Iowa
Ever heard of the Husband Calling Contest? Here are 5 bizarre Iowa State Fair contests
ROYYYYYY! IRRRR-VIN! See, hear the Husband Calling Contest at the 2023 Iowa State Fair
Contestants compete in the Husband Calling Contest at the 2023 Iowa State Fair. And it’s a 95-year-old who takes the blue ribbon.
Zach Boyden-Holmes, Des Moines Register
The Iowa State Fair is known for unique fried foods and the biggest livestock competitions, but there are also a number of weird contests that bring out people from all over to show off their legs, beards, mullets and more.
The Iowa State Fair kicks off Aug. 8 and runs through Aug. 18. Across those 11 days there are a number of different contests to watch or take part in. Here are some of the quirkiest competitions that are must-see traditions at the Iowa State Fair.
Mr. Legs Contest
Grab your short shorts because you need to show off all the leg you can in the Iowa State Fair’s Mr. Legs competition. Categories range from the thinnest leg to the hairiest. Contestants get on stage to flex or strut their stuff in this body-positivity competition. Some even go as far as taking their pants off to strut around in their underwear.
The Mr. Legs Contest starts at 3:30 p.m. Aug. 10.
More: Iowa State Fair tickets, parking and more: Your guide to 11 days of fun
Best Pigtail, Ponytail, Braid, Mullets and Mohawk Contest
Don’t forget to make a stop at your local barber before coming to the Iowa State Fair because competition is stiff for the best Pigtail, Ponytail, Braid, Mullet and Mohawk Contest. Contestants of all ages are judged on who has the best hairdo. Each hairstyle has a different standard that contestants are judged on including length, creativity, and originality.
The first division of the competition will start at 4 p.m., Aug. 18.
Turkey Calling Contest
Leave your mouth calls at home because the Iowa State Fair does turkey calling the old-fashioned way. Contestants of all ages can show off their turkey calling skills and it is far more than your average gobble.
Many of the contestants competing hunt turkeys for recreation and use their experience to inspire their sounds. With the right throaty shrill, you might find yourself taking home the gold for the best gobble.
The Turkey Calling Contest will start at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 8.
Best Beards Contest
The best beard is exactly what it sounds like. Beard lengths go head to head to determine whose facial hair is the longest. Some contestants spend years growing out their beards for the Iowa State Fair.
Past winners have had beards that are more than 32 inches long going all the way to their belt line. Judges come by with a yardstick to determine who has the best beard.
The best beard contest is at 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 13.
Husband Calling Contest
Possibly the most memorably weird contest of them all at the Iowa State Fair is the Husband Calling Contest. Spouses line up one-by-one to release the pent-up anger they have against their husbands. Contestants belt their husband’s name at the top of their lungs.
During the 2023 Husband Calling Contest a 95-year-old wife took home the blue ribbon, but all of the contestants had unique holler worth hearing.
The Husband Calling contest will start at 10 a.m. Aug. 16.
Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.
Child abuse: What signs to watch for if you suspect it
Child abuse includes physical, sexual, emotional and medical abuse, as well as neglect. Learn about signs, risk factors, how to get help.
Wochit, Wochit
Two Iowans will spend decades in federal prison after pleading guilty to separate child exploitation offenses.
Martin Menjivar, 59, of Iowa City, was sentenced Thursday, March 26, to 42 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child and child pornography possession. It comes days after Pry’Shayn Mosley, 21, of Fort Dodge was sentenced to 25 years for exploitation and receipt of child pornography.
Iowa City man picked up children from school, abused them
Menjivar, a citizen of Honduras, was charged in May 2025. In court filings, prosecutors say Menjivar was entrusted to pick up children, some as young as 5, from their elementary school and bring them to his wife’s home for after-school babysitting. In at least two cases, Mejivar used that access to get children alone and touch them inappropriately, recording the interaction on video.
Investigators reportedly found dozens of illicit images and videos on Menjivar’s electronic devices. Menjivar also previously worked as a school photographer in Honduras, and investigators found he had hundreds of photos from his former employment that focused on children’s clothed genitals.
“Defendant’s horrific actions of creating and collecting child pornography show violence against young, vulnerable children and a severe danger to the community,” prosecutors wrote in presentence filings.
Menjivar also has been charged in Johnson County with second-degree sexual abuse against two different children, apparently in relation to the same conduct. That case remains pending, with a plea hearing scheduled in May.
Fort Dodge man gets 25 years for enticing children
Mosley, who was sentenced March 23, was charged in January 2025. Prosecutors alleged that in 2022, he enticed two minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct, photographed or recorded it, and distributed the resulting pornography to others, including additional children.
In addition, during a warrant search that located drugs, guns and electronic devices containing child pornography, Mosley tried to get a juvenile at the scene to conceal drugs from the investigators.
Mosley pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation and receiving child pornography. Additional drug, pornography and exploitation charges were dismissed as part of a plea deal.
Menjivar was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, while Mosley’s case was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa. Attorneys for Menjivar and Mosley did not immediately return messages Thursday seeking comment.
William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166.
Audi Crooks, Jada Williams reflect on loss to Syracuse
Iowa State’s Audi Crooks and Jada Williams discuss what went wrong in the second half for the Cyclones’ to fall to Syracuse.
Iowa State’s first-round exit from the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament has triggered a mass exodus, with a reported eight players leaving the team to enter the transfer portal.
Junior forward Addy Brown announced her decision to “move on” from Iowa State and enter the transfer portal in a social media post on Tuesday, March 24.
“This decision comes after a lot of thought about my future and goals,” Brown wrote in a post shared to social media. “While it’s never easy to move on, I believe this is the right step for me and I’m excited for what’s ahead as I continue to grow and chase my dreams.”
By Thursday, March. 26, several other players followed suit. Junior guard Jada Williams confirmed she’ll be “pursuing my dreams elsewhere” for her senior season. She added in a social media post, “Iowa State will always have a place in my heart and I’ll never forget the Iowa State way.”
Williams transferred to Iowa State for the 2025-26 season after playing for Arizona for the first two years of her career. William averaged career-highs in points (15.3), assists (7.7) and field goal percentage (41.7) in her lone season at Iowa State.
Iowa State freshman guard Reese Beaty, freshman guard Freya Jensen, sophomore guard Reagan Wilson, sophomore guard Aili Tanke, junior forward Alisa Williams and junior center Lilly Taulelei all intend to enter the transfer portal, according to On3’s Talia Goodman.
The transfer portal opens on Monday, April 6, following the NCAA Tournament championship game on Sunday, April 5.
Could Iowa State junior center Audi Crooks be next? Crooks declined to answer whether she would return next season following Iowa State’s 72-63 loss to Syracuse on Saturday, March 21. She instead said, “We’re all still processing everything and just being there for each other right now is the priority. That’s the main thing, making sure everybody is mentally OK through this tough time.”
Crooks had 37 points (17-of-25 FG) and five rebounds in the losing effort against Syracuse.
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@usatoday.com and follow her on X at@CydHenderson.
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