Des Moines, Iowa – This year marks the 35th Iowa State Fair in which Regina Pirtle has served as superintendent of Pioneer Hall, the fair’s historic showcase of quirky contests and blue‑ribbon traditions. Pirtle, who also acts as emcee and contest organizer, says the role began by accident in 1992 when fair officials asked her to coordinate antique dealers and then offered her the superintendent title.

“If you’re going to do that, would you want to be a superintendent? I said, ‘Sure!’ Not knowing what it meant, but sure I would,” Pirtle recalled. The unexpected invitation grew into a long‑running commitment that now spans three and a half decades of Iowa’s most beloved agricultural celebration.

Her favorite part: the people

While Pioneer Hall hosts a packed schedule of events—from the Hog Calling Contest to the Husband Calling Contest—Pirtle says the real appeal lies in the families and volunteers who return year after year. “I love the heritage that it represents; I love the people that it brings to Pioneer Hall. We become a family,” she said.

She added that the sense of community feels personal: “It just makes me feel very proud; it makes me feel like my family has grown, because this is part of my family. I’m bursting with pride with everything that it represents.”

For fairgoers who missed the weekday contests, many events remain scheduled for the weekend, with a full list available on the Iowa State Fair website.

As Pioneer Hall continues to blend old‑fashioned charm with new‑generation enthusiasm, Pirtle’s dedication underscores how a single volunteer can help preserve a state tradition that brings together families, neighbors, and visitors from across Iowa.

Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.