Road Trip! – the 2014 Harkin Steak Fry

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2016, Bill Clinton, Harkin Steak Fry, Hillary, Hillary Clinton, Indianola, Iowa, meta, president

We just received our confirmations for a press credentials for the 37th annual Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa on September 14th. I was issued my first press credential ever as a representative of Show Me Progress for the 2007 event.

The line of Hillary supporters watching their candidate at the steak grilling photo op

at the Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa – September 16, 2007 [file photo].

That September afternoon 18,000 people gathered at the balloon field to listen to the large number of Democratic Party presidential candidates. The weather was fantastic.

And taking advantage of the access granted by the credential I took a grand total of ninety stills. Experience over the years has disabused me of that illusion of productivity (In September 2013 I took over two thousand stills of President Obama at a presidential event in Kansas City).

The photos in this post were taken in 2007 amidst the vast media scrums (or not) around the candidates. It’s a brutal environment for someone who is trying to get a clean line of sight and who also has the handicap of politeness.

In the years since we’ve returned annually (only skipping 2008). On off years the crowd is somewhat smaller and the off year venue at the fairgrounds is much more intimate. Some of the regular volunteers know us by sight and name.

The speakers for this (and the final) Harkin Steak Fry are Hillary and Bill Clinton.

This year will not be an off year. By virtue of the speakers this event will be a magnet for national and international media. We might have to elbow our way in for riser space and we’re definitely going to have to brave media scrums. That’ll be half the fun. As a result, the chances are good we’ll have a meta post or two up at Show Me Progress describing the zoo like atmosphere.

And that’s if it doesn’t rain. If it rains it’ll be even more fun. We highly recommend the experience.

Then Senator Hillary Clinton working the “rope line” at the Harkin Steak Fry

in Indianola, Iowa – September 16, 2007 [file photo].

Then Senator Joe Biden, with his son, Hunter, about to give an interview at the Harkin Steak Fry

in Indianola, Iowa – September 16, 2007. Dr. Jill Biden is in red (background, left). [file photo].

Former Senator John Edwards speaking with the media

at the Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa – September 16, 2007 [file photo].

Then Senator Barack Obama speaking with a volunteer at the steak grilling photo op

at the Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa – September 16, 2007 [file photo].

Previously:

Go North (September 3, 2014)

Oh yeah, Hillary’s gonna run (August 18, 2014)

The Harkin Steak Fry 2013 – photos (September 15, 2013)

Yep, that’s about it (September 16, 2013)

‘Twas an epic roadtrip, that’s for sure (September 16, 2013)

Joe Biden at Harkin Steak Fry video by Jerry Schmidt (September 17, 2013)

Harkin Steak Fry 2012 – photos (September 16, 2012)

Harkin Steak Fry 2012 – Road Trip (September 16, 2012)

The 35th Annual Harkin Steak Fry: Getting a Jump on 2016 (September 17, 2012)

Harkin Steak Fry 2012 – press availability with Sen. Tom Harkin (D) and Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) (September 17, 2012)

Harkin Steak Fry 2012 Press Availability Video (September 20, 2012)