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Iowa State Fair's Husband Calling Contest draws enthusiastic competitors from around the world

Iowa State Fair's Husband Calling Contest draws enthusiastic competitors from around the world
AT THE FAIR. IT’S STANDING ROOM ONLY IN PIONEER HALL FRIDAY MORNING. LADIES HAS BEEN CALLING CONTESTANTS RIDING IN THEIR NAMES, HOPING THEY’RE STILL ENOUGH ROOM TO SIGN UP THE COSTUMES. I’M HERE TO WIN IT. CRAZY. AND THE VOICES HOUSE AND MAKE ME DINNER. DEAFENING. THE HUSBAND CALLING CONTEST HAS GAINED QUITE THE NOTORIETY SINCE GOING VIRAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA LAST YEAR. BUT DESPITE ALL THE NEW CONTESTANTS HEADING IRVING IRVING. DOES BUDD FROM AROUND THE WORLD, SCHNITZEL, BRATWURST, SOUR KRAUT, WO BIST DU. WHERE ARE YOU? SCHATZI? AN OLD CLASSIC. I JUST OPEN UP MY MOUTH AND STARTED SCREAMING. HOLDS STEADY. WHAT NOW? YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO ME. THE LATE ROY IS STILL BEING CALLED UPON BY HIS BELOVED 94 YEAR OLD WIFE, BONNIE. SHE’S BEEN COMPETING LONGER THAN SHE KNOWS, BUT ALWAYS REMEMBERS A SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR HER. ROY, ROY, ROY, ROY, I LOVE YOU, BONNIE HAS WON COUNTLESS BLUE RIBBONS THROUGH THE 40 SOME ODD YEARS, BUT NOTHING FEELS BETTER THAN THIS ONE FOR 20. 23 IS NUMBER 867. IT FEELS WUNDERBAR. I LOVE IT. I HAVE OTHER BLUE RIBBONS, TOO, BUT. OH, THIS IS PRECIOUS. SHE LOVES TO SEE THE COMPETITION GROW AND CAN’T WAIT TO ONCE AGAIN CALL ON HER HUSBAND NEXT YEAR. I WAS SURELY WHEN I HEARD ALL THOSE LADIES SCREECHING, I THOUGHT, I’LL NEVER MAKE IT. OH. OH, HOW. HOW PLEASANT. THANK YOU. BONNIE SAYS SHE PLANS TO BE RIGHT BACK HERE ON THE SAME STAGE NEXT YEAR TO TRY TO DEFEND HER CHAMPIONSHIP. AND SHE CAN’T WAIT TO CALL ON HER HUSBAND, ROY, ONCE AGAIN, WE’RE LIVE AT THE IOWA STATE FAIR. BE
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Iowa State Fair's Husband Calling Contest draws enthusiastic competitors from around the world
The Iowa State Fair is home to countless one-of-a-kind traditions, including the world-famous Husband Calling Contest.The contest is simple: Contestants take the stage and call for their husbands. The results can be deafening, humorous and even theatrical.It was standing room only in Pioneer Hall at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. This year's contest drew participants from around the world, likely due to the viral popularity of last year's competition.The winner of the 2023 contest is 94-year-old Bonnie Swalwell Eilert from Newton. She told vlog that she has competed in the contest for at least 40 years.Click here for all of our coverage of the 2023 Iowa State Fair.During the competition, Eilert called to her late husband Roy, who died in 2015."Roy, Roy, I love you," Eilert said as part of her call.She was pleasantly surprised by her win and plans on being back at the Iowa State Fair next year to defend her title."I was sure when I heard all those ladies screeching. I thought, 'I'll never make it.' Oh, how pleasant. Thank you," Eilert said, blowing a kiss toward the sky. You can find more vlog coverage of the Iowa State Fair here.

The Iowa State Fair is home to countless one-of-a-kind traditions, including the world-famous Husband Calling Contest.

The contest is simple: Contestants take the stage and call for their husbands. The results can be deafening, humorous and even theatrical.

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It was standing room only in Pioneer Hall at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. This year's contest drew participants from around the world, likely due to the viral popularity of last year's competition.

The winner of the 2023 contest is 94-year-old Bonnie Swalwell Eilert from Newton. She told vlog that she has competed in the contest for at least 40 years.

Click here for all of our coverage of the 2023 Iowa State Fair.

During the competition, Eilert called to her late husband Roy, who died in 2015.

"Roy, Roy, I love you," Eilert said as part of her call.

She was pleasantly surprised by her win and plans on being back at the Iowa State Fair next year to defend her title.

"I was sure when I heard all those ladies screeching. I thought, 'I'll never make it.' Oh, how pleasant. Thank you," Eilert said, blowing a kiss toward the sky.

You can find more vlog coverage of the Iowa State Fair here.