Every election season brings campaign ads, debates, and television interviews. But there is still one place where Iowans can have real, face-to-face conversations with the people asking for their vote: the Iowa State Fair.
With the Des Moines Register recently releasing its 2026 Political Soapbox schedule, candidates for governor, Congress, U.S. Senate, and statewide office will spend the next two weeks speaking directly with fairgoers. For those of us who care about the future of American agriculture, renewable fuels, and rural communities, this is an opportunity we shouldn’t miss.
Too often, decisions about agriculture and energy are shaped by voices that don’t understand what these industries mean to Iowa families. The State Fair gives us the chance to change that. Whether you’re a farmer, ethanol producer, landowner, business owner, or simply someone who believes in strengthening rural America, your perspective matters.
Candidates need to hear directly from the people whose livelihoods depend on sound energy and agricultural policy. They need to understand why expanding markets for biofuels, supporting carbon capture infrastructure, and creating new opportunities like sustainable aviation fuel matter to Iowa’s economy and America’s energy future.
If you have the opportunity to attend the Fair, don’t be afraid to engage. Ask questions. Share your story. Tell candidates why these issues matter to your family, your business, and your community. Those conversations can have a lasting impact long after the Fair ends.
Here are a few questions you might consider asking:
- How will you support policies that create new markets for Iowa farmers?
- Where do you stand on carbon capture infrastructure and its role in expanding renewable fuel opportunities?
- What will you do to help ensure Iowa remains a leader in ethanol, biodiesel, and sustainable aviation fuel?
- How will you support policies that strengthen rural economies and keep agriculture competitive?
This is one of the best opportunities we have to make sure elected officials hear directly from the people they hope to represent.
We’ll be there, and we hope you will too.
Planning your visit? View the full Des Moines Register Political Soapbox schedule here
