DES MOINES, Iowa — Employees at JR’s SouthPork Ranch are leaning on each other during this year’s Iowa State Fair after a former coworker passed away from cancer. 

Last Tuesday, 22-year-old Riley Eldridge died after her battle with ovarian cancer. She was diagnosed this past Christmas. Eldridge worked at the stand for two years, flying in from Connecticut to help her family work the 11 days.

Now, her family at JR’s is wearing pink ribbons in her honor and will also be re-naming the “Can Corral,” where she spent most of her shifts, “Riley’s Can Corral”.

“Everybody’s been really comforting and really have come together to help honor her,” said Caroline Reynolds, Eldridge’s second cousin and a JR’s employee. “She was so optimistic and caring that you could throw her anywhere and she wouldn’t care.”

“She was a very sweet young lady who had a lot of life ahead of her,” said Brooks Reynolds, Elridge’s dad’s cousin and JR’s Head Ranch Hand. “The funeral was yesterday in Connecticut, and we just wanted to do something here to honor her and her memory. It’s just very sad for my family and JR’s SouthPork Ranch.”

Eldridge’s family and friends at JR’s want to also bring awareness to ovarian cancer, especially in young women. Even though the average age to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer is in the 60s, Elridge’s family is urging women to advocate for themselves and to get checked if something feels wrong. 

Caroline said she herself has gone in to get examined and was told she doesn’t need to be examined until 21 or older.

“My cousin was 22-years-old, so I do ovarian cancer. I feel like it’s just so important because you never know.”