Doug Sienknecht (right) pictured with the Little Free Library he and his son built and placed near their church. –Photo courtesy of Doug Sienknecht’s Facebook page.

The Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation and Cookies Food Products are proud to announce the recipients of the Iowan of the Day award for the 2022 Iowa State Fair.

The Iowan of the Day program was created by the Blue Ribbon Foundation in 1997 to honor those Iowans who have truly made a difference in their communities. Among dozens of nominations, the judges selected ten Iowans who have demonstrated exceptional integrity, Iowa pride, hard work, and dedication to their communities.

Doug Sienknecht of Gladbrook is one of this year’s 10 award recipients.

Sienknecht is a man who is willing to help anyone who asks and even those who don’t. As a retired farmer and employee of the Iowa Veterans Home, Sienknecht has always found time to help those in his community. He is not only very active in his church serving as Board President, but he has also spent several years on the Buildings and Grounds Committee, helped organize Vacation Bible School and even led a group of young adults on a mission trip. Active in the Lincoln AMVETS and Auxiliary, Sienknecht is also the Chairman of the Avenue of Flags Committee and enjoys being a member of the Gladbrook American Legion. He is a volunteer driver that gives veterans rides to doctor appointments. Sienknecht and his son built a Free Little Library near his church so members of the community could enjoy it. Doug has also been spotted volunteering at the Iowa State Fair selling water!

Each winner will have a special day of recognition at the 2022 Iowa State Fair with Sienknecht’s day slated for Sunday, August 14.

Doug Sienknecht.

Each day at noon on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage, one recipient will be recognized and presented as an Iowan of the Day. Along with accommodations at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown, each will receive a cash prize, Grandstand and Iowa State Fair admission tickets, use of the Iowan of the Day golf cart, and VIP parking on the Fairgrounds.

The 2022 Iowan of the Day recipients are:

Kristin Swift of Bondurant – Thursday, August 11

Deborah Whitaker of Keokuk – Friday, August 12

Barb Westercamp of Cedar Rapids – Saturday, August 13

Doug Sienknecht of Gladbrook – Sunday, August 14

Emerson Bendickson of Panora – Monday, August 15

Janet & Dave Ritchie of Knoxville – Tuesday, August 16

Kathy Jo Porter of Waterloo – Wednesday, August 17

Bonnie Wood of Pocahontas – Thursday, August 18

Amy Ryan of Forest City – Friday, August 19

Jeannine Liljedahl of Essex – Saturday, August 20

The Sun Courier will feature coverage of Sienknecht’s August 14 recognition ceremony in the Friday, August 19 edition of the newspaper.

The Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Since its inception in 1993, the Foundation has generated $170 million for renovations and improvements to the historic Iowa State Fairgrounds. For more information, please visit our website at www.BlueRibbonFoundation.org or contact the Blue Ribbon Foundation at 515- 262-3111 Ext. 371 or Info@BlueRibbonFoundation.org.