One of my long-distance best friends and I have a tradition. It’s a tradition shared by about a million people each August.
The Iowa State Fair.
We go each year. Partially because I only live a few miles away. Partially because it makes a great excuse to see each other. And partially because we have an irrational love for the petting zoo.
I want a baby goat so much it’s not even funny.
I’ve written my fair share of blog posts about the State Fair. And as I thought about this year’s post, I considered yet another written monologue about the butter sculpture. Because, I mean, honestly, a person really can’t run out of funny things to say about butter sculptures. This year’s honored Field of Dreams.
Is this Heaven? No, it’s Iowa…where we do weird things with butter.
I thought about writing about the Sky Glider. It’s our first stop every time we go to the fair and I think I can unequivocally say this is the first time I’ve ever been a little scared of the thing. I kept imagining it breaking (#WriterProbs).
And then, lo and behold, about halfway through the ride this year, it did stop suddenly. And my friend and I looked at each other, wide-eyed and overly imaginative. But…we lived.
We decided if the Sky Glider was going to break, we’d prefer it break over a tree…less distance to fall, greater chance of survival.
I thought about writing about chicken fried bacon. I have a lot of questions about this but they can pretty much ALL be boiled down to one word: REALLY??
I thought about writing about the giant pumpkins. Then I realized I’m not sure what I’d say about them other than that they’re HUGE and I love them and I don’t know why but I do. I mean…giant pumpkins. Someone took the time and went to the effort to grow a giant pumpkin. With all the bad stuff going on in the world, I’m glad we can take time to look at big pumpkins.
Think of all the pumpkin pie!
Finally, I thought about writing about how I’ve never once worn a dress and heels to the fair like in the musical…nor have I ever seen the crowd spontaneously burst into song. But if it ever happens, you can be sure I’ll write a full post about it…with much more rhyme and reason and logical train of thought than this one.
Oh, and by the way, when I say musical, I’m talking about the Rodgers and Hammerstein one from 1945. Not the 1960s one that moved the setting to Texas. That’s just not right!
There’s a lot I could say about this year’s State Fair, but possibly the most interesting fair moment came just as we were leaving when my friend leaned over and said, “UMMM, look at those guys.” Which, at the fair, can mean anything. Could be guys leading around a giant Clydesdale. Could be guys eating some disgusting-but-amazing deep fat fried food. Could be guys really impressively throwing horse shoes.
In this case? It was two guys walking nonchalantly down the street…one wearing only incredibly tight, incredibly short denim cut-offs and insane amounts of bodybuilding grease and the other in tight black pants, a white shirt and suspenders.
I don’t know why an alleged bodybuilder and possibly Amish person walking together was such an entertaining sight. But it was.
State Fair memories, people. Treasure them.
Do you go to the State Fair in your state? What’s your favorite thing about it?
p.s. I’ve been on the inconsistent side here on the blog this summer. First time in about three years, actually, that I eased up on the schedule. But with two deadlines behind me, I’m looking forward to jumping back in. I will be here every Monday and Friday and some Wednesdays. Hope to see you!
Comments 14
Goat kids are the cutest baby animals ever. Seriously. We have goats on our farm and snuggling with the babies is one of my favorite parts of spring. =) I think it’s something about their sweet noses and incredibly expressive ears…
I don’t think I’ve ever been to the Virginia state fair! I have vague memories of going to one large fair when I was about eight or nine, but I’m pretty sure it was in NC, and I don’t even know if it was the state fair or not.
Author
Aww I’m a little jealous that you get to hang out with baby goats regularly. LOL!
State fairs can be pretty fun. I’ve been to my fair share of county ones, too. Generally slightly less impressive but still fun…I used to cover the county fair when I worked at the newspaper and the best part next to seeing little kids leading around huge animals was the free watermelon. I’m a sucker for free watermelon.
I love your state fair posts 🙂 People watching at its finest.
Author
Oh yes, I think people watching is probably the best part of the fair. Well, that and the baby goats and the giant pumpkins. 🙂
Your post made me chuckle… and wish I would’ve been there. No, we don’t do our state fair, but we live near a tourist mecca and get season passes every year. There’s tons of fattening food, a petting zoo (yes, goats!), rides, and other fun venues to blow our money on. 🙂
Oh–about the Sky Glider stopping… Yikes! I don’t do heights either. And that would be just my luck.
(Don’t worry about the blogging thing. I’ve learned to take more frequent breaks and it’s a good thing.)
Author
Oh yes, you live near Silver Dollar City, right? So I bet you do get your fair share of fair-like things.
I actually don’t mind heights at all as long as I’m on something stable. That Sky Glider definitely had its unstable moments this time around!
And thanks for the blogging break encouragement. I had to ease up this summer, but I’m excited to jump back in. It’s funny how much I miss it after long breaks.
Oh my word. Thank you. I needed this giggle. And now I have a desire to go to the fair…
Author
Haha, glad I fed your fair-going desire.
No, I don’t go to our state fair…it’s way too far away. But we do have the Slugburger Festival. Does that count?
Author
LOL I would go to that based on the name alone. What’s a slugburger??
So, photos of everything else you mention … except “those guys.”
Really, Melissa?
😉
We went to our state fair one time — once, when we were in Maryland (where I was born) and once in Colorado.
Just kinda underwhelmed.
Maybe it was the lack of butter sculptures.
Author
Haha, I really should’ve taken a photo of those guys. But I wasn’t nervy enough to step in front of them and snap a pic. 🙂
I’m sure it was the lack of butter sculptures. The Iowa State Fair is one of the biggest, if not THE biggest, in the country so maybe you should try out ours sometime. If nothing else, you can see a super huge statue of American Gothic, pet some really cute baby goats AND see super huge pumpkins. Oh, and you might run in to me. 🙂
Do I go to the State Fair in my state? Yes. What’s my favorite thing about it? Seeing one of my best friends who I need to see more. 🙂
Author
That was by far my favorite part of it too. I love our little tradition. 🙂