Rural Grinnell man enjoys a county fair life

Attending county fairs has taken on a new meaning for a rural Grinnell man.

Roger Iverson serves as the South Central District Director of the Association of Iowa Fairs.

His district is one of six across the state of Iowa and includes 16 county fairs: Poweshiek, Jasper, Polk, Dallas, Southern Iowa, Marion, Warren, Madison, Monroe, Lucas, Clarke, Union, Appanoose, Wayne, Decatur and Ringgold.

As director, Iverson visits each fair in his district when they are in operation. He covers all 16 fairs in about a three-week period.

At each fair, Iverson talks with fair board members to get updates on all that is happening and any future plans for the fairgrounds. He also spends time talking with fair attendees.

“Each fair is given money from the state for improvements,” said Iverson. “I go around and see what improvements the money was used for and what projects are planned.”

Iverson finds that all the fair boards and fair attendees have the same passion about their fair, calling them his fair friends or fair families.

The 16 fairs in Iverson’s district take turns hosting the spring and fall district meetings with a meal. Iverson said two fair board members from his district are selected to represent the South Central District on the Iowa State Fair board.

This is Iverson’s fourth year serving as district director.

Prior to taking the district director position, Iverson served seven years on the Poweshiek County Fair board. He joined the fair board filling in one year for a member who stepped down and went on to serve two more three-year terms.

While Iverson was serving in Poweshiek County, the former South Central District Director retired after 12 years, opening up the position.

“I had two state fair board members ask me to be a director,” Iverson said. “The rest of district voted to have me represent the South Central District.”

Iverson is eligible to serve as a district director for up to 12 years and is up for re-election every two years.

“It’s great to visit with fair board members and meet fair attendees,” Iverson said. “Every fair is unique in their own way. I enjoy visiting all of them,” he said.

“I don’t have to go to those county fairs, I get the privilege to go to those county fairs.”

Iverson is married to Debbie, and the couple lives outside of Grinnell. Iverson farms row crops, raises show pigs, drives his antique tractors in parades and enjoys spending time with his three daughters, their husbands and his five grandchildren.