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peter cownie

Class of 2016
Executive director, Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation

What’s one issue you’re very passionate about?

One issue I am passionate about is the Iowa State Fair. While I do work at the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation, I believe the fair stands for and represents all that is good about Iowa. The Iowa State Fair is literally and figuratively when and where rural and urban Iowa come together every year to celebrate this great state. I want to continue to grow the fair for all Iowans and all fairgoers and, in turn, help grow the state of Iowa and continue to make the Iowa State Fair the envy of the nation.

What’s one of your everyday habits that helps you be successful?

One everyday habit of mine is that I make a list of things that I need to get done, whether it be for work, personal, my family, etc. There’s no task too small or too large for my list every day. I really enjoy crossing things off of my list. It helps me stay organized and hopefully get things accomplished.

Knowing what you know now, what’s one thing you’d tell your younger self as you start your career?

Knowing what I know now, I would have put every dollar I had in the stock market in the spring of 2009, but notwithstanding my inability to do so, I would say a great lesson no matter where you are in life or what age you are is to be a good listener. Thomas Jefferson said, “To learn, you have to listen.” Simple, but such truth to that for us to all keep top of mind.

 

Class of 2016

Liz Adelman

Sophia S. Ahmad

Katie Albrecht-Snell

Zachary Bales-Henry

Collin R. Barnes

Mike Barratt

Sara Bonney

Josh Braby

Annie Brandt

Ben Buenzow

Nola Cartmill

Peter Cownie

Clint Dudley

Alex Duong

Josh Ehlen

Brianne Fitzgerald

Jayme Fry

Jan Glendening

Megan Grandgeorge

Ryan Jensen

Angela Jiskoot

Beth Jones

Kolby Jones

Sunni Kamp

Izaah JB Knox

Dylan Lampe

Jessica Maldonado

Brooke Axiotis

Zach Nunn

Ryan Osborn

Noreen Otto

Susan Rathjen

Michael Richards

Denver Ritz

Shannon Rudolph Umthum

Cory Scott

Jennifer Smith

Catherine Swoboda

Emily Toribio

Bethany Wilcoxon