450 Project at Iowa State Fair

Are you going to the State Fair this year? While you are there, you can support Central Academy and the Blue Ribbon Foundation while adding to (or starting!) your State Fair pottery collection.  There are only 450 pots available.

The Central Academy Potters are excited to present you with this year’s Blue Ribbon Foundation Pottery Collection piece- the carafe. The design honors tradition with the cobalt blue embellishments and creamy clay body, while the updated embossed state fair stamp and contemporary form will excite a new generation of collectors while complimenting the collections of past generations.

The 450 Project is a community partnership between The Central Academy Potters from Des Moines Public Schools and The Blue Ribbon Foundation. A team of eight potters, ages 15-18, along with instructor Dara Green, spent countless hours throwing on the pottery wheel to create 450 collectable pots for the Iowa State Fair’s Blue Ribbon Foundation. They were joined by Central Academy alumni potters, adult potters, parents and community members to complete other aspects of this community project.

The Blue Ribbon 2022 Collectible Pots will be sold during the Iowa State Fair from 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the following locations: 

Horner Service Center – located on the Grand Concourse between the Varied Industries Building and the Administration Building

Agriculture Building – booth on lower east floor near the butter cow

Cattle Barn – booth inside the central foyer using the Rock Island St. entrance

Jacobson Hall/Museum – booth inside the entrance