100 Years of the Kansas State Fair

This year, Kansas is celebrating 100 years of the state fair. Yesterday, I went and spent literally almost the entire day walking around and checking things out. I plan on going back next Sunday afternoon to check a few more things out and to pick up my fair entry.

I checked out the livestock buildings where people were showing their pigs, horses, sheep, chickens, rabbits, and cattle. It seemed interesting to me in a way to see 4-H and FFA students show at the state fair instead of the county fair like I'm used to.

From there I went to check out the birthing center where two sows were waiting to have their piglets, a few cows were ready to have their calves, and a few sheep were ready to have their lambs.

I went to the building where art exhibits were located. There were many wonderful paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculptures.

After eating a hot dog and drinking a lemonade for lunch, I went to the Domestic Arts building to check out my fair entry.

I've been knitting for less than 2 years. Out of 21 entries in the category that I was entered in, I received 3rd place; beating out others who had been knitting many, many years longer than myself. Needless to say, I was quite excited. Someday, I'd like to work my way to getting the best of show.

I went to check out a few other buildings and exhibits. After going to the fair years ago with a friends family, getting salt water taffy is now a tradition of mine. Their grandma would get it every year.

I was starting to get tired of walking after a few hours. Looking for something different to try, I paid the $3 to ride the train that goes part of the fair grounds. The tracks are about 3/4 of a mile. Sunday was Kansas State University Day. When I went to go ride the train, Willie the Wildcat (KSU mascot) was riding the train and taking pictures with onlookers.

When I was finished riding the train, I went to sit on one of the benches in the little park area that was in the shade. Who should be patrolling the sidewalks but "Barney Fife" from The Andy Griffith Show.

While checking out the building where the biggest pumpkin, biggest watermelon, and other produce entered were being displayed, I saw a few melons that were decorated. The two that caught my eye were:

Willie Robertson from "Duck Dynasty"

A minion from "Despicable Me"

While waiting for a friend to show up at the fair, I ended up finding some other friends and wondered around the fairgrounds with them. I ended the evening watching the hypnotist show with the friends I had been waiting for. We laughed so hard at several of the people on stage and how they reacted to being hypnotized. Had a great end to a great day!