The 2017 State Fair Weed Identification Contest will be held on Friday, August 11, from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Contestants can show up anytime during this period and complete the task at their own pace.
The contest is held outside of the John Deere Agriculture Building, but moves indoors in case of rain. Contestants are required to identify live specimens of important Iowa weeds (to challenge the professionals, we also include some not-so-common weeds of Iowa). There are three divisions (Professional, Novice, and Youth), so everybody has an opportunity to win a coveted State Fair Ribbon, along with cash prizes. Complete rules can be found in the State Fair Premium Book, Weed Identification Contest, Division 149.
We hope to see you at the Fair.
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- Retired Weed Scientist and Professor of Agronomy
- Field Agronomist in Central Iowa