It seems like only yesterday that I was hanging out at the Iowa Food & Family Project’s (Iowa FFP) State Fair exhibit. But that was last year. I am SO excited that they’ve asked me to be a part of it again this year. I will be there on Sunday, August 12, from 1-5 p.m. and Wednesday, August 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Iowa FFP is a “young” group that’s only been around for about a year. So if you’ve never heard of the Iowa FFP, or not very much (have you been paying attention to my fact-filled Facebook (or second Facebook) and Twitter posts?), let me introduce you. Their mission is to inspire positive relationships between farmers and consumers through personal engagement and advocacy to the benefit of human vitality, environmental quality and economic prosperity.

One thing you cannot miss at the Fair is Iowa FFP’s canned goods sculpture: Back to the Farmer. It’s top secret what it’s going to look like (no, they haven’t even shared that with me), but it’s going to be something you’ll want to see. I know this girl is excited. Watching the volunteers build the sculpture last year was pretty amazing! Plus, did you know that all the canned food used will be donated to the Iowa Food Bank Association (IFBA). Stop by to see if you can figure out what they’ve made. If you can guess how many cans they used to build it, you can win a $250 gift card from Hy-Vee! While you’re there, you can “buy” a can of food for the sculpture for only a  $5 donation (of course you can always donate more) to the IFBA to help feed hungry Iowans. If you are one of the first 2,000 to do this, you’ll get a FREE T-shirt and they’ll put your name on the can! You also can test your knowledge on our great state’s agriculture in quizzes and you could win FREE Casey’s pizza for a year!     

Last year, I got to spend some quality time with the people who make the Iowa FFP and the IFBA so great. Before that 2011 State Fair gig, I thought I was relatively knowledgeable about Iowa’s agriculture and production, but oh boy did they drop some serious learnin’ on me! For example, did you know that approximately 98 percent of Iowa’s farms are family owned? Or, how about that when you eat at any Subway® (one of my faves!) in the U.S., there’s an 80 percent chance that you’re enjoying turkey provided by Iowa farmers! So, if you’re looking for more than just a sick stomach from the Iowa State Fair, drop by the Varied Industries Building to see me, and find out that The Iowa Food & Family Project isn’t an organization — it’s a movement — one that celebrates the miracle of food and the men and women who provide it!