The Feb. 18 Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival is already sold out. Ten women are still competing for the title of Bacon Queen 2012 and will move on to the live Bacon Queen pageant, Feb. 16 at Johnny’s Hall of Fame, Des Moines. The judges will choose and crown the 2012 Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival Bacon Queen.
Might not sound like much, but for a state that raises 30 million pigs a year, pork is a big deal. Des Moines also hosts the annual international World Pork Expo in June.