During the 1980s, I entered handwork items in different categories at the Iowa State Fair. Dan had helped me make jam before and decided it would be fun to make some himself to enter.
Visitors may watch the judging of the foods, so we found our seats in time for the jam and jelly judging.
Dan won first prize for his pineapple jam his first year, 1984. His recipe was also published in the Iowa State Fair cookbook that year. His other ribbons were for watermelon jelly and spelling bee participant. (There were 51 kids ages 9-12. By the time he missed the word “libel,” there were five kids left.) Dan was 9 that summer.
The next year, his apple jelly won the blue ribbon, pineapple jam placed third, and pineapple jelly earned “near winner.” He also placed 6th in the spelling bee, out of 61 kids who entered.
In 1986, he was the Iowa State Fair Spelling Champion for his age division, which started with 26 kids and went 24 rounds. His prize was $25 plus a three-volume dictionary, which we toted around the rest of the day. His win was reported in The Des Moines Register the next day.
We bought a commemorative brick to remember his win. It’s on the north side of the Administration Office at the fairgrounds, below the entrance steps. Long after Dan left home, whenever we’d split up at the fair to see different things, we’d choose a time to meet again at “Dan’s brick.”
Dan soon spent his State Fair time at an arcade tent instead of kid things he’d enjoyed when he was younger.
Here’s Dan’s blue ribbon recipe from Iowa State Fair Award Winning Recipes, 1984. (It’s even good served with ham.)
I tried the Holiday Fruit Drops recipe from the cookbook. It was a favorite of Dan’s Grandma Doris, and one of the cookies we served after Dan’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor in 1991.
Dan was talented and versatile!! That shows good upbringing!
Thanks, GP! Now he’s a talented and versatile CPA and girl dad!
How cute! I love that he proudly entered his jams and jellies. Is he still a good speller?
Thanks, Darlene! He sure is! He’s a CPA with a law degree, and a girl dad to 8-year-old Kate!
That’s a wonderful collection of accomplishments!
Thanks, Eilene. He became a CPA and is a girl dad, to Kate, age 8!
Sounds good
He eventually became a CPA (with a law degree) and is a girl-dad, Kate is 8 year old!
Now that’s what I call an accomplishment.
He was a fun kid!
How fun! I’ve written about our daughters’ ribbons at state fair too. (And despite their insistence that they are “purgers,” they still hold onto those ribbons!
I need to find Dan’s as I bet his little daughter would like to have them!
Great story and it is obvious, Dan makes his mom proud.
Thank you, John. He was a fun kid!
A very talented young man! I could go for some of that pineapple jam.
It’s even good warm with ham!
I could go for that, too, maybe add some raisins.
To have such a talented son is so pleasing, Joy. 😊
He certainly was a fun kid. Thanks, Tim!
Wonderful post! That pineapple jam does look good! 🙂
It’s good warmed up with ham as well, and someone suggested adding raisings. Yum!
What a great story, Joy, and a talented son! I’ve never had pineapple jam before, but it sure sounds good. 🥰
We served it with ham, Lauren, which worked well.
Sounds delicious, Joy!
[…] Son Dan’s Iowa State Fair Ribbons by Joy on Joy Neal Kidney […]
Hopefully, if you decide to do a bio, you’ll include lots of “Dan” stories. Loved this! 🙂
When I was learning to write, I did quite a few “Dan” stories for local papers. I’ve though about rounding up things published in the 1990s into a book. That chapter is tentatively called “Raising a Son.” Thank you, Nancy. Maybe I’ll get that done this fall!
My fingers are crossed! 🤞😁🤞
[…] Iowa State Fair wasn’t as much fun for him anymore, until he discovered an arcade […]