A multi-year renovation with a hefty price tag of $19.6 million is taking place at the Iowa State Fair, but it won’t hinder fair fun.
Starting immediately after the 2025 Iowa State Fair wrapped up its summer celebration, renovations at the historic Swine Barn — originally built in 1907 and expanded in 1936 — began.
Serving decades of livestock exhibitors and fairgoers, with the last major renovation taking place in 1942, “this renovation is a long-overdue investment in the iconic barn,” according to a news release from the Iowa State Fair.
The renovation, planned in two phases, takes place in the fair’s off-time. Phase one, which includes remodeling the barn’s west office, remodeling the west women’s restroom to meet accessibility standards, and new restrooms on the east side of the barn, will be completed by Aug. 13, the first day of the 2026 season of the Iowa State Fair.
The Iowa State Fair runs from Aug. 13-23. This year’s theme, “Fair Spirit”, celebrates America 250.
The second phase of renovations will begin after the fair’s 2026 season. Renovations will be completed in time for the 2028 fair, according to the news release.
Renovations, once completed, will include:
Jeff and Deb Hansen, of Iowa Select Farms, contributed $2 million toward the Swine Barn’s renovation. They will also add an interactive, educational swine industry exhibit in the barn. Once renovations are complete, the barn will be named the “Jeff & Deb Hansen Iowa Select Farms Swine Barn.”
The renovations at the Swine Barn will be the fair’s largest facilities project in Iowa State Fair history, according to the release. Around $20 million in renovations have been completed in the Sheep Barn, which were completed in 2024, and the Horse Barn, which were completed in 2026.
The projects are supported by theIowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation’s “Back the Barns” program, which provides funding to renovating the fair’s livestock barns.
Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State Fair’s Swine Barn gets a facelift amid $19.6M makeover
Reporting by Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
