Keep Iowa Beautiful (KIB) and Our Iowa magazine have partnered for the Iowa State Fair August 9-19, 2018. Fair-goers are invited to stop by the KIB booth (#112) in the air-conditioned Varied Industries Building and learn more about KIB and enjoy the beautiful Our Iowa magazine photos of Iowa.

While at the booth sign up the Iowa Trivia Contest. All you need to do is answer a question about Iowa. First place will win Our Iowa Magazine’s 6-day motor coach tour of Eastern Iowa for two. Second place is a 2-night stay at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Honey Creek Resort at Lake Rathbun. Third and fourth place winners will receive $50 Casey’s General Stores gift cards. Winners will be notified following the drawing after the State Fair.

“We are pleased to partner with Our Iowa magazine.” said KIB Executive Director Gerry Schnepf. “Our Iowa provides premier publications celebrating all that’s great and beautiful about living in Iowa.”

“Our Iowa magazine is written by Iowans and for Iowans,” said Rick Jost, the magazines editor. “For nearly 20 years KIB has been a stimulus to bring cultural and economic vitality to Iowa communities through improvement and enhancement programs.”

While at our booth pick up a Casey’s General Stores $1 off pizza coupon. When the coupon is redeemed Casey’s will donate $1 to KIB.

The Iowa State Fair is considered one of the most attractive and cleanest events in the country. During the Fair the OK Crew will be back picking up litter. You can also help by making sure you do not litter. Your good-deed may be rewarded by one of the Fair grounds Iowa State Troopers with a card inviting you to stop by the KIB booth in the Varied Industries Building for a thank you gift and an opportunity to sign up for the Iowa Trivia Contest. KIB’s partnership with the Iowa Highway Patrol includes the 1-888-NO LITTR hotline (1-888-665-4887). Citizens can report littering being tossed from vehicles.

Laurens, Iowa has been chosen as the very first community to participate in the Art Wave on the Prairie program created by David Dahlquist of RDG Planning & Design and Keep Iowa Beautiful (KIB). A nationally-recognized pubic artist and teacher, Dahlquist, is known for his work at the RDG Dahlquist Art Studio. Dahlquist was presented with the Donald F. Lamberti Hometown Pride Vision Award in March 2017 by former Governor Terry Branstad. Five years ago, KIB started this award to recognize those Iowans who work to improve and enhance the quality of our state. With the leadership of RDG, David has, and continues to, inspire the world by bringing art into our communities. Since 1988, he has completed more than 60 large-scale public commissions across the country. This program honor’s David’s work with RDG Planning & Design, the Dahlquist Art Studio and KIB’s collaboration and the contributions they both have made to Iowa.

Art Wave on the Prairie engages small, rural Iowa communities with emerging artists to create strong community connections and enhance economic development. Five hand-picked Iowa artists from a variety of disciplines will travel to Laurens from July 25-28 to engage and interact with the community, encourage conversation around community assets and issues, and work toward a common goal through art. The artists will use a “social practice” model to determine art forms and deliverables that will be presented to the community at the final reveal on Saturday, July 28. The artist team includes: Andy Davis of New York City (originally from Des Moines), Allison McGuire of Oskaloosa, Jennifer Drinkwater of Ames, and Ryk Weiss and Pam Dennis of Ogden.

A ”Meet and Greet” community potluck with the five visiting artists will take place on Wednesday, July 25 at 5:30 pm at West Iowa Bank in Laurens. Artists and community members will have the opportunity to engage with each other, share the assets and issues within the community, and discuss how the arts can play a role in building community.

The public is invited to join the artist team and others on Saturday, July 28 at 4 pm in Memory Lane in downtown Laurens for the final reveal of the Art Wave on the Prairie program. This event will celebrate the community and the role of the arts in community building.

About Keep Iowa Beautiful

Keep Iowa Beautiful was established in 2000 by Co-Founders Robert D. Ray and Donald F. Lamberti becoming the 23^rd State Affiliate of Keep America Beautiful.   It is a 501c3 charitable organization working with Iowa citizens, neighborhoods and communities in improving the quality, beauty and cleanliness of our State. KIB is building stronger communities to develop sustainable futures.  For additional information, visit keepiowabeautiful.org.

About RDG Planning & Design (RDG)

RDG’s Des Moines office is filled with creative people representing a diversity of disciplinary backgrounds. Each is committed to the power of collaboration and the meaning that results when people come together to create something new. We align best with those who share our belief, that we can go further and achieve more, being better together. For additional information, visit www.rdgusa.com.

Have you already taken a photo of your favorite place in Iowa? If you have not, summertime is a great time to grab your camera (or phone) and take that shot and enter it in Keep Iowa Beautiful’s 9^th Photography Contest. The photo contest offers both amateur and experienced photographers an opportunity to show Iowa’s rural and urban beauty in a fun, engaging way during their favorite season.

“This is a great way for Iowans to share what they like about Iowa,” said Gerry Schnepf, KIB Executive Director. “First place will receive $50, second place $40 and third $30.” Each winner will also receive a one-year subscription Our Iowa magazine.

The deadline is December 14, 2018 and entries must be submitted as high resolution JPEG electronically to [email protected] . $5 entry fee, contest rules and payment can be made at https://keepiowabeautiful.org/photography-contest-entry/

About Keep Iowa Beautiful

Keep Iowa Beautiful was established in 2000 by Co-Founders Robert D. Ray and Donald F. Lamberti becoming the 23^rd State Affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. It is a 501c3 charitable organization working with Iowa citizens, neighborhoods and communities in improving the quality, beauty and cleanliness of our State. KIB is building stronger communities to develop sustainable futures. 

Diamond Vogel Paint and Keep Iowa Beautiful announced the grant awards for the 2018 Paint Iowa Beautiful program.  The program provides free paint to a wide variety of public service projects throughout Iowa. This year, and 2019, Diamond Vogel agreed to expand the paint allocation to include Iowa’s 70 state parks.  2020 will mark the 100^th anniversary of Iowa’s state park system.

“Governor Reynolds has signed a proclamation designating April as Keep Iowa Beautiful month and we are pleased to do our part by awarding paint to 110 community projects in Iowa,” said Doug Vogel, Vice-President, Trade Marketing, of the Iowa based company.  “The partnership with Keep Iowa Beautiful allows Diamond Vogel Paint to assist and work with the many local volunteers that help build communities, making Iowa the number one state in the nation to live.”

Gerald Schnepf, Executive Director of Keep Iowa Beautiful added, “The Paint Iowa Beautiful program helps us increase our assistance to neighborhoods, communities, historic projects and other public service organizations in improving the attractiveness and beauty of our home areas.  These projects definitely improve the beauty of Iowa, its countryside, and its communities.”

In the 15 year partnership with KIB, Diamond Vogel has awarded over 9,648 gallons of paint for 786 community projects in Iowa.

About Diamond Vogel Paint

Diamond Vogel is an Iowa based, family-owned company started in 1926 by Andrew Vogel.  It serves 13 states with seven manufacturing facilities and over 65 service center outlets providing Architectural Finishes, Industrial and Original Equipment Finishes and Home Decorating Products.

2018 PAINT AWARDS

The Keep Iowa Beautiful Board of Trustees has announced the 2018 annual award winners for enhancing the beauty, cleanliness, and attractiveness of the State of Iowa.  The four award categories are community, organization, corporate and individual.  The recipients will be presented their awards by Governor Kim Reynolds at the State Capitol on Monday, March 20 at 11:30 PM.

The Governor will also be presenting five Byers Environmental Scholarships to graduating high school students that will be continuing their education in environmental studies at an Iowa College or University.   She will be proclaiming April as Keep Iowa Beautiful month with a ceremonial proclamation signing.

“The KIB award program is designed to recognize special people and organizations that have gone the extra mile to help build stronger Iowa communities,” said Miriam Erickson Brown, Chair of the KIB Board of Trustees.  “A more attractive community improves the economic vitality and cultural climate where we live and work.”

The award winners are:

The Donald F. Lamberti Hometown Pride Vision Award—WILLIAM J. FULTZ—For his countless years of volunteer service making Iowa a stronger and better place to live.

The Robert D. Ray Community Award for Excellence—CITY OF VARINA—A Hometown Pride community with a visionary spirit.

Corporate Award of Excellence—OUR IOWA MAGAZINE—An outstanding magazine promoting Iowa’s beauty and quality of life making our state the number one place to live in the USA.

Organization Award of Excellence—MAINSTREET DOWNTOWN RESOURCE CENTER—For the partnership with KIB’s Hometown Pride Program making our state the number one place to live and work.

About Keep Iowa Beautiful

Keep Iowa Beautiful was established in 2000 by Governor Robert D. Ray and Donald F. Lamberti becoming the 23^rd State Affiliate of Keep America Beautiful.   KIB is a 501c3 charitable organization working with Iowa citizens, neighborhoods and communities in improving the economic vitality and cultural health of Iowa.  KIB is helping build stronger communities to develop sustainable futures. 

Note to media:  Interview and photo opportunities will be available at the Governor’s Office on Tuesday, March 20 at 1:30 pm.  Copies of the proclamation will also be available.