and the winner named by Dec. 10. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award. The 2024 Butkus Award winners at the high school, college and pro level will be honored at an event planned for early 2025 at Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois as part of the Big Ten Network television special.

The 51-person Butkus Award selection committee comprised of coaches, scouts and journalists guides the selection process emphasizing qualities that defined Dick Butkus’ career: toughness, on-field leadership, competitiveness, football character and linebacking skills. The award is increasingly focused on recognizing linebackers who consistently play off the ball on their feet in a two-point stance in traditional form.

The Hawkeyes open the 2024 season Aug. 31, hosting Illinois State at 11 a.m. (CT) inside Kinnick Stadium. The game is sold out.

HAWKEYES ON 2024 WATCH LISTS
* Sebastian Castro – Bronko Nagurski Trophy (D-POY) // Chuck Bednarik Award (D-POY) // Jim Thorpe Award (DB)
* Jay Higgins — Butkus Award (LB) // Bronko Nagurski Trophy (D-POY) // Chuck Bednarik Award (D-POY) // Wuerffel Award (community service)
* Nick Jackson — Butkus Award (LB) // Bronko Nagurski Trophy (D-POY) // Chuck Bednarik Award (D-POY)
* Leshon Williams — Doak Walker Award (RB)
* Logan Jones – Outland Trophy (OL) // Rimington Award (C)
* Drew Stevens – Lou Groza Award (PK)
* Luke Elkin — Mannelly Award (LS)
* Cade McNamara – Comeback POY
* Luke Lachey – Mackey Award (TE) // Comeback POY

Posted in Sports |

City of Okoboji eases shoreline ordinance to assist restoration projects

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Officials in the City of Okoboji have made temporary changes to a key ordinance to assist property owners dealing with significant erosion along the shore of West Lake Okoboji. City Administrator Michael Meyers says it usually takes at least a month to get a lakeshore landscaping permit. but requirements for a public meeting and other administrative steps are being waived. “In the City of Okoboji we had between 10 and 15 just catastrophic lakeshore collapses,” Meyers says. “…Recognizing the emergent situation that we were in, the city made a decision that having a month long process was just too long.” Property owners will still be required to get an engineer’s evaluation of the project and follow other zoning rules.

“Those are all still intact, so it’s not necessarily a blank slate for folks to do whatever they want, but it is an opportunity to make things go a heck of a lot quicker because for some of these landowners, time is not necessarily in their favor,” Meyers says. Lake-adjacent properties in the City of Okoboji are in a zone where landowners are to follow landscaping methods allowed in the ordinance.

“The intent of the City of Okoboji’s lakeshore landscaping ordinance is really to make shorelines appear as before any of us were here,” We’re really promoting native shoreline restorations, deep-rooted plants and just making sure that these lakeshores are really set up for success in the long term.” The shoreline of both West Lake Okoboji and East Lake Okoboji are within the city limits of the City of Okoboji, but Meyers says the majority of intense flood damage has been along the West Lake Okoboji shoreline.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

2024 Iowa State Fair Queen has shown cattle, camped at the fair

News

August 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – An 18 year old who’s a frequent camper at the Iowa State Fair is the 2024 Iowa State Fair Queen. Elli Blackford says being crowned at the end of Saturday night’s contest was a surreal moment. “It was just so unbelievable and it’s something I never imagined I could do,” she says. “It was truly a dream come true and I can’t even tell you what was running through my head because it was running at 10,000 miles per hour.” Blackford watched the queen contest as a child, one of the activities she’s enjoyed due to having such close access to the fairgrounds. “I’ve been at the fair 18 years and I’ve camped at least 13 of them,” she says. “It’s just a super fun tradition with our family. I actually camp with my grandparents and my aunt and uncle have a site real close to us.”

Blackford, a 4-Her, has showed cattle — Simmental heifers — at the fair, too. “You get to know so many 4-H and FFA members throughout the entire state, so we really build a community in the barn as a family and as a 4-H group, as a county, being stalled with the people that you’re working with all year long, just building those connections,” she says, “then also having the ability to cheer on your fellow 4-H or FFA members while they’re also doing the same in the stands for you.” Blackford joined a different community this past week as she, along with 102 other Iowa county fair queens, gathered in Des Moines. The group learned the lyrics to “Our State Fair” — featured the State Fair play on Broadway and in the State Fair movies.

2024 Iowa State Fair Queen Elli Blackford of Weldon. (Iowa State Fair photo)

Blackford and the rest of the queens sang it as they rode a trolley down Grand Avenue in Des Moines in this year’s Iowa State Fair parade. “They taught it to us kind of on the buses on the way there. I’d heard it before, but didn’t 100% know all the lyrics. I was able to catch on pretty quick,” Blackford says. “Sometimes it gets in my head and other people will be singing it and I kind of hum along with them.” Blackford is from Weldon, a small town in Clarke County and she graduated from Clarke Community School in Osceola this spring. She’ll be a student at Iowa State University this fall and plans to study animal science and agricultural business. “That career pathway for me right now looks like marketing or sales with either of the two degrees,” she says.

Blackford, the queen of the Clarke County Fair, provided daily reports on “Go Clarke TV” — a video network run by her school — to provide updates on activities during the local fair.

Posted in News |