The Great Minnesota Get-Together

Oh, you're in Minnesota now, kids!We managed to make it to the last weekend of the Minnesota State Fair, held right in St. Paul, a mere thirty minutes from our apartment. Minnesota has one of the biggest and best-attended of the state fairs and by the time it comes around again next year we'll be gone. So we got up in the dark this morning to get there first thing and beat the crowds. It did not disappoint.

First stop was the "Miracle of Birth" exhibit, where they have laboring and delivering mama animals, and lots of baby animals just a few days old, ripe for petting. It was a great exhibit but very crowded. There was a pig delivering while we were in there--they excitedly announced piglet number fifteen over the loudspeaker--and a cow in labor. Of course the animals don't care, but I still sympathized with them having to deliver in front of a crowd.

(This was not the birthing pig.)
You can see the little lamb right by Geoff's elbow, there.
Then we hit up several of the animal barns. "Cora, do you want to pet a goat? Look, Daddy's doing it.""I am loving the goat experience, but I'm not touching one under any circumstances. I will clasp my hands together so I don't make contact even by accident somehow."After looking at a zillion goats we went back outside and headed for the horse barn. Cora dissolved in tears. "Cora, what's wrong?!?" "I want to pet a gooooooat!" Okay back inside. Sometimes when you're two it takes a few extra minutes to work up your courage, and you need a second chance.
There, that's better.

We also saw the cows, poultry, and horses--all appearing in much larger number than at the county fair.

Here's one getting gussied up, clean and fluffy.
Riders in the horse exercise ring.

You're in cheese curd country. They have these in Chicago, but they aren't the native staple that they are farther north here. Geoff wanted to try them. We split a little brunch of fried cheese curds and chocolate ice cream (after a thorough hand-washing). We did not end up eating any foods on a stick, even though fairs have become known for putting everything on a stick. After visiting the animal barns, I can see why.

Off to the Agriculture/Horticulture building, including . . .
. . . the honey exhibit.
And an exhibit on Minnesota's wineries. We couldn't pass up wine ice cream. Delicious! We must get our own ice cream maker and make this at home.

A monument to the women of Minnesota. There are some Laura Ingalls Wilder attractions in the area that make me a bit sorry that my girls are so young while we're here. That is, assuming they even like the Little House books when they're older.
This year's fair has had some record-breaking attendance. More than two hundred thousand people on busy days.

Hazel was there too--she and I are just usually on the other side of the camera.

As we passed the "kidway," Cora declared that she was interested in going on some rides. Geoff accompanied her.
Waiting for the airplanes to start.
"Hi, Mom!"
The girl has a need for speed. (Not too much speed, though.)
The "Ghost Pirates" haunted-house-type ride. Geoff said it should be renamed "Dark, Loud, and Smelly."
And the swinging pirate ship. This one elicited whimpers from Cora.



Can't have the fair without an elephant ear!
And we got a take-home pail from the renowned Sweet Martha's. These were warm from the oven. Of course you have to eat a few off the top in order to get the lid on. The rest are in our freezer.
Then it was about 1:30 or so and time to head home. We were glad we had gotten there at opening time, because it was far, far more crowded in the afternoon. I could easily spend a couple more days there focusing on the demonstrations and exhibits, but the kids could not, and this was a pretty high-yield day at the fair with such little ones.

It was a fitting unofficial close to summer, this being Labor Day weekend and all. The first third of the season was of course consumed by packing and moving to the Twin Cities, but we've really gotten a lot out of the final two-thirds of this summer. We're hoping that autumn grants us good weather, and we get to see even more of the area.