Our state fair is a great state fair
Don’t miss it don’t even be late
It’s dollars to doughnuts at our state fair
It’s the best state fair…in our state!
For the past dozen or so years, I’ve been hearing how great Iowa is. Everything about it, if you believe my friends, is superior to the rest of our fine country. My friends Chelley and Triple live there, and for several years now, my brother has lived there, too. We visit often and even occasionally toss around the idea of moving north ourselves.
And yet, I had never been to their famed and beloved state fair.
That all changed last weekend when Annalyn and I took a little road trip. We hooked up with Triple, her husband and their two girls and hit the fair on Friday afternoon. It poured BUCKETS on our drive up, but thankfully it was all clear in Des Moines. Unless you count the humidity, which I do. Mainly because it caused me to drip with sweat.
That’s not an exaggeration. At one point, Annalyn said, “Mommy, what’s that? You get me wet?” Uh, yeah, kid, because you took my last Kleenex, and I have nothing left to mop it up with.
Despite the sweat factor, we had a lot of fun. We only had a few hours before my brother, sister-in-law and I were going to the concert – and Triple was taking Annalyn home for a slumber party. First we hit the cow barn (where Annalyn decided very quickly that animals were STILL scary), then we made our way to the avenue of breeds (where Annalyn decided that the very large, ugly pig who snorted at her was trying to EAT her).
After we’d had enough of the animals – and the smell – we headed to the famous butter cow. By that time, Chelley, James and Lauren had joined us – good timing, since the butter cow lives in the same building as many foods on a stick and delicious honey lemonade.
Next, we walked (MILES) past the world’s biggest slide, dozens of food carts and a BBQ restaurant, and finally, we found what James and Lauren swore was the best place to get a corn dog.
They were right. It’s not as if I ever think to myself, “Hey, I really have a hankering for a corn dog.” Nope. I don’t. But if I’m going to eat a corn dog, that’s the kind I want: piping hot, crispy on the outside and way bigger than the other dogs we saw.
The eating wasn’t finished. Nope, we headed to Bauder’s booth for ice cream bars then. I didn’t think I’d like it – peppermint ice cream in between layers of crushed Oreos and fudge sounded like it might taste like peppermint. Happily, it tasted less like a candy cane and more like a peppermint patty. It was goooood!
After the kids went home with Triple, James, Lauren and I found the baby animal building (which was air-conditioned, by the way!) and the Little Farm for kids. No, we didn’t look weird at all. Walking through the Little Farm with no kids of our own. Nope. Not us.
And then the concert. Which I already told you about. All in all, the Iowa State Fair was great fun – and I’m already planning a longer trip for next year.
Have you ever been to your state’s fair? [In other words, do you love that special blend of aromas that is cigarette smoke, fried foods and animal filth?] What’s your favorite food on a stick?
This post will be linked to Things I Love Thursday at The Diaper Diaries.
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