More than one million people will visit the Iowa State Fair over 11 days beginning August 13th, 2026. On each of those 11 days, one amazing individual will be recognized as the ‘Iowan of the Day’ by the State Fair’s Blue Ribbon Foundation. EveryStep couldn’t agree more with their choice for Tuesday, August 18th: Mount Pleasant EveryStep volunteer Jordan Norton!
Jordan is an Army veteran who suffered permanent hearing loss due to an IED attack in Afghanistan. He has continued to honor those who served before him as a veteran volunteer in Mount Pleasant where he has taken part in pinning services for dozens of veteran hospice patients.
As ‘Iowan of the Day’, Jordan will be recognized in a special ceremony at Noon on the 18th at the Bill Riley Stage. He and his family are getting free tickets to the fair, food tickets, and tickets to that evening’s Grandstand concert.
Volunteering with EveryStep isn’t the only way that Jordan is serving his community. As explained in his nomination for ‘Iowan of the Day’ submitted by his loving wife – EveryStep Mount Pleasant Volunteer Coordinator Gwen Norton – Jordan is just as dedicated to keeping kids involved in sports, too:
"Jordan has many titles: Father, Husband, Coach, Veteran, Volunteer, and most recently Paraeducator.
Jordan enlisted in the Army 2007 at the age of 17. Jordan was call upon in 2010-2011 for a 14-month deployment in Afghanistan. This is where Jordan was hit by an IED when completing route clearance. This accident took all the hearing in his right ear. This physical disability did not in any way slow Jordan down from continuing to serve and protect for more than 18 years.
In 2023 Jordan started volunteer coaching for the Mount Pleasant Youth Wrestling Program. This comes with an average of 450+ hours of practice and tournaments every season. From showing up early every practice to help the little kids with tying wrestling shoes, to staying late at tournaments to make sure every child who is on the mat has a coach in their corner cheering them on.
Jordan gives his all when it comes to supporting the kids. After every match he gets down to the kids’ level, wipes aways the tears, says the one thing every kid hopes to hear after losing, “I am proud of you for going out there.” He then takes the time to find the good in what they did and correct any errors, reminding them of our team mantra: “Work Hard”.
Wrestling is mentally tough and Jordan is helping to build strong, confident, hardworking next generation. Now four years later he is still full steam ahead assisting with going from 30-40 kids to over 100 children in the program.
After wrapping up Wrestling season he jumps right into soccer season and volunteer coaches two team’s 1st-3rd grade girls and 4th-6th coed soccer. And as always, he is known for his playfulness. Jordan makes a deal with each of his soccer teams that he will do a cartwheel for every goal they make. It was a dizzy season for sure!
Not only is Jordan a combat veteran that chooses to spend his time coaching the next generation, but he volunteers for Every Step Hospice in Mount Pleasant. Jordan has completed over 25 Hospice Veteran pinning’s for dying veterans in southeast Iowa on Hospice and completing over 80 hours a one-on-one companionship with Veterans. Jordan has volunteered over 500 hours with EveryStep Hospice since 2023."
