Tennessee State Fair - A Late Update

We had great fun this year at the State Fair. It was held in the first half of September but I'm just now finding time to update everyone.

The fair had all the usual trappings (rides, overpriced food and drinks, rigged games, etc) and the traditional agricultural exhibits which is what we enjoyed. We don't do the rides for obvious safety reasons. We limit games to one per child. As for the food, only because we have too!

At any rate, we prefer the traditional in almost all things. The fair is no exception. Once you get past all the flashy, shiny moneypits there is a great deal of education and fun to be had. We visited the veggie exhibits and saw gigantic pumpkins and a couple of 200-lb watermelons! There were beautiful specimens of vegetables, fruits, canning, and crops all around. The kids asked questions and were engaged in one thing after another. The dairy association had a booth that was manned by Purity and Mayfield with free chocolate milk and ice cream! That was a big hit with Thomas and Lily, not to mention Daddy and Mommy!

We visited an exhibit called Tiny Acres Farm. It was an interactive exhibit that taught farming from harvest to market. Thomas and Lily had great fun!

Thomas' plan for getting his milk to market was to drive his tractor right up to the cow, milk her into the trailer, and head to market!

Thomas was careful to walk among his crops!

Lily wanted to ride the calf.

She also wanted to plant her eggs instead of digging potatoes.

Eli and Momma with the Tiny Acres cow.

The animal barns were a hit, too! Chicken, ducks, geese, rabbits, mules, hogs, cattle! Every barn was fascinating and exciting. And stinky!

Petting the mules was a new experience. It was relaxing until my allergies kicked in!

The allergies were a nice problem to have when we got to the hog barn. I couldn't smell a thing!

We also checked on my entries into the fair. I entered 2 photographs, a framed cross-stitch project, and a pie. It was the same pie I took to the National Pie Championship last April. I didn't place with either of my photographs which was alright because my competittion was stiff! There are many wonderful amateur photogs in Tennessee.

I got an Honorable Mention for my cross-stitch project. The picture is blurry but it is a large version of the poem "Footprints" surrounded by shells, seaweed, waves, and footprints.

As you can see, my big win was with my pie! I baked the best fruit pie in the state! I got first place with my "Delightful 'Pear'-ings Pie." I was astounded. I had to double check the results sheet more than once.

After the National Pie Championship in April I said that I would give out my pie recipe should anyone want it. If you do want it, you can comment on this blog or email me. I only ask that you keep it for personal use.

Though the prize was only $8 which covered all of my entry fees, just participating was grand, indeed. I highly recommend participating in your county or state fair. I am already thinking about what projects I'll do, what pies I'll make. Will I do other baked goods? Its up for consideration. And everything I see gets evaluated for photograph potential!

At the end of the night we had an overwhelming and fulfilling time. Partly because of the animals and exhibits, partly because we spent a day as a family but also because we helped to keep alive the traditional of the fair.

This is what we found when we were getting out of the car that night:

How do they sleep in those positions?