DES MOINES, Iowa — USA Today ranked the Iowa State Fair as the second-best fair in the nation behind Minnesota. Fairgoers at the Iowa State Fair disagreed with the ranking.

“I mean, it’s just a bunch of bull crap, is what it is,” said Brett Plants, an Iowa State Fairgoer, “Endless, endless amounts of people here.”

Michael Banaszynski, who made the trip to the State Fair from Wisconsin, said that the Iowa State Fair is better than his home state’s.

“We were just at the Wisconsin State Fair, and yours is a lot more spread out and just really a great bunch of people and great food. And we’re having a great time,” Banaszynski said.

Houston Vanroekel, an Iowa State Fairgoer, said that he ranks Iowa first after having visited the Illinois and Missouri state fairs.

“They’re like a county fair, and this is a State Fair. That’s a good way to put it,” Vanroekel said.

Michael Majewski also made the trip from Wisconsin and said that the Iowa State Fair is the best fair he’s ever been too.

“We said, let’s see, this Iowa State Fair. We’ve heard it’s like one of the best, and we must say it, it really is, it’s top notch,” Majewski said.

The 2025 Iowa State Fair opened its doors on Thursday and will continue till the 17th. View the Iowa State Fair website to learn more about attractions, daily events, and more.