Iowa State University is bringing a new kind of memory lane to the Iowa State Fair 2026. The university’s Then.Now.Next exhibit will run Aug. 13-23 in the Varied Industries Building, taking fairgoers from the 1960s through today with a look that is meant to reach forward as much as it looks back.
The draw is simple and broad. Visitors can see a short documentary from a series tied to America’s 250th anniversary, pick up Cyclone football posters, free waterless temporary Cyclone tattoos and an ISU alumni pin, and browse Cyclone merchandise, gifts and apparel at The University Book Store display. Angie Strotman said the goal is to give fairgoers “a little nostalgia” and to show that Iowa State’s impact reaches communities across the state in a way that is meaningful and fun.
That mix of old and new is the point. The exhibit is built as a visual journey through campus history, present-day advancements and the future, but it is also anchored in something easier to recognize: the trophies from the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series, the Cy-Hawk football game, the Big 12 championship in women’s golf and third place at the NCAA championship in men’s cross country. Visitors can also take photos with those wins, turning the display into a snapshot of what Iowa State has already built.
The future-facing message sits beside that history without fully answering itself, and that is what gives the exhibit its pull. The theme promises Then, Now and Next, but the most vivid pieces on the floor are the past and present — a short documentary, school gear, trophies and a mascot appearance schedule that turns the exhibit into a recurring stop rather than a one-time look. Cy will be there from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Aug. 14-16 and again on Aug. 21-23, giving fairgoers a reason to return across both weekends.
The exhibit is only one piece of a much larger Iowa 4-H presence at the fair, where the organization will be found around every corner of the fairgrounds. More than 5,000 youth from all 99 Iowa counties and all 100 extension districts are expected to take part in 4-H shows and exhibitions, alongside more than 8,500 horticulture, livestock and showmanship exhibits. 4-H members will also present educational talks and working exhibits at 9:05 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., except on the final Sunday, while Share-the-Fun performances are scheduled daily at noon and 5 p.m. on the 4-H building stage, except on the final Sunday.
For Aug. 23, the schedule tightens around a finish that puts volunteers in the spotlight. The 2026 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame Ceremonies will be held that Sunday on the 4-H building stage at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., honoring nearly 100 dedicated volunteers. The first ceremony covers counties from Adair through Jasper, while the second covers counties beginning after Jasper, closing the fair with recognition that stretches across the state.
By the time the fair ends on Aug. 23, the message will be hard to miss. Iowa State is not just showing what it has been, but also asking fairgoers to imagine what comes next — and it is doing it in a place where people are already looking for something to remember and something new to take home.
