Iowa State Fair Contest Named One of the Weirdest in the Midwest

Start warming up your voice!

Midwest Living recently published a list of the "Wackiest, Wildest State Fair Contests," and one of the contests to make the list is a favorite at the Iowa State Fair: Husband Calling! The article reads:

"The 40-plus-year-old contest started because wives used to call their husbands in for dinner from the fields. Now wives use cell phones, crazy songs, shouts, yells or even raps to "call" them. The winner receives a $5 prize, and everyone gets a ribbon."

In case you're wondering, 94-year-old Bonnie Swalwell Eibert of Newton, Iowa took first place in the contest last year! The 2024 competition will take place Friday, August 16th at 10 a.m. at the Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall.

In addition to Husband Calling, there are also Iowa State Fair competitions for Mom Calling, Chicken Calling, and Hog Calling! Here are some of the other interesting competitions happening at this year's fair:

• Ladies’ Rubber Chicken Throwing
• Beard Growing Contest (categories include Best Groomed, Longest Beard, Most Unique Beard Design, Most Historic Nature, and Best Beard Design with Costume)
• Decorated Diaper Contest
• Cow Chip Throwing
• Bubble Gum Blowing Contest
• Pigtail, Ponytail, Braid, Mullet, & Mohawk Contest
• Mr. Legs Contest (categories include Thinnest Legs, Hairiest Legs, Whitest Legs Most Tan Legs, and Mr. Legs Champion)
• Best Bagger Contest
• Youth Rooster Crowing
• Monster Arm Wrestling

You can check out all of the competitions happening at the 2024 Iowa State Fair HERE.