The Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation and Cookies Food Products have named Emerson Bendickson from Panora as an Iowan of the Day for the 2022 Iowa State Fair. 

Bendickson earned this award for making a difference in her community. At age six, she collected pop cans and started a GoFundMe page to provide extra milk for the kids that weren’t covered under the free and reduced meal plan. She raised enough money to not only provide extra milk for the rest of the year but the following year. 

Bendickson will be honored as the Iowan of Day on August 15th at noon at  the Bill Riley Talent Show along with accommodations at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown, cash prize, Grandstand and Iowa State Fair admission tickets, use of the Iowan of the Day golf cart, and VIP parking on the Fairgrounds.