Monticello Man Re-elected to Iowa State Fair Board

A Monticello man has been re-elected to the Iowa State Fair Board.

John Harms will serve another term as one of two directors representing the Northeast district. The other director for the Northeast is Deb Zumbach of Coggon, who has been elected as Vice President of the Iowa State Fair Board for 2026. 

County fair delegates representing six geographic districts elect two board members to serve two-year staggered terms on the fair board. Harms was one of five board members re-elected, with a new board member also elected to replace a retiring member. The elections were held on Sunday during the annual State Agricultural Convention, in conjunction with the Association of Iowa Fairs Conference.

The 2026 Iowa State Fair Board President is Curtis Claeys of Grand Mound, with Jeremy Parsons of Des Moines re-appointed as Board Secretary.

The Iowa State Fair Board is made up of a dozen elected members, as well as several board members by office, including Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer representing Governor Kim Reynolds, Grant Menke representing Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig and retiring Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen, Interim President David Spalding and President-Elect David Cook (represented by Andrea Welchans).

photo courtesy of Iowa State Fair