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The month of August holds a special place in the hearts of Iowans. It is a time to celebrate traditions that we hold dear, and also a time when I have the pleasure of meeting and connecting with the individuals and communities in my district that I have the privilege of representing in Congress.
One of the ways to connect with Iowans in August is attending the Iowa State Fair. Since its inception in Fairfield in 1854, the Iowa State Fair has been a yearly tradition that all Iowans enthusiastically anticipate. It is always wonderful to see Iowans travel from across the state to support their community, kids showing their animals they worked so hard to raise, and enjoying the wide variety of food and attractions that draw millions of visitors from around the country.
The State Fair also serves as one of the largest and best agricultural and business expositions in the country, offering our farmers, businesses, and community leaders, that are the backbone of our state, an opportunity to highlight their work and showcase what makes Iowa a unique and special place to live.
This week, I have been to the Iowa State Fair for as many trips as I can fit in - making sure I get to experience all the wonder our state has to offer. I was especially excited to try many of the 64 new foods at the state fair, including the people’s choice winners: “the Deep-Fried Bacon Brisket Mac-n-Cheese Grilled Cheese” and the “Iowa Twinkie”.
This year’s fair also featured a three-thousand-pound bull named “Mean Gene” whose owner hails from my district and the perennial crowd favorite “butter cow” and new favorite Caitlin Clark. I was also delighted to volunteer at the Iowa Egg Council booth and the Pork Producers tent serving up the best boiled eggs and grilled pork in the country to fellow fairgoers.
As a Congresswoman, the State Fair and the month of August have become a central point to interact with the constituents I have the honor of representing in Congress. During this August recess, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with businesses and community leaders throughout my district, learning about their priorities, successes and struggles to understand how I can better represent them and Iowa’s first district in Washington.
On top of meeting with numerous businesses and leaders in my district, I hosted a town hall in Iowa City to speak about my experience in Congress and hear directly from constituents on both sides of the aisle. Hearing from Iowans from every background in the first district helps inform and guide me in Washington and I look forward to hosting more in-person and telephone town halls in the coming months.
As a veteran, I also had the pleasure of attending the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Coralville VA Outpatient Clinic. This updated, modern facility will allow those who have served our nation to receive quality, coordinated care from highly skilled physicians and providers. The new location is over 7,000 square feet larger than their old building, which will shorten wait times and increase access to care for our heroes. In Congress, I will continue fighting for our Veterans healthcare, supporting modernization projects like the new Coralville Clinic in my district and around the country to provide our Veterans the care they need and deserve.
Spending time with my constituents all throughout the first district and at the State Fair during August recess is one of the most fulfilling parts of serving in Congress, offering me an opportunity to connect on a deeper level with the individuals and communities that make Iowa the best place in the country to live, work, play and raise a family.
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