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.

DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Television Iowa Capitol Bureau) – Tuesday a 20 foot tall inflatable IUD made another stop in Iowa. After stopping in Cedar Rapids Monday, it was in Des Monies Tuesday. After conservatives on the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago, organizers of the event say they’re worried access to contraception is in jeopardy.

They call the inflatable IUD “Freeda Womb” and they’re taking it to competitive congressional districts across the country. They’re doing this to highlight what they perceive as attacks to access to contraception, and are urging lawmakers to pass legislation to protect it.

Democratic State Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott said, “A giant inflatable IUD is ridiculous, but we are living in ridiculous times.”

After the overturning of Roe v. Wade and threats to IVF in other parts of the country, Iowa Democrats say they’re concerned that access to contraception is next.

Lanon Baccam, Democratic candidate for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District said, “Make no mistake. This is the plan that extreme politicians have wanted and have worked for.”

But what threats are these democratic lawmakers seeing here in Iowa?

We asked Trone Garriott, “Can you talk about how access to contraception in Iowa is specifically being threatened? Because Governor Reynolds says she supports over the counter birth control so can you explain how this is more a threat here in Iowa?”

She said, “We have heard from the Governor that she supports access to over the counter birth control but yet we’ve not seen any legislation to truly make it more accessible. Every time something is proposed in our state government, it doesn’t go anywhere.”

Allison Smith with the Family Planning Council of Iowa says they want state and federal lawmakers to pass legislation to protect it. “Protecting contraceptive access is vital for equality, and it is crucial for a person’s health, future, and economic security. Now is the time to stand up for our rights, and ensure contraception remains available to all,” she said.

Democratic State Representative Megan Srinivas of Des Moines says expanding access reduces abortions. “The data shows, that when contraception goes down, the need for abortions increase. So, if we truly want to prevent abortions in this state, as many of my legislative colleagues talk about, we need to ensure contraception is accessible and readily available,” she said.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds supports expanding access to birth control without a prescription but Republicans have blocked it in the legislature. Reynolds has identified that as a priority for the past few legislative session.

This past session, a bill passed out of a committee in the House, but Republican lawmakers never brought it up for a debate on the House floor.

—

Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Television-owned stations in Iowa. Email him at conner.hendricks@gray.tv; and follow him on Facebook at Conner Hendricks TV or on X/Twitter @ConnerReports.

Copyright 2024 KCRG. All rights reserved.

Former Iowa Hawkeye sprinter Brittany Brown is an Olympic medalist.

With a time of 22.20 seconds in the women’s 200-meter final, Brown placed third to earn a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

She is the first woman from Iowa’s program to earn an individual Olympic medal in track and field, according to Iowa Athletics.

More: Resiliency carries former Iowa sprinter Brittany Brown to first Olympics

The 29-year-old sprinter was one of two USA runners to medal, with Gabrielle Thomas winning gold with a time of 21.83.

Brown, a Southern California native, qualified for the Games after placing second in the women’s 200 during the U.S. Olympic Trials on June 29, running a personal-best time of 21.90.

She then won both of her pre-final Olympic heats with times of 22.38 and 22.12.

Her success this summer comes after a slew of injuries and setbacks over the past two years. A sports hernia led to osteitis pubis, which limits productivity from the hips, pelvis and groin area. A labrum tear in Brown’s hip caused so much pain that she required numerous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections spread across several months.

Her last one came roughly three months before qualifying for the Olympics.

“How I got here was with a lot of resilience,” Brown told the Register in July. “I wasn’t like a child prodigy or this coach saw me (early on) and knew I was going to be great. A lot of just picking myself up every time a setback has happened or anything hasn’t been the easiest.”

Brown is Iowa’s 26th track Olympian and first since Kineke Alexander, Troy Doris and Diane Nukuri-Johnson qualified for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, according to Iowa Athletics.

During her Iowa career, Brown become an 11-time all-American with school records in the 100 and 200 meters.

Full Olympics women’s 200m final results

1. Gabriella Thomas, 21.83 (USA)
2. Julien Alfred, 22.08 (Saint Lucia)
3. Brittany Brown, 22.20 (USA)
4. Dina Asher-Smith, 22.22 (Great Britain)
5. Daryll Neita, 22.23 (Great Britain)
6. Favour Ofili, 22.24 (Nigeria)
7. McKenzie Long, 22.42 (USA)
8. Jessika Gbai, 22.70 (Ivory Coast)