IOWA STATE FAIR: Hot dog-eating contest winner will advance to Nathan’s international contest in 2020

JERICHO, NY -- Nathan's Famous will host a qualifier Saturday, Aug. 10 at the Iowa State Fair seeking champions for its 2020 Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest.

The competition will be at 1 p.m. at the Susan Knapp Amphitheatre.

The top male and female finishers will qualify for a seat at the 2020 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest July 4, 2020, in Coney Island, Brooklyn, to face reigning champions Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo.

Chestnut of San Jose, California, will defend his title as 12-time male champion, having consumed 71 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes in 2019. His all-time best is 74 Nathan's Famous hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, set in 2018.

Sudo of Tucson, Arizona, will defend her title as six-time female champion, having consumed 31 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes in 2019. Sudo's all-time best is 41 Nathan's Famous hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, set in 2017.

Those interested in competing in Des Moines should visit www.majorleagueeating.com for information and register. All competitors must be over 18 years of age.

According to legend, the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest has occurred each July Fourth in Coney Island since 1916, the year Nathan Handwerker opened the restaurant.

MLE, the governing body of all stomach-centric sports, sanctions the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog-Eating Circuit and ensures the contests are judged professionally and that safety standards are in place at each event.