That's the champion pumpkin grower just after his pumpkin was weighed. That's 907 kilos! A lot bigger than last year, due, he things, to our warm summer.
From Time: (The quotes are from different pages in the slide show)
"State and county fairs have been organized in the United States since 1841, when the first such gathering was organized in Syracuse, New York. Food — both its production and enjoyment — has been their centerpiece from the very beginning."
"Credit for the idea of the state fair is often given to Elkanah Watson, a wealthy New England farmer and businessman who showcased his sheep in the public square of Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1807."
You can learn about the history of the Alaska State Fair at their website. I can't cut and paste from there so you'll have to just go there yourself. But it began in Anchorage, it says, in 1926, and moved to Palmer in 1936.
I hadn't been to a fair for quite a while. And I was amazed at how much it had grown. If I recall right, last time I went the maps identified all the food booths. This time there was a color fold out guide and map, just for Tuesday August 27! But having a 6 year old in the house was a strong incentive to go.
I have to admit that the highlight, for me, was seeing about 100 or so Sandhill Cranes in the field on the road you turn off the highway to get to the fair. (No pics because it was tricky parking there and my camera was in the back of the car.)
But here are some pics of the fair itself. Starting with things up in the air.
There were animals and crops and flowers:
And lots of prizes
A goat milking contest.
And lots and lots and lots of food. And people seemed to be spending lots of money. We all had a great time
As a State Fair junkie, I loved your pictures! Many of them just like the KY State Fair except we don't have reindeer or snakes.
ReplyDeleteMy all-time favorite thing at the State Fair is the border collie show, in which the dogs, guided only by whistles and commands, herd a bunch of ducks through gates, over bridges and eventually into their cage. Unfortunately this year our two-year-old saw the border collie show and burst into tears -- she thought the ducks were in danger. Will this wear off by next year, or will I be forever doomed to visit the border collies by myself????