The food smells great, the rides are in full operation, the music is bumping, and Iowans are already flocking to one of the best state fairs in the country!

The first Saturday from the state fair broke an attendance record that was set in 2022, according to We Are Iowa. The fair's first Saturday saw 128,732 people in attendance and 16,001 saw DAX and Jelly Roll perform.

With the fair, fully underway, we've already seen some really cool stories from the first few days. On the opening day of the fair, another record was set! Meet Finnegan, Iowa's biggest pig. Have you ever seen a 1,420-pound pig? Me either.

Caitlin Clark Jersey

Jelly Roll has been on fire these past 2 years and has become one of the most popular names in music. Not only is he incredibly talented but how could anyone forget a name like Jelly Roll? He performed at the Iowa State Fair to a record-attending audience on Saturday (August 10) along with his opening act DAX. These two gave an incredible gift to a young Iowa girl that she will remember for the rest of her life.

DAX opened up the evening for Jelly Roll and while he was on stage, he wore a black and gold Caitlin Clark jersey. I think Iowans better get used to seeing this because DAX isn't the first performer in Iowa to show up wearing a Caitlin Clark basketball jersey. Do you remember when Tim McGraw showed up to the Wells Fargo Arena rocking an Iowa Hawkeye Clark jersey?

Get our free mobile app

These photos were posted on the Hawkeye Heaven social media pages and a young girl left the show with a pretty amazing gift!

DAX and Jelly Roll ended up giving this jersey away to a little girl who was at the show and sitting in the state fair grandstands. After both of them signed the shirt, it went to this young lady! I absolutely love the fake tattoos she has on as you can tell she's obviously a fan of Jelly Roll!

Judging by the comments from the social media post, the family was clearly excited and they were awake past 2 a.m. soaking up the moment.

I have never received anything at a concert or sporting event and I can't help be be a little bit jealous! My older brother has got foul balls at baseball games, I was about 4 seats away from someone who got a guitar from Keith Urban at a concert, and I gave away a shirt I caught at a basketball game to a little kid once. That's about it.

While I'm a bit jealous...I hope she enjoyed the show as I'm sure she'll never forget the time DAX and Jelly Roll gave her this jersey! It will be an Iowa State fair she remembers for the rest of her life. Maybe Caitlin Clark will come across the story and sign it for her one day the complete the trifecta!

The 20 Best Places to Visit in the State of Iowa According to Trip Advisor

We put together a list of the 20 best attractions in Iowa, as listed under "Traveler Favorites" on Trip Advisor! How many of these Iowa attractions have you visited?

Gallery Credit: Courtlin

Dives Worth a Drive in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota

Almost every small South Dakota town has a watering hole. It’s where the locals go to kick back a few brews and engage in conversation.

Some of these establishments are located in buildings almost as old as the town itself. There might be a fresh coat of paint on the walls or new vinyl on the booth seats, but the ambiance is still reminiscent of a good ol’ dive.

If you think a "dive" is all about the sketchy clientele, the smell of the Devil’s lettuce, and stale Grain Belt, you’d be wrong. Not every dive has a bad reputation.

What makes a dive, a dive?

A dive has character. Neon beer signs and local memorabilia adorn the walls.

You might find a pool table, dart board, and a few video lottery machines.

The bartender knows the regulars by name and they know what you drink.

Some dives don't even serve food except for bags of chips and pickled eggs that sit in a jar of brine on the bar.

Dives aren't fancy. You might see 70's-style wood panels on the walls and wobbly tables leveled with a folded napkin.

Finally, the bathrooms. The bathrooms in dives are in a class by themselves and could be a whole topic on its own.

There are several small-town dives in our area with friendly faces, cheap booze with a burn, and even really good food! We use the term "dive" in the most affectionate way.

Here are some of the best and why you should go there.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown