Iowa State Fair Seasonal Employment

Positions for Fair time, seasonal employment include the following:

Ticketing

• Ticket Sellers – This position is responsible for the selling of tickets. Applicants must be 16 years of age or older.
• Ticket Takers – This position is responsible for the collection of tickets and or verification of appropriate vehicular mirror hanger. Applicants must be 16 years of age or older.

Concessions/Barksdale’s State Fair Cookies

• Cookie Production – This position will assist in the manufacturing process of making cookies, utilizing commercial baking equipment and following food safety guidelines. Day, night and overnight shifts available. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
• Food & Beverage Server – This position will aid in the fulfillment of cookies and beverage orders while adhering to food safety guidelines. Applicants must be 14 years of age or older.
• Cashier – This position will handle all order transactions on a cash register and be responsible for balancing their cash drawer daily. Applicants must be 16 years of age or older or 14 years of age or older with experience.

Attractions

• Thrill Park Redemption Associate – This position is responsible for redeeming of online thrill park purchases.
• Ye Old Mill Worker – This position is responsible for assisting guests on and off the ride. Wiping seats and moping wet surfaces when needed. Applicants must be 14 years and older.

Custodial

• Seasonal custodial staff will be responsible for cleaning all buildings and restrooms on the grounds in preparation for summer events and the Fair. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
• Restroom checker – The function of this job is to check the contract custodial crews’ work at public restrooms located throughout the lower/inner grounds. The goal is to have restrooms as clean as possible. The contract holder receives information from the Iowa State Fair of what a great job they are doing or if they need to improve. This team should be a detail-oriented male and female team to work side by side. Both genders are needed so they can go into the designated restrooms. The team will receive a golf cart and wristband. The shift is four hours long. The shifts are from 8 a.m. to noon, noon to 4 p.m., and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The supervisor will work with the restroom checkers to schedule the shift that best works around your needs. The position will start Wednesday, August 7, prior to the Fair, and will run until August 19. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license. This is a great opportunity to be able to make some side money while still having plenty of time to enjoy the Fair.

Parking

• Parking Attendant – This position is responsible for directing vehicles to open spots in parking lots. Applicants must be 14 years of age or older.

Livestock Control

• Livestock control is responsible for getting all the livestock exhibitors and trucks and trailers on and off the Fairgrounds. They do crowd control, help escort vehicles, keep traffic flowing, deal with an occasional loose animal and answer questions.

Security

• Public Safety Officer – This is a civilian position that assists guests at entry and exit gates, and may assist with the entry screening process. They assist sworn officers by alerting them to issues of security and safety, guard Fair assets, assist in looking for lost persons, assist in the lost and found procedures, provide courtesy escorts, and provide support to the Public Safety team as needed. All applicants must of sound moral character and be at least 18 years of age or older.

• Armed Security Officer – This position is available to current and retired police officers, as well as those with a strong military background in policing. This position will provide armed guard services at gates and other security areas. They assist sworn officers by alerting them to issues of security and safety, guard Fair assets, assist in looking for lost persons, assist in the lost and found process, and provide support to our Public Safety team as needed. This position requires a satisfactory background investigation, as well as a qualifying firearms score from an approved ILEA instructor.
  • NOTE: Armed Security applicants apply by completing the Public Safety Application and return to Commander Darin VanRyswyk, dvanryswyk@iowastatefair.org.
• Grandstand Security – This position assists inside the Grandstand during performances as well as other free stages around the Fairgrounds. Assist with crowd management and entertainer security.

*Iowa State Fair does not hire for concessionaires or vendors. Interested in working at a stand or booth at the Fair? Please reach out to the individual concessionaire or vendor directly.