My State Fair is the Best State Fair

Oh, the Alaska Fair. My first experience was a grave dissapointment. For one thing, the rows of vendors was only two blocks long! Secondly, there was a Midway on each side of the fair, making one very confused about directions, and defeating the very meaning of the word. Third, the "Grandstand" was a grassy lawn, divided by disposable orange fence which was the line for the "wet" and "dry" sides. In front, the line continued to the stage where there were about 30 rows of folding chairs set up for priority seating. Mostly, though, it just isn't the Iowa State Fair.

Before I continue, I must fill you in on the Iowa State Fair. Oh, the Iowa State Fair...You can imagine for a girl who has attended the Iowa State Fair for the first, without fail, 22 years of her life, I know it like the back of my hand. I can fly over an arieal view of the ISF in my mind. I know the best places to eat, the air conditioned buildings and whats in there, where the campgrounds are, where you could get served underage, when you could expect a full reunion of Crestonites and random people from college. It is a pretty amazing time. When I think of it, I get shaky and excited. It is a pretty hard act to follow.

But sometimes the standards have to be lowered. This is the perfect example first time I attended the Alaska State Fair, I was sadly dissapointed. But after three years of the fair, I appreciate it for what it is to Alaska. The Alaska State Fair is a great fair. It is safe, and fun. It has wonderful booths of local and non-local people showcasing their winter hobbies. Some showing their products. Others educating the public on important issues or new programs at the local colleges.

It has massive vegetables. Seriously massive. We're talking 180 lb. cabbages here, 40 lb. carrots, geraniums has big as humans. Then the livestock. Nice looking animals up here. Cute. Big.

Most things in Alaska was measured on a large scale. On a smaller scale, this venue is pretty cool. Many people save all year to go to the state fair. Be it concerts from recylced artists, or food, or sales. State Fairs draw out people of all colors, sizes, shapes, attitudes, ages, and ideals. It really is a great time to assess the mixing pot of humans that make up our neighbors, friends, teenagers, teachers.

I wish I could visit the Iowa State Fair, and I highly recommend anyone to go if they are in Iowa during fair season. There is nothing like it.

I guess fairs everywhere draw a sense of community long lost in the deep dark depths of modern society. It's no other place than to relax, eat, and spend money. Everyone should attend their local state fair- if for no other reason, than just because.

Do you have a state fair memory???