The Great Minnesota Get Together

Macaroni and Cheese on a Stick!

Yesterday I went to the Minnesota State Fair... which perhaps ought to be renamed the Great Minnesota Pig Out. I was only there for the evening, as my co-fairgoers, Amy and Annie, were at work during the day. As a result, I didn't get to eat as much as I normally do. The list of foods digested is as follows:

• All-You-Can-Drink-Milk-For-$1: 3.5 glasses (two chocolate, one 2%, one split with Annie)
• Fried Macaroni and Cheese on a Stick... not as disgusting as it sounds
• Lefsa with ligonberry jam and butter
• Free water from the (new) WCCO booth
• Mini-donuts (split with Amy)
• Ginger beer (no rum)
• Pickle dog (large pickle coated in cream cheese, wrapped in pastrami)
• Bucket of Sweet Martha's Cookies (split 3 ways with leftovers)
• Sparkling Cider Float (sparkling apple cider and ice cream)

Pigging out at the fair

Of course, we did more than just eat... we wandered through the International Bazaar, checked out the crop art in the Agricultural building, and hung out in Heritage square, where I made Amy a stylish newspaper hat from the newspaper museum. (By the way, Johnston would love the working linotype.) Following Heritage Square, we took a trip over the fair on the SkyRide, in which I had to promise not to rock the cart so that my sister would join us.

After the ride, we wandered over to the animal barns and saw a sow and her piglets sleeping peacefully in the hay. In the neighboring stall was Minnesota's biggest pig (1060 pounds). I seem to recall the biggest pig being much bigger when I was younger -- more like 12-1300 pounds. I guess people like leaner pork these days. After the pigs, we visited the cows, sheep, and horses. Since we were there in the evening, most of the animals were preparing for bed, but there was a showing of some 4-H Holsteins just outside the main cattle barn. However, Annie insisted that we MOOOve along. (I am so sorry for that... actually, I'm not.)

Once we had finished stuffing our faces and visiting the animals, we moved on to the Midway where the rides were discounted for "Thrifty Thursday." Annie convinced us to go on some ride where we spun around and flipped upside down and I nearly lost the fried macaroni and cheese. But I didn't. On the other hand, after a bingefest like that, tonight I opted for a salad. After all, I'm going back on Tuesday -- I have to be prepared.

Posted by rhode at August 26, 2005 10:12 PM