The Great Indiana State Fair

John and I went to the Indiana State Fair with our friends Dave (left) and Ken (middle). Dave is a one person PR department for the fair. Sadly, he'll never be the State Fair Queen, but if they ever decide to have a State Fair King, Dave would surely receive the first crown.

You see, Dave, a dyed in the wool Hoosier and former 4-H'r (who recites the four pillars whenever the term 4-H is mentioned) may rub elbows with New York and Indiana socialites now, but he has a past of working in the Dairy Pavilion at the fair. It was here that he absorbed a radioactive dose of Indiana State Fair dust so powerful that it permeated every cell of his body. Now every year he makes at least five trips to the fair and can reel off fifty reasons why you should do the same.

Fair dust is so potent that Ken, just by being around David year after year has taken on the same fair passion. And, he's not even a native Hoosier (from Erie, PA).

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Fair food is varied and plentiful. It is not, however, all created equal. Dave and Ken know right where to go for the best of everything, whether it is roasted corn (head to the Jaycee's booth) or ribeye steak sandwiches (Cattelmen's pavilion).

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One of the must see stops for us was the Agriculture/Horticulture (AgHort) Building, where all of the best fruits, vegetables, flowers and trees are displayed. Looking at the best of the best is an intense experience so the fair provides an organist in the middle of the exhibit hall to keep things from getting out of hand. I haven't heard organ music this good since Batesville's own Hassell Kimbrough played two organs at the same time (no lie) for three hours straight during my sister's wedding reception.

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One of the highlights of the evening was seeing the "World's Largest Boar." I called him Smiley. I don't know what his real name was, but he was huge and definately a "he". I know it's rude to say such things and I opted not to photograph the evidence, but this pig was packin'.

My camera died before we got to the Home and Family Arts building and the midway. We did manage to ride some rides. The Twister was my favorite. I'd never seen it before, but it was like a big Tilt-a-Whirl that went up on its side. The guy running it gave our car a good bonus spin before it started, too.

If you're ever visiting Indiana in August, you owe yourself a big slice of Americana and a funnel cake. Come on out to the Great Indiana State Fair (official title). Ken and Dave are excellent fair hosts, and chances are they will already be there waiting for you.