Students invited to enter 2026 Choose Iowa Calendar Contest as part of Iowa’s America250 Celebration
As part of Iowa’s America250 celebration, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is inviting school-aged Iowa students to participate in the 2026 Choose Iowa Calendar Contest. Choose Iowa is the state’s signature brand for Iowa grown, made, and raised food, beverages and agricultural products. The program was launched by Secretary Naig and is supported by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
Students are invited to submit artwork that combines Iowa agriculture with a patriotic theme as part of Iowa’s celebration recognizing the 250th anniversary of the United States. Submissions should feature at least one aspect of Iowa agriculture, with an emphasis on food, beverages, livestock, crop production, or horticulture, along with elements, themes, or symbols that reflect patriotism or American pride. Submissions will be judged on creativity and connections to agriculture in everyday life, as well as how the artwork incorporates patriotic elements.
Secretary Naig will recognize the winning artists during a special awards ceremony Tuesday, August 18 in the Agriculture Building during the 2026 Iowa State Fair. Winning submissions will also be included in the 2026/2027 Choose Iowa calendar distributed by the Department during the Iowa State Fair and online at ChooseIowa.com.
School-aged Iowa students up to 18 years old are invited to participate. Pictures should be drawn on plain white, 8.5-inch by 11-inch paper in a horizontal orientation using only black lines. The pictures should not be colored in. For creative inspiration, the 2025/2026 calendar may be viewed online at https://iowaagriculture.gov/news/2026-choose-iowa-cal-contest.
Entries can be submitted via the form found on the Choose Iowa website, emailed to chooseiowa@iowaagriculture.gov or mailed to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Attn: Choose Iowa Calendar, 1305 East Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA, 50319. To be eligible for consideration, artwork submissions must be received by the Department by noon June 1.
If mailed, each submission should include the printable entry form from the website listed above with basic information about the artist, including the artist’s name, age, grade, school, and hometown as well as the name, email and phone number of a parent or guardian. If the artwork is submitted by the student’s teacher, then the teacher’s name and contact information should also be included.
Learn more about Choose Iowa and the Calendar Contest by visiting the website ChooseIowa.com.
