(Des Moines) The Iowa State Fair kicked off with a surge of excitement. Crowds gathered to watch Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds for the opening ceremonies. The iconic blue ribbon was cut, officially opening the fairgrounds to a variety of activities and events. The Iowa State Fair police have a new, larger building near the Grand Avenue gate. They are collaborating with state troopers, Homeland Security and the National Weather Service to ensure safety.
Meanwhile, the Iowa State Fair is hosting a live game show by the Iowa Lottery. The grand prize for contestants is five million dollars. Twenty contestants were chosen from scratch-off ticket players, with each player guaranteed to win at least ten-thousand dollars. The game show is a first in over a decade, and features participants from various Iowa towns, including Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Waterloo.