If you’ve never been, picture 160 acres of energy: a sky glider drifting above the Grand Concourse, the Butter Cow chilling in the Ag Building, and more than 200 foods, of which half are on a stick because efficiency matters. My grandparents started camping at the Iowa State Fair in the ’60s; Grandma tackled one section a day with a map, while Grandpa logged patient hours in the livestock barns. This year our three-year-old grandson joined the tradition (Cowboy Bootcamp, garden tunnels, nitro ice cream) four generations learning the same truth: steady focus + joyful planning = sustainable leadership.
Below are ten blue-ribbon leadership moves you can use this week. They’re written for women in leadership who want practical tools for executive presence, delegation, prioritization, and making work visible, without burning out.
1) Map the grounds: context first, request second
Grandma didn’t “wing it.” She chose a section, circled must-sees, and named the “not todays.” Leaders can do the same. Before you assign work, set the goal, the stakes, and the order of operations. Then clearly state what you’re not doing yet. Context lowers anxiety, speeds decisions, and builds trust (hello, psychological safety).
2) Enter the ring: show early, learn faster
No one waits for a perfect calf; you show, learn, and refine. Replace endless prep with a pilot or draft. Early communication converts opinions into data and accelerates change management because stakeholders feel included, not surprised. Momentum is a manager’s best friend.
3) Post the judge’s card: define success upfront
Blue ribbons aren’t random, the criteria is posted. At work, publish outcomes, deadlines, and decision rights before execution starts. When “good” is visible, teams self-correct, take smart risks, and stop guessing. Clear criteria are quiet confidence builders for high-performing teams.
4) Practice showmanship: headline first, then three facts
Great presenters at the Fair aren’t the loudest; they’re the clearest. Lead meetings with your recommendation in one sentence, then share the three strongest reasons. That structure sharpens executive presence, reduces rambling, and makes decision-making easier for everyone in the room (and on Zoom).
5) Barn chores before midway: protect deep work
Chores come before rides; needle-movers before notifications. Block a 60–90-minute focus window daily for the work that actually changes the week, then let email and Slack fill the edges. Consistent deep work is how leaders deliver results without living in crisis mode.
6) Little Hands on the Farm: delegate ownership, not chores
Kids learn fast when they pretend to plant, harvest, and “sell” the crop end-to-end. Delegation should mirror that full loop. Transfer outcomes with clear guardrails, resources, and checkpoints. When people own the result (not just a task), capability, confidence, and engagement rise.
7) Do the midway math: fewer rides, bigger views
Not every ride is worth the ticket, or the stomachache. Prioritize like a strategist: weigh impact, cost, and team energy, then name the “won’t do” list out loud. Project prioritization is a kindness; it protects quality and prevents quiet overload that drains morale.
8) Walk Varied Industries with curiosity: problem, proof, first move
The Varied Industries Building is a live mini business class on value. Borrow that lens in vendor and stakeholder meetings: What problem do you solve? What’s your proof? With our constraints, what’s the first move? Those three questions sharpen critical thinking and reduce shiny-object syndrome.
9) Take the sky glider: schedule a weekly altitude check
From above you can see bottlenecks and open paths the crowd can’t. Put a 20-minute “glider pass” on your calendar weekly: what’s blocked, what’s truly critical, and where effort isn’t matching impact. One targeted adjustment a week is how busy leaders make strategic progress.
10) Build a Blue Ribbon Board: make work visible
Our family posts the wins all over our camper so the momentum doesn’t fade. The photos, ribbons, and little stories. Do the same at work with a lightweight, public progress log. Visibility isn’t bragging; it’s responsible reporting that fuels recognition, performance reviews, and career advancement.
Try this micro-exercise: your “Fair Pass” for the week
List three “rides” (priorities), circle the one that gets your best 90-minute block (the highest priority), write two “not todays,” and choose one person who needs to see your progress. Tiny choices, big momentum.
🎧 Listen to the episode: Blue Ribbons & Bold Moves: Leadership Lessons from the Iowa State Fair
If it sparks something for you, reply and tell me your three rides and two not-todays. I’ll cheer you on like a grandstand crowd.
Lead with clarity. Lead with courage. Lead with spark.
