Kathy Cornwell of Murray, right, serves chocolate chip cookies for Barksdales Concessions on Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Scott Morgan/For the Register
Turkey Legs from Boyles Famous Corned Beef Co. and Brewer Meat on Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Scott Morgan/For the Register
Volunteer Andy Schlumbohm holds a sign warning of the end of the silent auction on Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Scott Morgan/For the Register
Kaleb Dirico, 27, and Mollie Dawson, 24, both of Des Moines, Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Scott Morgan/For the Register
Michale Gano, 32, and Amber Gillotti, 31, both of Des Moines, Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Scott Morgan/For the Register
Jen Cannon, 32, and Tom Cannon, 32, both of Newton, Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Scott Morgan/For the Register
Mike Lupardus, 31, and Anne Lupardus, 31, both of Ankeny, Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Scott Morgan/For the Register
Julie Pursell, 25, and Tanner Paschke, 26, both of Urbandale, Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Scott Morgan/For the Register
Ashley Shafer, 33, (from left) Sheryl Grimm, 48, and Anna Grimm, 20, all of Des Moines, Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Scott Morgan/For the Register
Aaron Moulton, 35, and Angela Moulton, 35, both of Ankeny, Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Scott Morgan/For the Register
Amanda Fontana, 22, and Spencer Fontana, 22, both of Ankeny, Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Scott Morgan/For the Register
Megan Bradke, 26, and Tim Mildenberger, 24, both of West Des Moines, Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Scott Morgan/For the Register
Claudia Campo, 43, and Gary Grubb, 29, both of Des Moines, Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Scott Morgan/For the Register
Lyndi DeVries, 30, and Brett DeVries, 32, both of Pella, Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Scott Morgan/For the Register
The program begins Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Scott Morgan/For the Register
Lindsay Morris, 29, (left) and Jen Hockman, 30, both of Ankeny, sit at a table Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Scott Morgan/For the Register
Dan DeCarlo, 48, of Des Moines (left), and Greg Manatt, 28, of Altoona, Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Scott Morgan/For the Register
A deep fried Oreo from Fyfe Concessions Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Scott Morgan/For the Register
A Root Beer float from McConnell Concessions Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Scott Morgan/For the Register
Iowa State Fair Squares Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Scott Morgan/For the Register
Guests sample Iowa State Fair Squares Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Scott Morgan/For the Register
Kylee Krizmanic, 31, and Nick Krizmanic, 31, both of Indianola, Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Scott Morgan/For the Register
Winning bids for a silent auction Saturday, July 12, 2014, during the Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction & Fair Food Grazing Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Scott Morgan/For the Register
Iowa State Fair supporters once again came in record numbers to the annual Corndog Kickoff.
More than 1,800 people attended Saturday's "Rock'n Round the Grounds" event, which raised $424,000, organizers said today in a statement.
The annual gathering was hosted by the fair's Blue Ribbon Foundation, which was established by the fair board to help carry out renovation and preservation projects at the fairgrounds. The event consists of an auction and fair food grazing party.
Peter Cownie, executive director of the foundation, said through the statement that supporters of the pre-fair tradition helped set record attendance and contribution marks for the fourth straight year.
"Their State Fair will continue to grow and prosper because of their generosity," Cownie said.
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