Many local residents were at the Iowa State Fair to showcase Pella and the surrounding area.

The Pella Convention and Visitors Bureau and Central College had booths at the Varied Industries Building for the entire duration of the fair. John Olivier-Shaw volunteered with the CVB, and says it’s a prime opportunity to attract visitors.

“We’re telling them about Tulip Time, and about the upcoming Holiday Festival, and the new fall festival–just having some good interaction,” Olivier-Shaw says.

Danny Wayson is an admissions counselor at Central, and says their fair showcase is an important recruitment tool.

“To be having such a large audience of a diverse group of people to show what Central has to offer them is just incredible,” Wayson says. “We are reaching to high school students, middle students, parents, and anyone who is interested.”

Marion County residents also continued to earn top honors at competitions. Ridge McGinley earned 3rd place overall in the senior division of the Bill Riley Talent Search on Sunday.

Hunter McCullough of Knoxville was champion of the flag race in the FFA Horse Show, Sierra McCullough of Knoxville was the reserve champion of the bareback pleasure, and the Knoxville equestrian team placed second overall.

Steve Hatch of Knoxville won the Class B singles in the Horseshoe Tournament, and placed second in Class A.