Home Alumni Blue Ribbon U

Blue Ribbon U

Drake Day at the Iowa State Fair will feature fun freebies

Drake Day at the Iowa State Fair took place on Saturday, Aug. 13, with free festivities at the Drake University tent on Rock Island Avenue just east of the Anne and Bill Riley Stage.

Fairgoers enjoyed posing with Beautiful Bulldog Lucy Brown

This year, the Drake tent carried a “Blue Ribbon U” theme, showcasing larger-than-life objects that highlight some of Drake’s impressive accomplishments, as well as a 25-foot-tall Spike the Bulldog. Guests were encouraged to have their photos taken with Drake accessories, alongside the giant models or steal a kiss from 2011 Beautiful Bulldog titleholder Lucy Brown, who posed regally, or Porterhouse. Drake tent giveaways included nylon bags, beads, drink koozies and frame magnets. A limited number of Drake hats and sunglasses were also available.

Find more than 400 photos from the Drake Day tent at the Iowa State Fair on Flickr.

See who stepped up to the green screen with Drake Athletics.

Drake student-athletes and coaches from the women’s volleyball and men’s soccer teams visited the tent at various times to sign free, limited-edition sports posters. Fans also had a chance to pick up vouchers for discounted tickets to various Drake athletic events.

Also at the fair, Drake pharmacy students conducted heartburn screenings for fairgoers. In true fair fashion, the screenings included free heartburn-prevention-on-a-stick for those suffering from acid indigestion after indulging in one too many turkey legs or corn dogs.

Drake representatives also participated in the “Battle of the Butter” carving competition. Each team received one 55-pound block of butter and had 30 minutes to sculpt. See the winning sculptures alongside the world famous Butter Cow in the Agriculture Building.

For those who missed Drake Day, the University has a display in the William C. Knapp Varied Industries Building throughout the fair, which runs through Aug. 21.