An exhaustive + exhausting report!

Special Nebraska State Fair Whimsy

I typed this while watching Fox News last night . . . which may have been a mistake. This was my first visit to the State Fair since we lived in Lincoln & took the kids, pre-1993. 

There is no place like . . . the Nebraska State Fair

• Located in Fonner Park in Grand Island [The only place that I can think of that may be more ideal? Just west of Norfolk near Divot's & DeVent Center.] . . . Free parking . . . Colorful, multi-page, free “Official Program Guide”, including color-coded map, coupons & more . . .
• Seen between the swine & cattle barns:  “Manure only” dumpsters.
• From Grand Island Independent 9/1:  “What’s the oddest-looking animal at the State Fair? Plenty of creatures to choose from . . . Is it one of those unusual bunnies, such as the Flemish Giant or Netherland Dwarf? Is it the striking alpaca, with its wool removed from random body parts? Or is it the African spur-thigh Desert Tortoise . . . The African crested porcupine is one of the odder-looking inhabitants of Hedrick’s Around the World in One Display petting zoo . . . “ [I skipped the petting zoo--partly because it cost to enter--but after reading this article later in the evening, I did suffer a twinge of regret.]

Exhibition Bldgs & Barns

4H/FFA Exhibition Hall:  Featured a mini-plethora of vendors & exhibitors . . . more free giveaways, per capita, than Pinnacle Bank Expo Center . . . This is where I will be spending much of today, volunteering at the Lutheran Laymen's League/Lutheran Hour Ministry station. 

Swine Barn:  Featured NE’s largest barrow & NE’s largest boar . . . I couldn’t locate any Madison Co. swine . . . watching swine handlers(?) move their swine around the alleys & corridors using "swine" guide sticks(?)--very entertaining . . . Aesthetics:  adequate ventilation…fans…smelled like, well, swine…no beer garden . . . 3 stars🐖🐖🐖

Cattle Barn:  I DID locate cattle from Madison County, specifically from Battle Creek. I also identified Angus Cattle from Clarion, IA. What’s with that? . . . Aesthetics:  Nice ventilation…many fans…Breezy…Wheelbarrows filled w/wood shavings & poop . . . Bud Light Barn Bar . . . 4 stars

🐂🐂🐂🐂

5 Points Bank Arena:  Showing cattle . . . cattle seemed to be treated humanely…large screen video screen . . . not very exciting . . . handouts w/judging guidelines seemed to be missing . . . Are cattle judged based on their vocalizations? They should be . . . no beer garden…not smelly but I didn’t venture far inside . . . 2 stars🐄🐄

Birthing Pavilion:  Piglets born 8/28 (no names--name-tags would have been helpful) . . . Sam the calf born 8/29 . . . Charlie the calf born 8/28 . . . Earl the lamb born 8/27 [Where do they come up w/these crazy, whimsical names?] . . . Chicks in nursery & eggs hatching in incubator-NO DATES . . . babies are cute [w/exception of just-hatched chicks . . . reminded me of Jurassic Park]. 4 stars🐃🐤🐣🐑

Sheep Barn:  Also goals [lots of “baa’s”--very stereotypical] . . . a few rabbits . . . two chickens . . . aesthetically above average but bldg was pretty empty . . . nice variety of animals . . . no beer garden . . . 3 stars🐐🐓🐘

Pinnacle Bank Expo Center:  Digital touch-screen survey . . . I entered to win a flat-screen tv . . . It took me about 10 min . . . Quilt exhibits didn't seem to be getting much foot traffic [I'm not a hater!] . . . Most intriguing vendor:  Salt lamps: “Lamps that can change your life” . . . It always felt like I was being watched--being followed . . . despite a plethora of vendors, not as many free giveaways as you’d think.

Food for Thought

Noticed but didn't sample:  Chicken & waffles on a stick w/maple syrup . . . Red Velvet funnel cakes . . . Deep-fried Oreos & Twinkies . . . Sweet corn on a stick . . . Fresh lemonade w/half a lemon . . . Jumbo smoked turkey legs . . . Smell of grilling sausages, peppers, onions [Can you sample "smells?"] . . . Shave ice w/NO tropical flavors [I would have gotten a tropically-flavored shave ice.] . . . Homemade crepes.

Sampled: Dole Pineapple Whip ice cream cone. [$5, seemed "state-fair reasonably-priced, but I ate it too fast & got a brain-freeze.]

Beer:  Bud Light Cattle Barn Bar . . . NE State Fair Beer Garden w/Good Life Lounge. [No free samples.]

Lunch @ Parthenon Gyros:  Despite all the other exotic food temptations, it's hard for me to pass up Greek gyros . . . I noticed a Blue Ribbon for being a 20-yr State Fair vendor . . . My choices:  gyros sandwich (beef AND lamb, no onions), spanikopita (spinach pie) . . . sandwich was somewhat disappointing . . . spices overwhelmed lamb . . . I carried my lunch & ate @ Food Pod Shade Tent 2 . . . KUDO's to Food Pod Shade Tent 2!

Special Features & Exhibits

BEST OVERALL FARM IMPLEMENT EXHIBIT:  New Holland [NOTE: I received no special perks from my good friends the Dinkels for this plug.] . . . Combine rides [Very disappointing--my timing was off & I missed out] . . . Green Line Equipment exhibit [I must point out that they were giving away free green foam antler hats.] . . . Game & Parks Commission:  aquarium [I could have done w/o big fish taunting me], exhibit of stuffed mammals [Live predators would have made it more exciting & interactive], free Nebraskaland magazines . . . Omaha Children’s Museum “Big Dig” Pan for Real Fossils & Gemstones” + fossil dig [A vicious rumor is circulating that several children grabbed me & yelled at their parents, "Look at the giant fossil we found . . . NOT funny.]

Entertainment

G.I. Sr. High Marching Band w/outstanding drum line [I LOVE drum lines!] . . . “Street Breakz” [3 young guys performing @ Family Fun Zone Stage @ 4:00 . . . I watched 2 min; it was free.] . . . 

Leo Lonnie Combo @ Food Pod Shade Tent 2 (“No Nicotine Zone”). [I listened to 2-3 songs later in the afternoon . . . very mellow.]

Special Report re: Nebraska Lottery Tent

I take my responsibilities seriously as a commissioner on the State Gamblers' Assistance Program, so I conducted some discrete surveillance:  $10 “spin-the-wheel" [prizes? lottery tickets & gambling promotional trinkets] . . .  free hand sanitizers & mini-key chains [I took two of each] . . . I  registered to win a pair of NE vs MN fb tickets + $100 in scratch tickets [If I win, I will donate my scratch tickets to the GAP.]