The Iowa State Fair is holding a special student essay contest this year. Fair spokeswoman Kathy Swift says this year’s essay contest celebrates the 150th anniversary of the fair. She says they’re inviting sixth through 12th grade students around the state to submit a one-page essay with the theme:”My thoughts on the Iowa State Fair: past, present or future.” She says they’re looking for the student’s experiences of the fair, what the fair has meant to them, or maybe ideas about the future of the fair. Swift says the essay should center on the student’s ideas.She says it’s fine if they want to visit with people who can share a love of the fair, as long as the student does the work. Swift expects to get some interesting essays.She says the older you get, the fair becomes more nostalgic, but she says kids see the fair as an experience, where there are certain things they love to do. She says it’s easy to enter. She says there’s an entry form that students can get from their teachers to mail in. Swift says the best essay writers will be honored during the fair August 12th through the 22nd.She says each grade will be judges separately and each grade will get a prize of 25 dollars and be able to come to the fair and read their essay. Swift says the entry deadline for the contest is June first. For more information visit:wwwiowastatefair.org.