A Great State Fair

I have attended county fairs including a particularly large one in Ohio and a decent medium sized one in Maryland. I have attended the Pennsylvania Farm Show. And now I have attended the Texas State Fair and I must admit that in size and scope it trumps them all. (Yes, Mom, even the Farm Show).

County and state fairs are special. They have fried foods, baked goods, craft and baking contests, agricultural exhibits, farm equipment and animals---lots of animals and assorted animal related contests. Fairs also have amusement rides. The Texas State Fair has all these ingredients plus food expos, car expos, and a rivalry football game. And everything they have is bigger than what I’ve seen elsewhere. They even have the biggest attendance. Over 3 million people pour in and out of its gates. To manage the crowd the police sit above the crowds in raised platforms, like lifeguards.

And it’s a lot of fun. Last weekend, I was fortunate enough to have several excellent and experienced fair-going guides shepherd me through the Fair’s many attractions. I thank them deeply. After the jump is a list of my favorite experiences and sights.




Things at the fair:

• Giant Room of Poultry (including several "Silkies").
  
• Chicken Fried Bacon (I didn't eat one, but the concept is fascinating).
• Big Tex (a 52 foot tall talking cowboy whose face is pictured above).
  
• Corn Dogs (I ate one. It was goood).
  
• Elsie the Cow (I saw the actual cow. She was heavily medicated).
  
• Giant Butter Sculpture (of King Tut's tomb).
  
• Pie Baking Contest (must figure out how to become a judge).
  
• Quilts
  
• Longhorn Cattle (real ones, but not Bevo, although he was there that weekend).
  
• Brahman Cows (sorry Hindus, I think the Texans do eat them).
  
• Biscuits and Sausage Gravy (I had this for brunch and it was ya-um-eee!).
  
• The Cotton Bowl (we're #1, we're #1, we're #1).
  
• Giant Sand Sculpture (of ancient Egyptian monuments....the King Tut exhibit has rotated through Dallas. It's obviously gone to their heads).
  
• Burnt Orange (did I mention WE'RE NUMBER ONE!!!!!!!!!)(*)
  

Things not at the fair:

• Potato Donuts: The Pennsylvania Farm Show still has my (and Mom's) favorite fair food.
  
• Giant Vegetables: Amazingly, as far as I could tell, the Texas State Fair lacked a hall of giant vegetables. So, Canfield Fair, you still have my favorite giant squash.
  

When fair season rolls around in your area, go visit a fair. If you've never been, it's more fun than it sounds. If you've been, there's always a new fried food to discover. Thanks again Texas for a great state fair!

(*) I had to make sure and publish this post today since tomorrow night there is an ever so small chance UT will be forced to relinquish their number one ranking. (Hook 'Em Horns! Beat Mizzou!)