Annie

Meet Annie

Annie brings the heart of rural Iowa to life through family, agriculture, and tradition. As a farm mom raising show-cattle kids while working full-time, she shares an authentic look at daily life from mornings in the barn to long days at the fairgrounds, offering a genuine window into Iowa’s rural communities.

Through Evolution of the Heartland, Annie helps families and first-time visitors navigate county fairs, youth agriculture, and rural travel with confidence. Her itineraries, seasonal guides, and stories make these experiences easy to understand, meaningful to explore, and worth the journey.

EOH Fair & Family Experience Curator

I help families, first-time visitors, and ag-curious travelers navigate Iowa fairs, youth ag culture, and family-friendly rural experiences with confidence and context.

Annie’s Trail Markers

Trail Markers are the recurring themes and passions that guide each of our Explorers. Just like a sign on a physical path, these markers show you exactly what to expect from an Explorer’s journey

Fair Life & Ag Youth Culture

County fairs, Iowa State Fair, 4-H & FFA traditions, preparation, logistics, and why fairs matter.

Family-Based Rural Travel

Realistic trips built around kids, events, farms, and community stops.

Garden-to-Fair-to-Table Living

Seasonal rhythms, home gardening, food, and how ag families live beyond the barn.

Curated Itineraries & Bucket Lists

Fair itineraries, seasonal guides, family bucket lists, and planning tools.

Featured Experience

Clay County Fair

Spencer, Iowa

For my family, the Clay County Fair in Spencer is so much more than just a week of rides and fried food, it’s the culmination of a year’s hard work and a tradition that runs deep in our blood. As a family heavily involved in 4-H and FFA, our fair week starts long before the gates open to the public; it’s defined by the early morning rhythm of “fitting” calves in the wash rack, grooming our livestock until they’re show-ring ready, and the nervous adrenaline that hits right before we lead them into the arena. Whether we’re vying for a purple ribbon in the livestock barns or showcasing a project we’ve spent months perfecting in the 4-H exhibit building, the fair is where our dedication to agriculture really comes to life. Between shows, you’ll find us catching up with neighbors over a bucket of cookies or grabbing a sandwich at the cattlemen’s beef stand, soaking in the energy of “The World’s Greatest County Fair” and celebrating the rural heritage that makes Iowa home.

Notes from the Road

Annie’s EOH Travel Journal

Get inspired by Annie’s latest stops and start mapping your own route. Whether it’s a legendary small-town diner or a vibrant city festival, see Iowa through a local lens and find your next destination, one mile at a time.

EOH Explorer Series | Gehling Greenhouse

If you’ve spent much time driving Iowa gravel roads, you know some of the best places don’t look flashy from…

EOH Explorer Series | Rail Explorers Boone Division

There are some experiences that feel like they belong on a bucket list the second you try them, and Rail…