08/06/2026
⌛ Throwback Thursday: A name you never knew, and probably should (Part III).
Today, we are throwing it back to the man behind the building—and the absolute powerhouse architect of the National Cattle Congress: E.S. "Ed" Estel! (pictured in the front row, 2nd from the left)
As a 1910 Iowa State University graduate, Estel began his career as a state dairy field executive in Waterloo. He later earned a master’s degree and from 1917 to 1958, became the secretary-manager of the National Dairy Cattle Congress, transforming the event into a national institution.
🐴Estel organized the International Belgian Horse Show in 1918, which became a permanent fixture of the Congress until modern tractors came onto the scene.
📈 Ed guided the Cattle Congress through the Great Depression and World War II, keeping the gates open for agricultural education when many other major fairs shut down. After the war, he ushered the organization into its greatest growth period ever, bringing in a record-breaking 210,000 guests by 1946!
🏛️ In 1949, Ed helped establish the National Dairy Shrine Club in Waterloo to act as the ultimate "Hall of Fame" for the dairy industry. He was later honored as a premier Guest of Honor with his own portrait hung proudly in the gallery.
🎭 In 1948, he established massive band concerts as a primary fair anchor, paving the way for iconic national entertainment acts to perform on the NCC grounds!
👑 He was knighted by a King! Estel's work executing the internationally renowned Belgian Horse Show was so legendary that King Albert of Belgium actually knighted him for his incredible contributions to agricultural diplomacy!
🎪 Today, Ed's name lives on through Estel Hall. It stands as the largest exhibition building on the grounds, bringing our community together for craft fairs, flea markets, and trade shows year-round.
What is the coolest thing you've ever bought or seen inside Estel Hall? Tell us in the comments below! 👇
Images from the Archives of the Grout Museum District
