1. On August 13, 1846, a group of Mormons traveling westward on the Mormon Pioneer Trail arrived in Council Bluffs, Iowa. This community, known as Kanesville at the time, became an important staging area for Mormon emigrants before they continued their journey westward to Utah.

2. August 13, 1935 marked the opening day of the Iowa State Fair, one of the largest and most well-known agricultural fairs in the United States. The fair, which spans 11 days, attracts over a million visitors each year and features a wide range of events, competitions, and exhibits celebrating Iowa's agriculture and rural heritage.

3. In the early morning hours of August 13, 1974, a massive tornado tore through the town of Woodward, Iowa, causing extensive damage and killing nine people. The tornado, which was later classified as an EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, remains one of the deadliest and most destructive tornadoes in Iowa history.

4. On August 13, 1985, a group of farmers from Iowa and other Midwestern states began a protest in Washington, D.C. against the federal government's farm policies. The protest, which became known as the "Farm Aid" concert, featured performances by a number of famous musicians and helped to raise awareness of the economic hardships facing America's farmers.

5. August 13, 2008 marked the first day of the Iowa State University Cyclone football team's 2008 season. Despite starting the season unranked, the Cyclones had a successful year, finishing with a record of 7-6 and winning the Insight Bowl over the Minnesota Golden Gophers.