Des Moines artist selected to paint water quality mural at Iowa State Fair

by | Aug 2, 2016 | 5 Ag Stories, News

by Ben Nuelle

A local Iowa artist has been selected to paint the water quality and conservation mural at the Iowa State Fair.

Karen Doty of Des Moines has been selected to paint the mural at the Iowa State Fair. It will highlight water quality as well as display commodities grown across Iowa.

At least a portion of the mural must be painted during the Iowa State Fair, August 11 ? 21, 2016. Live painting is required for at least two hours each day between the times of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Workload and schedule will be left to the discretion of the artist and approved by the selection committee before the fair begins. Listen to the interview below.

INTERVIEW: Karen Doty

UPDATED 8/9/16: DES MOINES ? Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said Tuesday that Iowa artist Karen Doty will be painting a 6-panel, 8 foot by 24 foot mural highlighting conservation and water quality efforts in Iowa in the Agriculture Building at the Iowa State Fair. The mural will be part of the ?Ag Park? on the first floor of the Ag Building that will have information from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Iowa agriculture organizations.

?The State Fair is a wonderful showcase of Iowa agriculture and we are excited to welcome Ms. Doty to showcase her talent and the beauty of our state, everyday throughout the fair,? Northey said. ?More than 1 million visitors attend the fair each year and it is a great opportunity to learn more about what we do on our farms and why. Seeing the animals in the livestock barns, visiting the animal learning center, seeing the 4-H and FFA students compete or just enjoying some of the amazing food, everyone at the fair will be able to experience the very best of Iowa agriculture.?

Doty will be painting live throughout the State Fair and fairgoers are invited to check out her progress at these times in the Ag Building:

? Thursday, August 11th : 1 – 4pm

? Friday, August 12th: 3 – 6pm

? Saturday, August 13th: 1 – 4pm

? Sunday, August 14th: 1 – 4pm

? Monday, August 15th: 9 am ? Noon

? Tuesday, August 16th: 10am ? Noon

? Wednesday, August 17th: 10am ? Noon

? Thursday, August 18th: 10am ? Noon

? Friday, August 19th: 4 – 6pm

? Saturday, August 20th: 3 – 5pm

? Sunday, August 21st: 10am ? Noon

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship?s display in the Agriculture Building is part of the ?Ag Park? and will have information available about the Iowa Water Quality Initiative and will be handing out tech cloths withwww.CleanWaterIowa.org on them, a website that was created to help all Iowans learn about what they can do to help protect water quality. The cloths can be used to clean phone screens or glasses.

There will also be a ?selfie? station where fairgoers can take photos in front of a rural scene and use props showcasing the different aspects of Iowa agriculture. Everyone attending the Fair is invited to share their experiences using the #GetYourAgOn hashtag on social media.

The Iowa Soybean Association, the Iowa Corn Growers Association, the Iowa Egg Council, Midwest Dairy Association, Iowa Turkey Federation, Iowa Pork Producers, and the Iowa Beef Industry Council will also be present in the ?Ag Park? and have information available about Iowa agriculture. The Iowa Egg Council will be offering eggs on a stick to fairgoers from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day of the fair.

In the Varied Industries building the Department will also have a display to educate Iowans about the activities of the Department and continue the tradition of weighing fairgoers on a scale certified by the Weights and Measures Bureau.

The Iowa Century Farm and Heritage Farm Awards will be presented on Thursday, Aug. 18 starting at 9:00 a.m. at Livestock Pavilion. Everyone is invited to attend and help recognize the families receiving the awards. Century Farm awards recognize farms that have been in the same family for 100 years and Heritage Farms awards recognize farms that have been owned by the same family for 150 years.

This year is the 40-year anniversary of the Century Farms program and the 10-year anniversary of the Heritage Farms program. There are 320 Century Farm winners and 103 Heritage Farm winners that will be recognized this year. The awards are sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Farm Bureau. The full list of families being recognized is available at www.IowaAgriculture.gov under ?Hot Topics.?

On Wednesday, Aug. 17 starting at 10:00 a.m. Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds Northey and Iowa DNR Director Chuck Gipp will recognize 94 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader award winners. The awards will be presented at the Penningroth Center inside the Cattle Barn and recognize the efforts of Iowa?s farmers as environmental leaders committed to healthy soils and improved water quality.

The awards recognize the exemplary actions of farmers that improve and protect the environment and natural resources of our state while also encouraging other farmers to follow in their footsteps by building success upon success. Hagie Manufacturing sponsors a luncheon for award winners following the ceremony at the Farm Bureau shelter that Northey will also attend. A full list of award recipients is available at www.IowaAgriculture.gov under ?Hot Topics.?

At 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16 the Department will be recognizing the winners of the 2016-2017 From the Farm to You Calendar drawing contest in the Agriculture Building. Kids from across the state submitted pictures for the calendar. Copies of the calendar are available to fairgoers at the Department?s booths in the Ag Building and the Varied Industries Building.

Northey will also participate in the 2016 Governor’s Charity Steer Show on Saturday, Aug. 13, at 4:00 p.m., in the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion at the Iowa State Fair. Northey will be showing a steer owned by Kelsi Crooks from Charles City. Immediately following the competition the steers will be sold at auction with proceeds going to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa.

The Iowa State Fair runs from Aug. 11 to 21 at the state fairgrounds in Des Moines.