🗣️ It’s Friday!

Looking for something to do this weekend? Scroll down for some Iowa events, plus fall fun in Only in Iowa, this week’s
crossed dogs photo, a chef’s homecoming in Positively Iowa, and news you can use.

Wills Family Orchard is the perfect family orchard to get to for apples, pumpkins, hayrides, and even fall-themed drinks. (Wills Family Orchard)

Fortunately, in Iowa, you don’t have to go far to find a place to embrace the fall season.

From laid-back family farms near Des Moines to full fall festivals around Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, these Iowa destinations offer lots of fall activities and fun ways to spend a crisp autumn day.

👨‍🍳 Cory Barrett has made a name for himself—pastry chef at Okada at Wynn Las Vegas, executive chef at Michael Symon’s legendary Cleveland flagship, Lola, cooking at the acclaimed Herbfarm in Washington state. He could have opened his own restaurant anywhere.

But he decided to open Barrett’s in Coralville, what the Iowa Restaurant Association called a “standout culinary destination for the greater Iowa City metro area” when awarding him Chef of the Year recently.

“When we moved here to build Barrett’s, we saw an unbelievable opportunity—not just to open a restaurant, but to plant roots in a community that genuinely cares about good food, local sourcing, and warm hospitality,” the IRA quoted Barrett as saying. “Bringing high-level craftsmanship back to Iowa isn’t about changing what Iowa is; it’s about showcasing how rich and vibrant our local food culture can be.”

Work touches nearly every part of life in Iowa—yet news about job cuts, pay, workplace safety, and labor laws is often scattered or hard to follow.

This free newsletter brings it together in one place.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Rivers and features stories by Jessica F. Simmons, Robert Gundran, Lindsey Giardino, and Zachary Oren Smith. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

Iowa Starting Line is free for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.