Iowa Politics with Jeff Stein -- Fri. Aug. 14, 2026

The biggest of the big.

I'm Jeff Stein with today's Iowa Politics Report.

Despite heavy rain to start the day, the Iowa State Fair opened competition yesterday and, per custom, the biggest animals in three categories were given coveted blue ribbons.

A new fair record was set in the biggest ram competition, with some saying it may qualify for the Guinness Book of World Records.

Big Bad Joe is a Suffolk ram shown by Jim Fisher of Mercer, Missouri.

Big Bad Joe tipped the scales at 568 pounds, breaking the previous record of 507.5 pounds set in 2014.

Now, you already know how I feel about folks from out of state competing in the Iowa State Fair.

Joe topped reserve champion Judah

a Columbia Ram, shown by Abby Wilson of Shellrock.

Judah was a slender by comparison, 490 pounds.

A close battle in the biggest boar competition with only six pounds separating the champion and the reserve champion.

Zoomer, the Chester Hampshire boar of Todd Shuler of Atlantic, tipped the scales at 1,246 pounds to win the champion's crown, besting Red, the Yorkshire-Durrock-Berkshire entry owned by Tom and Terry Bellavolan, which weighed in at 1,240 pounds.

Should have had that second helping for breakfast there, Red.

Then came Big E, the 3,026-pound Red Angus Bull owned by Breton T.J.

Jakey of State Center, which took home honors as the Super Bowl.

Fair officials say Gary and Barbie Rubel of Sailorville claim second place with their 2,834-pound Cemental Bull Benny.

and Claire and Lynn Henry of Indianola took third place with Ashland, a 2782 pound Angus bull.

Each of them weighed well more than a ton.

Super Bowl Big E came in at a ton and a half.

Big E will be on display in the Super Bowl pen at the cattle bar next to our friends at the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.

And please note, that's an actual Super Bowl.

As opposed to the load of Super Bowl, many of the politicians will be shoveling during their time at the fair.

Biggest bore could have been used in that comparison as well.

And that's the Iowa Politics Report for Friday, August 14 on Twitter, Instagram, Gitter, Threads and Truth Social at Iowa Politics.

I'm Jeff Stein on News Talk 1540, KXEL.