Time to start sharing images I took from my 2nd trip to the Iowa State Fair. This trip was to assist the competitive barbecue team Tall & Meaty as they competed in the barbecue contest. I’ve already covered their experience. If you are interested in reviewing, click on the link below:
Tall & Meaty: Iowa State Fair: 2025
We arrived at the fairgrounds very early in the morning. Well before dawn. Not early enough for me, but plenty early. It allowed me to walk around the fairgrounds and take pictures of the serene, dark and beautiful fairgrounds before the Fair has opened.
Here is the first collection of images from my day at the Fair with Tall & Meaty.
Pro Tip: The best time to photograph neon is after it rained. The reflection in the wet ground can only be described as magical!
There are still so many pictures from this trip to the Fair left to share!
I think your “before dawn” is my favorite Fair post of yours each year!
It is really such a magical time to wander around the Fair. It is about the only time you can be pretty much completely alone, but a ton of the lights are still on. Although I am reliant on other people qualifying for the barbecue contest to get me in. The rules allow you to get on the fairgrounds at midnight to start setting up. But I think the earliest we have ever gotten there is maybe 5 AM. It does make for a very long day. Makes me wish the contest was on a Friday cause it would lead into a great 3 day weekend. But unfortunately it is always on a Tuesday.
It is so unique and a world you don’t ever see! May the guys never stop competing, because it is great.
If it does dry up. Here is a little loophole. There are a couple of categories that you don’t have to earn you way into. You can just enter. I can just claim I’m going to enter lamb. Get the pass and the tickets. Go in there. And then just not enter.