State Fair

[Redoverfarm]

Has anyone ever attended theirs state "Fair".  Well yesterday I went to ours.  I have been going for the last 10-12 years.  Take away the amusement rides and it was pretty decent.  Being a rural state there was a lot less commercialization than some others.  The day started at 8:30 AM with the draft horse pull.  The high price of gas was a real factor in this years participants and spectators though.  Of the original 29 registrants of the draft horses only 9 showed.  But after about 3 hours of competition the winning team from North Carolina won pulling 11,500#.  By watching the horses you could just visulize them plowing the fields and dragging logs from the woods. 

The rest of the day was spent walking through the livestock barns looking at all the different breeds and talking to the farm owners which will really give you the true status of the farming industry today.  The owners children were really fun to chat with.  Some of which were 10-12 year olds leading their 1,200-1,400# steers through the exhibition hall and back to the barns.  Most of which could not really tell you the exact location of their farms but could walk down the line and tell you the age, weight,  name of their breed and the individual name they had given their livestock.

There was also a new exhibit this year which was called "Mooternity" which has several "fresh ready cattle" that would give birth right before the attendance eyes.  Nothing new for my children but you would laugh at some of the publics opinion regarding the experience.  Even heard one say that it's not coming all the way out and I am sure they are going to have to do a cesarean.  My boy almost rolled in the floor when she said that. He did comment that he felt he should have jumped in and pulled the calf but mother nature in time did the natural thing.

And they also had a working "milking parlor".  Yes there is still people that had no idea of the true origin of the product in the one gallon plastic jug.  Of course technology had intervened in that it was not from a stool but by vaccumed milkers and plastic tubing. 

I really enjoyed the small chats with different people.  Like always you come to realize it is a small world after all.  You will usually find a common denominator to your travels throughout the state and surrounding states by "I have been there" or "yes I know that person".

Of couse if you have children then the amusments are a must.  With all said and done we returned to the house some 15 hours later.   

[NM_Shooter]

i've been to a few state fairs... in NM, TX and in Iowa.  They do seem to be big productions. 

A high point for me as a kid was always the county fairs in Baxter Co. Arkansas.  They would sell tickets at school a week before for "discounted" ride tickets, and we always looked forward to opening Friday night with a lot of excitement.  This was a very rural fair as well.  Lots of local competition for livestock, cooking, quilting and the like.  Greased pole climb, greased pig, adult rodeo events, and just lots of kids wandering around everywhere.  We even had some "freak" show type entertainment, which mom never let me into   

Funny how I still have pictured clearly in my mind a lot of the sights from that.  Smells too... sawdust, tobacco smoke, cotton candy. 

Rockwell remembrances for me.

Thanks for the memories Red!

-f-

[peternap]

I do go most years John. Just as you said, it's enjoyable walking around talking to the farmers and seeing what they are growing.
It does concern me some because there seem to be a lot of designer animals for pets and fewer food animals.

Sheep are holding strong though.

[fishing_guy]

Our State fair starts next Thursday and runs through Labor day.  We had car races until a few years ago, when they rebuilt the stage for the musical acts.

It is the third largest state fair in the US.  It is run by an independent board of directors and is commercialized quite a bit, but I still like to go about every other year.

Here is their website:
http://www.mnstatefair.org/

[Mad Dog]

Same here, ours starts Thursday and runs through Labor Day.  My parents and nephew are up from the lower 48, so this year will be particularly interesting.  Always fun to see the farm exhibits, and the rodeo they put on is halfway decent.  Plenty of food, food , food as well.

[desdawg]

I used to go to county fairs when I was young. Never made it to a State Fair. Just something about going to a fair in a place called Phoenix doesn't seem authentic.

[ScottA]

I go to our little county fair sometimes but I stay away from the state fair. It's nothing but overpriced everything and crowded.

[Redoverfarm]

Scott they all are overpriced anymore.  I stay away from the commercialization as much as possible just viewing the equipment, livestock , 4H exhibits, and other exhibits.  Good place to pick up pencils  and rulers for the shop though. I enjoy it.  Meeting people and talking. 

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

Scott, I'm with you... I prefer the little county fairs, but we usually go to the state fair anyway.  When I was a kid we went to the state fair and the rodeo every year...I didn't even know there was a midway until I was a teen because we spent all our time at the ag exhibits and the "Made in Oklahoma" building.

[glenn kangiser]

"Made in Oklahoma" building.

That would be the local family portrait building? hmm

[Pox Eclipse]

I love "State Fair", Ann Margaret is the berries...

We are talking about Rodgers & Hammerstein, right?

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

Glenn

[glenn kangiser]

[Sassy]

We used to go as a family when I was growing up - had to go through all the exhibits 1st before we got to go on the rides - for me, the rides were the big thing...  from the time I was 7 until I was 18 we lived in town... highschool a bunch of friends would go together & just hang around & ride on the rides - I always loved that, even though now I don't think they're (rides) probably very safe...  but, thank goodness what I didn't know didn't hurt me...  always liked the corn dogs, caramel apples & funnel cakes with strawberries & whipped cream - yummmmm      

I used to like the horticulture & sewing exhibits & enjoyed seeing the animals - especially the baby ones...