I recently returned from my seventh trip to the Iowa State Fair.

The 155-year-old event, held in Des Moines, is devoted to large farm equipment, agricultural buildings and farm animals — some of enormous sizes.

The exhibits were also impressive, especially the 4-H exhibits, the largest boar, super bull, corn stalk and pumpkin contests and the milking demonstrations.

The fair attracts more than 1 million people per year.

The oddest attraction has to be the life-sized cow sculpted from butter. This year's show also had a life-sized Harry Potter butter sculpture to top it off.

Other interesting exhibits include turkey calling, hog squealing and cow chip throwing contests.

Lastly, owing to the fact that a presidential election is nearing, hopefuls Fred Thompson, Charles Grassley and Barack Obama made their rounds through the crowd.

The Iowa State Fair may be much larger than the Big Butler Fair and Butler Farm Show, but all three share a common theme of promoting farming's importance.

Ron Fodor is district manager of the Butler County Conservation District.