Earlier in the week Randy noted the forecast temps for Labor Day were going to be over 100°. He was hoping to get over to the fair just once, but not if it was that hot. Today was gonna be nice and cool so we decided to make it Family Day.

I dropped Jack & Randy off at the Snelling Gate and burned rubber around the corner to beat the traffic. I parked and tricked it back over. I grabbed my recipe card for the day while they secured the scooter.

Randy’s first thing was the traditional foot long hot dog.

Once that first bite was taken, we could snap a family photo.

While Randy enjoyed his hot dog, I ran through the merchandise mart to replace the stuff that the rat bastards stole from my car. I lost my itchy sticks and my favorite bug spray. (Both state fair necessities) I also picked up the much touted neck fan. I might need it in the days to come. This years tree ornaments here were not so unique.

I took a little too long looking at the puzzles so Randy & Jack came inside to find me. I didn’t get the new State Fair puzzle because it wasn’t a Turman and it didn’t look like one I’d enjoy.

We scooted out and onward to visit the guys at the Ball Park before it got too busy to say Hi.

Who should we find, buying breakfast beer, but Gayle and the entourage! (Michelle, Shaz and Joey)

We brought along the fiver year old souvenir refillable cup and Randy stopped at the Barrel, reminiscing about the days he used to work in one! They have upgraded a bit since the early 70’s!

Next up, I wanted to get a better picture of the butterheads. My last visit, I was preoccupied with the noteworthy spectators! We picked up some swag at the pork booth, recipes, seasoning and a thermometer!

I had Randy hold the swag for the pic and as I turned around the Princess Kaye Butterhead spun right into view!

As Jack was checking out the hearing protection devices, who should we run into but these dear friends! Scott & Sheryl are out here a few days each year, but we often miss each other!

After visiting the pork booth, I was in the mood to go see piglets. Or “bacon seeds”, as Elysia calls them! I heard tale of a newly designed Oink Booth this year so we headed down to the animals. I’d been admiring the iconic statues at the Minnesota Lottery booth since day one and Jack indulged me in a photo op!

Then I made a quick stop into the east end of the coliseum for my Simply Nuts toffee peanuts, knowing if I waited until a hot and humid day, I’d get home with one large nut cluster. I got a text that Jack was at the other end waiting on a Concha burger. His favorite bite from last year. Sadly for me…the bun was once again red. I can eat any color but that one. No burger bite for me!

We left Jack to his burger and went down to see the pigs. The new Oink Booth, is not improved. There’s a barn facade that funnels all the people into a messy line with the Largest boar and Piggie mama on one side, and the piggie ear hats on the other.

It’s cluttered chaos. You only have access to two sides of the pens, so good photos are unlikely. I took a bad one.

I couldn’t even get close to the sow and her litter, so I got right out of there as fast as I could. Bacon seeds would have to wait.

We usually spend a chunk of our day cruising the Midway, but Randy’s time was limited today so we just did a drive by.

RC BBQ (the guy from Famous Dave’s) has a new food item benefiting Maui after the devastating fires. We’d heard good things so we stopped to try them.

While they were delicious, I’m not one who enjoys eating meat off bones, so when the entire rib bone fractured in my mouth, I was unable to go on. Randy finished them off for me.

The Ferry family was out on the grounds and we connected at the Ball Park where we had our last snack of garlic fries and onion rings. (I totally forgot I had a coupon!)

We all dug in so fast, I never got a foodie picture. We chatted and caught up with each other enjoying a beautiful day on the patio. After a bit Randy’s body was giving out from sitting in bad chairs so we had to take our leave. This might be a record for the least amount of food consumed during family day at the fair. It’s probably a good thing!

We returned the scooter after only two hours, but it was two hours longer than we thought we’d be able to spend together at the fair ❤️

I got Jack & Randy back home to handle the handyman who was coming to install the new garage door and rested for an hour, restocked my bag and headed back to the fair.

Wednesday is typically my day to do all the buildings when they’re not crowded. I got back on the grounds planning to head straight for the Grandstand and I got Paraded on Cosgrove. Gayle coined the phrase, which means to end up in or have to navigate through the crowds of people watching the parade. I drank my entire water bottle on my way back to the fair so I stopped at Culligan to fill ‘er up. Last year apparently too many Minnesotans were bamboozled by the electronic water machines so Culligan actually had to revert to low tech spigots this year. I will say, at least there’s no lines!

I actually got paraded twice! Once again as I crossed Underwood. The grounds were busy. Not record setting, but busier than my normal Wednesday. When Jack & Raelyn were out here last week, Raelyn spied the grandstand sign that had the first few days and dates really messed up. Jack having once worked in the print shop found it humorous. Jack had noticed earlier that the sign was a different color so I stopped to check the accuracy. Much better!

I decided to take the elevator up to the top and work my way down. I’d put on 90K steps so far in six days, so my knees were grateful! Inside the elevator was a seating chart for the newly remodeled grandstand. I took a picture for reference. When Mike & Kathleen bought their tickets for the Black Keys, they based the purchase on an old seating chart. The seats were ok, but not what they expected.

The upstairs hasn’t changed too much on the East end, but once you pass the stairwell, it’s “Turman Land” ❤️. His space has really expanded and there’s tons more merchandise and a bit more space to move around. I got lucky and the artist was IN!

I just told him I was a big fan and that he’s in my blog a lot… cuz I’m a big fan. He wrote down my blog address, so maybe he’ll be reading this one day! I’m loving the new art this year. At least it’s all new to me!

I did notice one new vendor with a cute idea. They turn old books into journals. There are baskets and baskets.

There’s a booth called Fair Fun and these pictures captured my attention!

I walked down the central stairway and again, many of the vendors remain the same. You can still find your VitaMix, salsa machine and sewing machines, but the booth structure has changed somewhat. In the center you can pass through some of the vendors to the other side.

The sewing center space was decreased to make room for some brightly colored kid stuff!

I stopped by the NordicWare booth and the price are pretty deeply discounted out here. I want this pan for cooking bacon and it’s $7 cheaper out here than online.

One other interesting thing I saw is the new purse designs. Not one to walk around armed, this isn’t something I’d purchase. A little scary to think there’s a big market for this. A purse with a bible verse on the outside and you can carry your gun inside.

I left the Grandstand and walked back up the hill to finish my building checklist. I had Education, 4H, DNR and the HealthFair11 still on my list. I walked through the aisles of student art and a couple caught my eye. This piece by a kindergartener could be interpreted in different ways. Either a kid catching snowflakes in their mouth, or simply a Edvard Munch like commentary on last winter.

I just loved this little watercolor wolf by a six year old!

The booths that remain here in the Education building haven’t changed much, but so many have pulled out. There are no colleges represented any more and there’s more open space. I learned that you can put the Fun in Funeral.

The Dunwoody voting booth had the Sky Ride and Giant Slide running neck and neck.

I did find this muralist creating a community piece here at the fair. He uses cut ends from 3M vinyl materials. He’s done a lot of work painting murals with youth on Lake Street.

I walked up to 4H thinking I timed it right to see the Harkness show. Missed it by an hour and the next one was at 7:30. I toured the building learning so many things!

The Llama costume contest was beginning at 6:00 and it was just after 4:00 so I had a little time to rest somewhere. I started walking back towards animals by way of O’Garas and the Leinie Lodge. Meg and a friend spotted me as I walked by looking into the bright sun.

I sat down at the bandshell and listened to a member of Tonic Sol Fa who’s branched out with a big band group. It felt good to rest my body a bit, despite the hard rock benches. I saw this lady walk through a couple times and wished I got a better photo. I feel like I got a glimpse into my future at the fair. Cruising around with crazy gray hair tied up in a Bandana, big thick glasses, knee brace, hunched over a walking scooter with bags of state fair swag hanging off the handles. I love it.

Once my butt hurt too much to keep sitting, I moved on to find something to eat. I decided upon Lulu’s bill bites and a margarita. I got the bull bites first, stopping by i like you, getting to see Sarah for the first time this fair! My selfies need work.

I bypassed the long center line and walked up to the counter on the side and got a perfectly cooked, medium rare order of tender steak bites. I couldn’t resist eating as I walked towards Cafe Caribe.

Then, Margarita in hand I walked over to coliseum archway to see Llamas!

The contest was moved to the Coliseum last year due to its popularity. I can’t breathe well inside the arena so I prefer to hang outside and watch them parade in. On my way down, I also couldn’t help but check in on the baby animal action in the CHS Birth Barn. There was a huge cow about ready to go, but no telling if it would be soon.

I walked around to see all the other cute babies.

This little black kid kept climbing up on mom to get to the hay and she kept butting him off.

This guy was conked out in the arms of an FFA youth.

I checked back on the pregnant cow. She was up now, but still no signs of active labor. Elysia and Caleb found me and we headed over to see the Llamas.

Earlier I sat in the pig chair, drinking my margarita, waiting to connect with Elysia and her son. Since I couldn’t pull off a pig selfie, we did a reenactment.

It was a perfect weather night to watch the llama parade.

I caught sight of Ian Leonard as he was about to go on air with the llama broadcast. He was busy, but I told him “nice bad pants!” and he looked my way and gave me a thumbs up.

I took this proximal opportunity to see some of my favorite cows. The beautiful Brown Swiss.

With my asthma, I dared not venture further into the cattle barn. Elysia and her son has some major gastro-touring to accomplish so I took my leave and returned to finish all I had not seen in the Ag/Hort. There’s one stained glass crop art piece that lights up at night. The line was long, but I went in the back way anyway.

I got to see all the scarecrows.

And cruised through the veggie display to see the new stuff that was being judged.

Did you know the giant pumpkin seeds are the size of a large thumbnail?

These youth decorated pumpkins were tucked in back of other plants the first day, but now I got to see them better.

There wasn’t any music I wanted to hang out for tonight (they’d all be back tomorrow) but I thought I’d stop up in Baldwin Park and catch the end of the Country Talent Show and say “Hi” to David. (Talent Show MC) The show had already ended and David was off getting dinner. I looked across the street at the Amish donut line and decided to save it for another day.

The sun was setting and my brain knew there was a laser light show happening around dusk down near the DNR, but my feet had other ideas. I checked my watch and I’d logged 21K steps and still had to get back home.

I decided to take my sore feet home but when I got to Gate 5, it was on lockdown due to a planned Black Lives Matter protest marching past outside. It was all calm and peaceful, just a disruption. I sat on a bench near O’Garas and thought if I’d waited in the donut line, I wouldn’t have had such a long wait here here long here without a donut.

After about 25 minutes, the gates opened and the gathered crowd made its way out. I got home to see the huge Super Moon rising over the hot tub.

Something bit me out at the fair on Monday and it was burning and itching so I took two Benadryl and went to sleep. It was a really good, but really long day!