"It's a Sweet Thing" at the Corndog Kickoff!

DES MOINES, IA (07/09/2012)(readMedia)-- The Blue Ribbon Foundation will host the sixteenth annual Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction and Fair Food Grazing Party on Saturday, July 14 in the William C. Knapp Varied Industries Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. to celebrate the event's sixteenth year, with a focus on the Fair's sweet treats! "It's a Sweet Thing" to be a part of a night filled with exciting auction packages, entertainment and all of your favorite Fair foods, while helping to raise funds to restore the Iowa State Fairgrounds!

Since its inception in 1997, the Kickoff has raised over $2.3 million for Fairgrounds renovation. Last year's event drew a crowd of 1,300, raising a record high of $280,000! All proceeds go toward the renovation and restoration of the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Highlights from this year's 30 live and 151 silent auction packages include:

• Fine Wine and Dine – Enjoy a tour of the Barilla facility in Ames, then relax at home with a gourmet dinner prepared by chef Steve Reed in conjunction with an educational fine wine tasting session by Joe Foster of Glazer's Distributors.

• Start Your Engine – Take in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and the U.S. Cellular 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series in suite seats at the Iowa Speedway on August 3 and 4.

• Changed – Go backstage to meet Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town, the Eli Young Band and Eden's Edge and attend their concert on August 19 in front row seats!

• Hitch 'Em Up! – Watch the Iowa State Fair's draft horse show from Jake's Club, the VIP seating area in the Jacobson Exhibition Center. To top it off, you'll get to ride on the winning hitch in one of the competitions.

All inclusive Corndog Kickoff tickets are $100 each. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Blue Ribbon Foundation at (800) 450-3732, online at www.blueribbonfoundation.org or at the door the night of the event.

The Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Since its inception in 1993, the Foundation has generated more than $85 million for renovations and improvements to the Iowa State Fairgrounds. For more information on the Corndog Kickoff, please contact the Foundation at (800) 450-3732 or info@blueribbonfoundation.org.

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