Iowa State Fair...we have a Hall of Famer!

Since July, our family kept a secret...yes, we did it! Dad was nominated to be an Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame member. We decided to keep it a secret. So, we wrote the write up- a true joint effort, made the plans to gather at the fair on the same day and then surprise dad. It is hard to get things passed him, but we did it. It happened to be that he was also asked to be the Alum of the Day for the state fair on the same day (with some strategic planning by Connie). So we all headed to fair....

Luke heard they were giving away this horse with one buck raffles. He put in his raffle...not  a winner. 

Boys with the "Alum of the Day" 

Watching grandpa give a little acceptance speech!

The Iowa grandkids.

After that we had to figure out how to get him back to that SAME building for the Hall of Fame awards and to keep him in his suit! We used the kids being hungry to kill some time. 

Got some Becky time in at lunch! Then the 4-H staff "faked a need for a photo" and we got him back...showed him the program and he saw his name. We did it!

 

Accepting his Hall of Fame award. 

Then we really did all things Iowa State Fair!! First stop, the GIANT slide! We decided that this darn slide is quite the money maker!!!! Wowza!

Giant pumpkins-- kids had Aunt Nina at heart with this one! 

Feeding Hands farm ...

Getting eggs from the chicken.

You can't tell from the photo, but Luke was FLYING down this hill with his legs out. Not, quite the goal, but he was one speedy farmer!

The Egg council had this funny Egg Booth.

PERFECT SIGN FOR LUKE

Beau and Luke could have stayed in there all day, they had the giggles and thought it was so funny.

Virtual Reality booth at the Iowa State Fair. It was so funny watching them experience it. Luke was of course very animated and Ethan was amazed!

We also rode the Ye Ol Mill, had my favorite shakes at the dairy barn, and just an overall great family day at the fair honoring grandpa Butcher's achievements!