TF Clydesdales' Jake and Katie Bauer compete with their black Clydesdale mares Tessa, Sally, Uri, and Mary in the Mare Four Horse Hitch class as part of the Percheron, Clydesdale & Draft Pony Horse Show at the 2025 Iowa State Fair on Thursday, Aug. 14, in the Jacobson Exhibition Center. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

DES MOINES – TF Clydesdales, located in rural Gladbrook, competed in the Percheron, Clydesdale & Draft Pony Horse Show Aug. 14-17 at the 2025 Iowa State Fair, carting up a bevy of awards including National Champions in Clydesdale Mare Unicorn and Mens Mare Cart.

Owned by Becky and Steve Fevold along with their daughter and son-in-law Katie and Jake Bauer, TF Clydesdales is a fifth-generation family operation. The youngest generation includes Katie and Jake’s daughter, rising North Tama fifth-grader Emma Bauer. On Saturday, Aug. 16, Emma took home National Jr Driver 14 & Under in Cart and in Team, while also winning the top award in Youth Cart Driver for the Clydesdale/Percheron division. Additionally, Katie, a Gladbrook-Reinbeck graduate, was the National Top Female Driver in the Clydesdale Division.

The newspaper had the privilege of photographing the family Thursday evening on the fairgrounds in Des Moines while they prepped and later competed with their black Clydesdale mares Tessa, Sally, Uri, and Mary in the Mare Four Horse Hitch class in the Jacobson Exhibition Center.

While the killer “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” soundtrack blasted away in the background, the Bauers along with their stellar helpers – fellow Clydesdale breeders Brian and Michelle Swenson of Stacyville, Iowa, and Purdue University undergraduate Bryee Alpers of Indiana – brushed, braided, and readied for show all four ladies in the horse barn beginning around 5 p.m. Once out on the street about an hour later, the elegant power of the horses was humbling to behold, even from behind the camera lens. Scores of fairgoers stopped to marvel at the feathered beauties from Gladbrook as they anxiously awaited their turn in the showring.

Prior to the Iowa State Fair, TF Clydesdales competed at the Boone County Fair in Belvidere, Ill. (July 23-27) where Emma won Jr. Cart and Team plus Peewee Showmanship; Katie won Ladies Cart and Team; Jake won Mens Team. The following week during the Wisconsin State Fair’s Draft Horse Show (July 29-Aug. 8), they won Mare 4 Horse Hitch, Supreme 4 Horse Hitch, Ladies Cart, and Ladies Team, while Emma again took home Jr. Cart and Team.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

This past week, the Bauers were on the road again, competing in the Minnesota State Fair.

For those who have still not seen the TF Clydesdales compete L I V E, it’s time to get your own cart in gear and head out on the road. Next week, they’ll be back in Iowa, competing in the Britt Draft Horse Show (Aug. 29-31) in Hancock County, followed by the Clay County Fair in Spencer in early September. Time to hitch up!

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER