The Great Minnesota Get-Together Part 1

Libby is as addicted to these things as I am, stopping for a picture EVERY time she came across one!

Nobody does the State Fair quite like Minnesota. It's the Great Minnesota Get-Together, a moniker that doesn't do it quite enough justice. It's got a little bit of everything...animals, exhibits, carnival rides, shopping, shows...and a lot of food. Most notably, food on a stick (for all you non-Minnesotans.) You name it and I bet someone in Minnesota would put it on a stick. (Except butter, that's gross. Iowa can have that one!)

Spaghetti-and-meatballs on-a-stick. Chocolate covered watermelon on-a-stick. Pork chops on-a-stick. Deep fried candy bars on-a-stick. Porcupine meatballs on-a-stick. Pizza on-a-stick. 'Smores on-a-stick. Tater tot hotdish on-a-stick. Pickles on-a-stick. And my new personal favorite: deep fried chocolate chip cookie dough ON-A-STICK!!!

It has become tradition for Libby and I to go twice. We go once, spending most of our day there snacking and doing all the kid-friendly stuff, like Little Farm Hands and the birthing barn and this year, the Wild West Dog Show. (That's this post...Part 1.) And then we go again with Grammy and Poppy and usually an uncle to indulge in a little entertainment and more food. (That'll be Part 2.)

Some highlights from our opening day trip to the Fair this year...

The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and...you get the picture.

Pretty sure Libby wants one of these for the house.

First food on-a-stick for the year: Pronto Pup (and actually taking a bite of the breading!)

Libby, Mama, and Peanut, one of the stars of the Show.

A pickle for my pickle lover.

She takes the Little Farmhands thing a little too seriously sometimes.

'Cuz you HAVE to have roasted corn on the cob at the Fair. Libby took a pretty good picture, didn't she?

Libby riding Max the horse. Surprisingly, she preferred the rides over the real animals this year.

Her first solo ride. When she told me she could go on it all by herself, I cried.

Discovering where milk comes from. She was a little freaked out by the whole concept. She may NEVER drink milk now!

Deep fried chocolate chip cookie dough. Libby and I fought over it.
Not right for everyone but definitely right for us!

There's not a lot more I could say about the day. It's kind of just one of those things you have to experience. Check back tomorrow for some more pictures!

love always, Kendra