Choose Iowa Favorite Fair Food Contest Overview

The Choose Iowa Favorite Fair Food Contest will celebrate those Iowa State Fair food and beverage menu items made using ingredients sourced from Iowa to honor Iowa’s strong farming tradition. Choose Iowa is a program of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to identify and promote the food, beverages and ag products that are grown, raised and made in Iowa.

Fairgoers can find the food stands participating in this contest using the Iowa State Fair’s app and website. Fairgoers will vote for their Choose Iowa Favorite Fair Food throughout the Iowa State Fair via online form. The online voting form can be found via QR codes posted on signs at participating concessionaires’ stands, in a special coupon booklet created for this contest, as well as on the Choose Iowa website. The deadline for public votes is Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. The winner will be announced on Friday, August 15, 2025, and presented with a plaque and a big sign to proudly display at their stand during the presentation of the Iowa State Fair Best New Food award.

Rules for Choose Iowa Favorite Fair Food Contest

• This contest is open to all Iowa State Fair food concessionaires. If you own multiple stands with unique menus, you can submit one entry per unique stand. Each specific food or beverage item entry must be sold from the corresponding unique stand.
• Food or beverage items submitted must be ready to eat items intended for consumption at the Iowa State Fair. Farmers market vendors are not eligible to participate in this contest.
• Menu items submitted must already be approved for sale by the Iowa State Fair Vender Services and Thrill Parks Department.
• At least one ingredient (or more) in the menu item must be grown or produced in Iowa, not including water. Simply ordering from an Iowa supplier is not sufficient. Ingredient(s) must be raised and grown by Iowa producer(s) and their contact information provided with entry details.
• Submissions are not guaranteed approval for inclusion in the contest.
• Once submitted for entry, the integrity of your food or beverage items cannot change. This includes changes to the ingredients and source. If there are sourcing issues, provide documentation as soon as possible to prove that effort was made to find an Iowa-based solution. Any other changes will result in disqualification.
• Concessionaires are not required but are encouraged to be Choose Iowa members. Members will receive a sign to display at their stand indicating they are a Choose Iowa member so consumers will know they source and serve local Iowa ingredients. Benefits of membership include the opportunity to join the Choose Iowa Passport, which is being promoted all summer and during the Iowa State Fair. Membership in Choose Iowa is separate from and not a requirement for participation in the Choose Iowa Favorite Fair Food Contest. For more information about Choose Iowa membership visit our website.
• By entering the contest, you agree that your booth name, food or beverage name photo and description can be used on the Choose Iowa website, social media, and in other promotions.
• Food or beverage names will be used for marketing purposes and should be cleared of all trademark and copyright before submission.
• Marketing efforts will be made to publicize the contest participants; however, media coverage is not a guarantee.
• Signage will be provided to concessionaires to indicate their participation in the contest.
• Food contest voting results (collected via an online form) will be tabulated by Choose Iowa and are considered final. The deadline for public votes is Wed., Aug. 13, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
• Save the date (August 15): If your entry is selected to win (notification to come August 14), you are required to be present at your booth on August 15 in order to receive your award.
• Entries received after July 20, 2025, will not be accepted.

For questions, please reach out to chooseiowa@iowaagriculture.gov.