Jen Cannon is the Competitive Events Director at the Iowa State Fair, where she wrangles over 60,000 entries—from record-setting pigs to mouthwatering pies—and leads the Fair’s Agriculture Education programming. With 20 years at the Fair (16 of those in her current role), Jen has become the go-to gal for all things competitive and ag.
Her journey began in Public Relations with the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation, before she jumped into the sponsorship world. Jen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Marketing, and Communications from Central College in Iowa, and she proudly graduated from the International Association of Fairs and Expos (IAFE) Institute of Fair Management in 2010.
When she’s not busy coordinating events, Jen is actively involved in the IAFE Agriculture and Competitive Exhibits Committees and just wrapped up a six-year stint on the Executive team of the North American Livestock and Rodeo Managers Association.
At home, Jen shares her love for agriculture with her husband, Tom, and their two sons, Lane and Trey, as they run a purebred Charolais cattle operation in central Iowa. Whether at the Fair or on the farm, Jen is all about family, fun, and a little friendly competition!