Ode to the State Fair

One year someone had the audacity to move the homemade brownie stand away from the all-you-can-drink milk booth. Minnesotans nearly rioted. They raised so much of a ruckus that the brownies were moved back to their rightful place beside the milk stand.

I'm not sure if that story is true or not, but I heard it this year and I love it. It sums up Minnesota in so many ways. Sure, we might be Minnesota nice, but YOU DON'T MESS WITH OUR STATE FAIR. Them's fightin' words.

I have really talked up the fair to the natives to find out how in the world this fair turned out cool when many state fairs are just chalked up as chance to gawk at a few carnies, win a ribbon, eat a carmel apple, and be hounded by a hairy toothless man running a dart throw.

A member of the State Fair communications team summed it up for me: It's cultural. Families come here and enjoy the same things every year and they come back and bring their kids....kids bring their kids..... and voila, another person is sucked into thinking getting a Pronto Pup followed by cheese curds and then Sweet Martha's cookies with a Malt that can only come from the Dairy Barn that you eat while looking at the butter sculptures is an annual must-do right up there with Thanksgiving.

I went out to cover two days of the fair. One story-- a local skate lair has had a place in the X-Zone for 10 years. It's a skate park with 5 or so shows daily. I found it rather ironic that kids were doing tricks right beside a tractor driving contest. But that's the State Fair.

Then, I went out to cover a local Eastern Star Chapter that has been running a dining hall on the state fairgrounds for 73 years. "It's not fast food. It's good food fast." They start serving up a hearty breakfast at 7 am and then serve up lunch and dinner. There are only 4 church dining halls left, and they are a tradition. I met a couple inside who met at the Fair 50-something years ago and they come back to the fair every year.

Dave got to broadcast from the KARE barn, where a lively crowd shows up to see TV magic for part, if not all of every show. Every station is here.

At Heritage Square, I stopped by the log cabin to see a few friends.

I used up my calories on a cinnamon roll from the food barn followed up with a big glass of cold milk. It was like heaven until about 3/4 of the way through before it got too sickeningly sweet. This was recommended to be by another Minnesotan who starts out her State Fair day with this breakfast. You can watch the rolls being made through a glass door. I waited in line for about 15 minutes, but that was pretty standard everywhere.

My coworker's favorite are are the Walleye cakes in the Lodge. She always brings back a tub of Sweet Martha's Cookies for the station.

My neighbor's tradition is always the Strawberries and Cream.

One friend's must-eat are the mini-donuts.

Dave's favorite are the fried pickles.

Another coworker's favorite are the tubs of fresh cut french fries. But only the ones from the red & gold stand that's been there since 1972.

You should see the lines for the Pronto Pups, the Cheese Curds from the mousehole, and then the root beer stand.

There's a John Deere stand that churns up homemade ice cream on some type of rig that includes John Deere machinery.

Dave and I didn't get to take Jack to experience his first State Fair, but there's ample opportunities for a kid out here. Besides...it's another chance for us to sample another classic.