Fair Husband and I at the Fair
The annual event of pigs, crop art and food-on-a-stick calls me once again. It was a remarkable day of endless walking, sights and sounds as only a fair delivers (particularly redolent as experienced from the Sky Ride overhead), and two highlights in particular (food to come in a moment).
Raptor Show: a little bit of environmental awareness, falconry and, yes, even patriotism. An hour at the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) building watching up close, owls, hawks, falcons and the grand finale: the American Bald Eagle (nice way to stir up the emotions and get the crowd to donate to the predator bird demonstration). Which I gladly did. It was wonderful.
Miracle 0f Birth Center: as it sounds. A building dedicated to the actual births of farm animals: from rabbits to pigs to cows, goats, and other ruminants. Pretty much every year, by the time my fair buddy Steve (see above: Paul Bunyan) arrive at the pavilion, we have missed the LIVE births, left to just watch the videotape version of the ‘miracle of birth.’ I thought there would be a repeat of that this year, when I spotted 30-minute old piglets (‘oh, you just missed it!). Until we saw the crowds gathering five deep around the cow pen.
We watched a calf born. Cow in labor (and eating while doing it, btw) – baby dropped to the hay. While little children and families and young couples and urban folks, too – all gathered around to watch this Miracle of Birth. It was — don’t use this word lightly — awesome.
After that, we wandered to take in the rest of the fair and check off some items from the “new foods” list.
So — drum roll please: here is what we ate on the opening day of the Minnesota State Fair (not necessarily in order – the carbs killed some brain cells along the way, methinks).
FOODS I ATE AT THE FAIR
- Slow-Roasted Pork Mole Tamale
- Ear of roasted corn
- Bowl O’ Dough
- Chicago mix of popcorn: kettle, cheese, caramel
- Pronto Pup ®
- Honey Vanilla Bean Swirl Ice Cream
- Beer
- Vanilla Milkshake
- Land o’ Lakes Cheese sample
- Brown Ale and Onion-Gouda Tipsy Pie
- Walleye Cakes
- Duck Bacon Wontons
My goodness, I must be slipping — is that really ALL we ate at the fair? There could be some updates to come, once the carbohydrate hangover passes.
Janet Eats 