DES MOINES, Iowa – As the 2018 Iowa State Fair kicks off, be sure to stop by the DNR building located at the west end of the fairgrounds near Gate 11.
Link: Iowa State Fairground attractions map

During the 11 days of the Iowa State Fair, count on the Iowa DNR to have a fun-filled, family-friendly, educational and entertaining packed daily schedule for all fairgoers to enjoy.

Inside the DNR building, DNR experts will be on hand daily to answer any questions you may have related to Iowa’s natural resources. Take time to browse around the many exhibits within the DNR, including the Hike, Bike and Paddle zone, Watch and Learn zone, Stay and Play zone, In Your Home zone and meet many DNR staff and experts. Take a peek at the live fish, ducks and turtles and get an up-close look at the mounted wildlife that are native to Iowa.

You can even buy or renew a one-year subscription to the DNR’s Iowa Outdoors magazine for $15 and receive a free t-shirt, or renew or purchase your hunting tags or fishing licenses.

The DNR courtyard at the Iowa State Fair provides a nice shady area with many benches and picnic tables for families to enjoy overlooking a pond with live ducks and turtles. The courtyard stage will have several educational and interactive presentations daily. Some highlights of the courtyard presentations include:

• From the farmer’s market to the Dutch oven (Thursday, Aug. 9)
• Paddling Iowa: places to go and safety tips (Thursday, Aug. 9)
• Healthy Parks = Healthy People: Annual state park events throughout Iowa for fun and fitness (Thursday, Aug. 9)
• Rain Gardens and Pollinators (Friday, Aug. 10)
• Kids Activities: Explore nature in your backyard (Friday, Aug. 10)
• Fishing technology, cooking and cleaning fish (Saturday, Aug. 11)
• Fishing technology: using the DNR’s website to track fish (Saturday, Aug. 11)
• Reusapalooza: Kids Activities: make and take old stuff gets new life (Sunday, Aug. 12)
• When junk becomes art (Sunday, Aug. 12)
• Predator trapping and wildlife on your farm (Monday, Aug. 13)
• Training your new hunting dog (Monday, Aug. 13)
• Timber theft and legal ways to sell your trees (Monday, Aug. 13)
• Tree diseases and insects (Tuesday, Aug. 14)
• Every drop counts: from the ground to the tap (Tuesday, Aug. 14)
• Managing your farm pond and woodland resources (Tuesday, Aug. 14)
• Selecting and planting trees in your backyard (Tuesday, Aug. 14)
• We used to have what? A history of wildlife in Iowa (Wednesday, Aug. 15)
• Volunteer opportunities in the outdoors (Wednesday, Aug. 15)
• Dutch oven cooking in the campground (Thursday, Aug. 16)
• Kids Activities: Explore Iowa State Parks (Thursday, Aug. 16)
• Let’s Explore: Maquoketa Caves (Thursday, Aug. 16)
• Turtles of Iowa (LIVE animals) (Friday, Aug. 17)
• Fish cleaning and cooking (Friday, Aug. 17)
• Fishing basics for beginners and kids (Friday, Aug. 17)
• Iowa Trumpeter Swans (LIVE animals) (Saturday, Aug. 18)
• Kids Activities: Attracting wildlife to your backyard (Saturday, Aug. 18)
• Reptiles and amphibians of Iowa (LIVE animals) (Saturday, Aug. 18)
• Chronic Wasting Disease and the Iowa deer herd (Saturday, Aug. 18)

You can find a full schedule at iowadnr.gov/fair.