Iowa's county fairs - in pictures

Kyle Barh stands on the hood of his car and waves his trophy after winning the demolition derby at the Hardin county fair in Eldora Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

Part-time carnival worker Eric Helfter watches children on a ride called the octopus at the Floyd county fair in Charles City Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

Contestants in a demolition derby kick up mud and smoke at the Hardin county fair in Eldora Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

Johnny Rocket, MC of the Galaxy Girl's Death-defying Stunts show calls attention to Galaxy Girl's performance to a tiny crowd at the Buchanan county fair in Independence Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

Contestants in the Miss Calhoun county pageant line up before members of the community at the Calhoun county expo in Rockwell City Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

Roger Zweck, Aaron Lemon, and Josh Roosa prepare their car 'Cornfed', before the start of figure 8 races at the Hardin county fair in Eldora Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

Leah Willie, 17, who was crowned Delaware county Pork Queen, sits in a float advertising pork products during the Delaware county fair's parade in Manchester Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

Carnival food that visitors purchased at the Delaware county fair in Manchester Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

Jamie Klatt kicks up dust as he races down a dirt track during a chuckwagon race at the Hardin county fair in Eldora Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

Courtney Putz trims the hair on her cow's back after treating it with adhesive to make it stick up before a heifer competition at the Delaware county fair in Manchester Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

Fairgoers slouch in their chairs after hypnotist Brian Imbus sends them to sleep during a show at the Delaware county fair in Manchester Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

Seven-year-old Kaylin prepares to showcase her cow in the kiddie dairy competition during the Great Jones county fair in Monticello Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

Participants in a dairy cow competition walk to and from the livestock ring at the Delaware county fair in Manchester Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

David 'Kachunga' Castillo tries to catch an American alligator during the Kachunga and the Alligator show at the Great Jones county fair Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

Leonard Shatek dances with Leanna Miller during a polka dance at the Floyd county fair in Charles City Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

Employees of Jones & Company carnival set up a haunted house called The Palace of Illusions before the start of the Delaware county fair in Manchester Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

Spectators watch opening night fireworks from a grandstand at the Delaware county fair in Manchester Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA