Candidates, contestants and fairgoers converge on the 2015 Iowa State Fair
Sampling the pork chop on a stick. Snapping a selfie with the butter cow. Taking questions about foreign policy from hecklers.
For those who would be president, a visit to the Iowa State Fair may be the purest distillation of the campaign experience in the state that starts the voting in the race for the White House.
The 11-day event started Thursday, and most of the 2016 hopefuls will pass through, pausing to chomp on deep-fried snack foods, visit with locals out for a day of fun and spend some time on the political soapbox to talk with voters. (AP) Here's a look.
Photographs by Khue Bui for Yahoo News
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Kernels for candidates
Fair goers vote with corn kernels for their favorite candidates at the Iowa State Fair Sunday, August 16, 2015, in Des Moines, IA. Hillary Clinton leads among democrats while Donald Trump led republicans in the informal poll. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Posing with George
Former New York Governor George Pataki (R) campaigns at the Iowa State Fair Sunday, August 16, 2015, in Des Moines, IA. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Kernel contest
Corn kernels used to make checkers pieces places 2nd at the Iowa State Fair Sunday, August 16, 2015, in Des Moines, IA. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Funny family
Extended family members (L-R) Stacey Nichols, Cohen Reynolds, and Bob Nichols pose in cutouts at the Iowa State Fair Sunday, August 16, 2015, in Des Moines, IA. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Sheep kisses
All Brooks, 14 of Councill Bluffs, IA, sits with her sheep Hild at the Iowa State Fair Sunday, August 16, 2015, in Des Moines, IA. Hold likes to climb and nibble at the fence back home. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Arm wrestlers
2015 Iowa State Fair Arm Wrestling Championships at the Iowa State Fair Sunday, August 16, 2015, in Des Moines, IA. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Boots
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Glee
Geneva Judule, left, 23, and Dorcas Andoh, 21, both of Urbane, Iowa, enjoy the rides at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday in Des Moines. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Evening overview
The Grandstand and attractions at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday in Des Moines. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Trump spotting
Presidential candidate Donald Trump Flies over the Iowa State Fair in his personal helicopter on Saturday in Des Moines. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Trump frenzy
Thousands of people wait to see presidential candidate Donald Trump at the butter cow exhibit at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday in Des Moines. Although Trump's campaign said he would stop by the exhibit, he did not. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Hill's in da house
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hugs Bill Knapp II, chairman of Knapp Properties, at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday in Des Moines. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Clinton clickers
Fairgoers take pictures of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday in Des Moines. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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WHAT?
Louie Dixon, 6, of Des Moines, shows former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton his missing tooth at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday in Des Moines. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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The missing tooth
Louie Dixon, 6, of Des Moines, showed former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton his missing tooth at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday in Des Moines. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Press crush
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks to the press at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday in Des Moines. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Product!
Cans of grooming supplies at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday in Des Moines. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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'MAKEUP!'
Paint outlines of cow hooves at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday in Des Moines. The paint is used to dress the animals up for competition. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Young competitors
Jacob Eilers, 13, of Urbana, Iowa, waits to compete in the Junior Showmanship category at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday in Des Moines. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Kickin' off
A fairgoer sleeps in a cot outside of the cattle barn at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday in Des Moines. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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'A mother's job...'
Carter Zidlicky, 18, sleeps as his mother, Karrie Zidlicky, grooms their cow at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday in Des Moines. Carter and his mother are helping his brother, who is competing. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Pig heaven
Contestants take a nap at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday in Des Moines. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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'Boar'-ing dreams
Big Mac, a champion boar, rests at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday in Des Moines. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Fancy
A woman wears a sunflower hat at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday in Des Moines. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Old wheel
Old wagon wheels are displayed at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday in Des Moines. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Media frenzy
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush campaigns along Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst at the Iowa State Fair Friday, August 14, 2015, in Des Moines, IA. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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'Freedom'
A fairgoer shows off his ink at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday in Des Moines. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Chow down
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush campaigns at the Iowa State Fair Friday, August 14, 2015, in Des Moines. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Bush nose
Left to right, Anna Duncan, Carolyne Siverz and Madi Lindell, all 16 and of Waukee, Iowa, look on as former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush campaigns at the Iowa State Fair on Friday in Des Moines. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Sky ride
The sky lift ride at the Iowa State Fair on Friday in Des Moines. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Curls
Contestants in the Cowgirl Queen Contest get ready to perform at the Iowa State Fair Friday. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Reflect Jeb
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is reflected in sunglasses as he campaigns at the Iowa State Fair Friday. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Cowgirl
Tatty Lanz of Indianola, Iowa, wears an American-flag-themed cowboy hat at the Iowa State Fair Friday in Des Moines. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Steppin' out
A young boy gets ready to open a stable door at the Iowa State Fair Friday. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Alternate transportation
Tractor parade — and enthusiastic patron — at the Iowa State Fair Friday. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Wet down
A horse is walked as the grounds are watered at the Iowa State Fair Friday. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Doin' the doo
Brittany Bru, seated, gets help from friend Taylor Wanatee as she prepares for the Cowgirl Queen Contest at the Iowa State Fair Friday. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Touch of class
Hood ornament on a classic car at the Iowa State Fair Friday. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Hat hook
Former U.S. Senator Jim Webb, D-Va., speaks at the Iowa State Fair, Thursday, August, 13, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Nail drivers
Decor at the Iowa State Fair Friday. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Wheelin'
A woman uses a wheelchair to transport lawn chairs at the Iowa State Fair Friday. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Huck on the soapbox
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee speaks at the Iowa State Fair Thursday, August, 13, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Break time
Linda Anderson sits with her granddaughter Elya Adams, 10, as another granddaughter prepares for the Cowgirl Queen Contest at the Iowa State Fair Friday. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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The touch
Good friends Vern Brown and Luetta Lambrecht at the Iowa State Fair Friday. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Cat nap
Worker sleeps at the game station early Friday morning at the Iowa State Fair. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Two step
Dance lessons are given at the Iowa State fair Friday. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Biter warning
A warning sign at the Iowa State Fair Friday. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Standing by
A gurney sits near a ride at the Iowa State Fair Friday. EMTs who responded to this location were told they were needed just down the way, and left it behind. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Pride of the heartland
Corn entries in the Agriculture Building of the Iowa State Fair, Thursday, August, 13, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo: Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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Classic pose
Pat Grimm cleans out her 1930 Chrysler Model 66 during an antique car gathering at the Iowa State Fair Friday. (Photo: by Khue Bui for Yahoo News)
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