Fair Game
Posted at 5:30 AM on July 24, 2009
by Dale Connelly
(23 Comments)
You have probably heard by now that Radio Heartland will be at the State Fair on Friday, August 28th. That's five weeks from today. Yikes!
The show will be a bit different when compared to our usual effort during the Morning Show years. For one thing, The Radio Heartland broadcast will start at 9 am, not 6. Since our online and HD radio effort is rather obscure, I decided it would be better to do a show when there are actually some people on the grounds who don't already know what RH is all about.
Another difference? The show is two hours rather than three.
The music portion is set and I'm excited about that! The Ditchlillies, BoJoNo and Ann Reed will be my guests. It's the rest of the show that concerns me.
What do we do between the songs?
I asked Jim Ed if he would make an appearance and he politely declined - not due to any lack of support for Radio Heartland but rather because he does NOT enjoy the fair. Never has. And a retired guy shouldn't have to report to a place he doesn't want to be for the sake of picking up a few bucks.
That's the exact opposite of being retired.
By contrast, our fair-loving Where's Eric crew (Eric, Leslie, Ochen and the three Little Erics) can always be counted on to serve. They simply can't get enough of the Great Minnesota Get-Together, so in spite of the stresses inherent in ten years of high-stakes hiding, Eric lifted an eyebrow when I suggested we try again. I know he has a mental backlog of perfect places he has yet to try. But there's a wrinkle - two hours is not long enough to play the traditional game. Just as they're doing in Washington D.C. and on Wall Street, the most daunting task at hand is to re-write the ground rules in a way that:
A) Preserves the dynamic, creative "Where's Eric" environment.
B) Levels the "playing field".
C) Discourages reckless behavior and crazy risk taking, and
D) Is a riotous amount of fun for everyone involved.
OK, that last one isn't a concern on Wall Street, but at the Minnesota State Fair, it's one of our principal obligations.
So how do we re-regulate the "Where's Eric" game?
I'm thinking that rather than hiding on the grounds, Eric could be on the move throughout the show, and the challenge for the chase team will be to follow his path, possibly recover some things that he leaves in his wake, and perhaps (through cunning), head him off at the pass? But where will he go? To even start thinking about that, I need to know about people's fair-day routines.
Do you have a series of locations that you ALWAYS visit? And do you do it in the same sequence? Please describe your State Fair habits, and don't forget to mention the food stops.
Comments (23)
i love the fair! my must-sees are the creative arts building and the fine arts building, so i can check out the amazing talent of my fellow minnesotans. and the bandshell to watch my favorite a capella group, tonic sol-fa, and the mpr booth to hear other great music (my recent favorite - storyhill!). and of course sweet martha's, and the fries, and mini donuts, and the corn on the cob...
don't forget food stops??? our whole fair routine is BASED ON food stops. for breakfast: (about a) footlong hotdog at the stand near the (dang, i can't remember but i know it when i see it), then the progression is lemonaide at the international village, (and maybe some olives), then the (whatever the dairy building is) for ice cream, then toward the animals for something different - but don't do scotch egg because it will make you so full you can't eat anything else all day - then food court sometime to look and maybe try something, then a beer at the beer stand where they play south american music, then the rides (look only) then i think it's called heritage village and Steve usually gets a candy bar there, then walk back up thru machinery hill, then the art exhibit, then home. of course we always stop by MPR and sometimes we're lucky enough to be there on the day the MS was there. this later time this year might be a benefit for those of us driving from a longer distance for the show. grandstand always (tacky sales fun).
Sorry, I'm with Jim Ed on the fair.
I was only there once. And that was to see the Morning Show crew the year that Cliff Brunzell was a guest. I left as soon as the show was over.
Actually that 6AM to 9AM time wasn't too bad except for the drizzle.
I too am sympatico with Jim Ed. I nlonger visit the State Fair in person. But in years past we would head first to the horse barns, check out the Hippodrome schedule (will Cathy Wurzer be riding in a show this year?), looking especially for a draft horse show, Budweiser Clydesdales. then the other animal barns. The Butter heads. I don't remember any favorite food stops...mini-donuts, maybe.
Too much to look at, too many people, too hot and humid...but I loved hearing the MS from the State Fair and look forward to this years new incarnation. And so happy Eric and crew will be there.
I think there is another reason to alter "Where's Eric?"-with the later hour the buildings will be open and there will be too many people in the way.
For WE version 2.0 I propose a killer scavenger hunt. The 2 teams would have different lists some items would be placed by the opponents and some by Dale with RH hope.I think the fair site has a scavenger hunt too. There could be an electronic component take pictures with a family wearing matching t shirts or record the sound of a cow bellering.
I don't really start thinking about the Fair until July but /Crop Art, Butter Heads, quilts, and malts from the Dairy Building are pretty irresistible. When I moved to Minnesot, my boss made me take an afternoon off and go to the Fair with his wife and kids because "It's the best way to learn about Minnesota." 30 years later I still agree.
I'm another one who doesn't go to the fair very often. I do enjoy the Horticulture building with the vegies, fruit, and flowers. I remember hearing an amazing performance by the Gospel Choir. I enjoy a good sampling of fair food of various kinds without any favorites that I can remember - maybe mini-doughnuts. Of course, I always like to see the animals, especially the poultry.
Ooh - Beth-Ann I like your scavenger hunt idea. But there has to be at least one goat-related item on the list to look for...
Good morning, all.
The fair is one big, wonderful photo opportunity as far as I'm concerned!
I have been too busy at work lately to even catch the show. Next week, I'll be sleeping through it on my vacation. :-)
I love the fair, we bring the youth kids. We have alligator bratwurst, lemonade or slushy, deep-fried cheese curds, mini donuts, and at the end of the day we have to get a bucket of chocolate chip cookies with cold milk. They're amazing! In terms of other events, I have to see the baby animals. Last year we saw a calf being born. And I like the sheep, horses, and art building. Also, the kids like kareoke and the rides. Have a good morning.
Hurray for the Fair! I always arrive early so I can get a breakfast sandwich and coffee by the barns. Love to watch the livestock being switched out. Wandering and watching the Fair wake up is a favorite. When the barns are open, I tour those. DNR building and the DNR stage next; head over to MPR and then up to the arts and 4H building. Other than that the day and evening is catching entertainment and people watching. Milk shakes, footlongs, strawberries/cream, minidonuts, and dinner at the Hamline church stand complete the dining!!!
Looking forward to the Radio Heartland broadcast from the Fair. I'm also very glad that my school workshop week doesn't start until the 31st so I can be there.
I always enjoyed Where's Eric and then Ann Reed. Barb---do you bring down your goats for competition? If so, can RH do a remote from that barn? (I'm serious!) Your stories and pictures are such a treasure. Our State Fair is certainly the best state fair! Until then.
We generally don't go to the Fair every year, but if we have an AFS student (like we will beginning 8/13), the Fair is a MUST. It just boggles their minds at the size, events, food, entertainment.... We usually check out the entertainment, crop art, education bldg, MPR booth, "store" booths, animal barns, Butter Heads (The AFS students LOVE this! They think we're nuts in MN...), watch the bungee jumping stuff, Heritage Square, Int'l Bazaar, food booths. I think the only definite items we eat at the Fair are cheese curds and all-you-can-drink milk. Otherwise, it depends on what we feel like that day. And our son usually likes a snow cone. I can't say we visit anything in a specific order. I think if we start at the MPR booth for a show (as we will this year), we will see what is close and just mosey around. This year we will go a second time to see a Has-band near the end of the Fair as well. So we can only do part of the Fair if we want to on RH day.
Barb -- loved your thorough run through, helps me remember what's there. We go when there are grand-kids in town... my must-have food is Pork Chop on a Stick. The Art building, the RV area, Home Improvement place, and animals are regulars, then just wandering and being amazed. How did I miss the alligator brats??
the fair is a favorite. always has bben. i used to go multiple times. i think either my music taste changed or the guys they book appeal to a diferent crowd. i saw dylan and santana in the same concert one year.
i always start in the barns with my kids. cows horses pigs sheep then a break before the chickens and bunnies. the new birth building is early in the day also. then on to the ride stuff 20 bucks and off to the art building, the energy building and the crafts buildings with the quilts and cool projects. cheese on a stick is the staple for me pepper cheese preferred and the corn on the cob for sure. the big slide after dark before heading home and a key position for fireworks as the grandstand closes. looking forward to the show. see you there
I agree, Beth Ann's idea of a scavenger hunt is pretty good. Especially if the items to collect are somewhat generally described and there is extra credit for creative interpretation.
Another idea, similar but would require fewer shopping carts, may be a treasure hunt. Clues left around the fairgrounds for teams, leading them both to a single item that they have to get to first. Potentially less chasing, similar clue detection, and you can control the time factor by how many clues are left around the fair. It would require more prep work but it potentially solves a lot of difficulties.
I've only been to the State Fair once, and it was many years ago. My dad doesn't like crowds, so I never went with my parents. I went with my cousins and watched my older brother march in a parade :) I remember going to the Dairy building and watching the butter sculptor sculpting the Dairy Princess (I think). Even though I had lived my entire life in Minnesota, I still thought that was weird, haha! We went to the animal barn, rode a couple rides, ate TONS of food, and played in the arcade (we were young). Each year, I tell myself I'm going to make it back, but I never do. Maybe I'll actually make it this year! As it says in the song: "Our state fair is a great state fair,
Don't miss it, don't even be late.
It's dollars to donuts
That our state fair
Is the best state fair in our state!"
The Fair is a family event for us - three generations attending at least twice, sometimes three times during the span of the fair. Food is part of the attraction of course, but on one of our visits, my husband and I go from free-music venue to free-music venue all day, right up to the Leinie Lodge performance at night. Wonderful music all day without spending an additional dime - one of the best values at the fair, we think!
We have often been able to see performances done by people/groups that we have heard on the Morning Show/Radio Heartland programs. We always stop at MPR site and purchase a CD, too (Remember to bring your MPR card to get a discount on your purcahse : )
Is there a way to incorporate the various music stages in the FE 2.0 game?
Oops, I mean the WE version 2.0 game. I love Beth-Ann's title of the revised 'Where's Eric?' game, and didn't mean to confuse anyone!
Anna, Carolyn - Dairy goats are scheduled from Sept. 4 - 6 i think - so even if Dale wanted to, he couldn't find a goat to interview (well, maybe at the petting zoo area) on the 28th of Aug.
i'm either too non-competitive or lazy to show the Girls, not even at the Carlton County Fair. but i'm working the Goat building (Aug. 13 - 16th in Barnum, MN - BEST COUNTY FAIR!!!) to learn more about showing.
i see they don't award the "BEST UDDER IN SHOW" at the state fair until sunday night around 6 pm. all that suspense :-)
thanks for thinking of us though! we will have our own award ceremony in our pole barn sometime in the Fall. haven't decided the categories yet but one will be "Biggest Noodle" for sure. and the prize winner may surprise you..... let the suspense build.
i'm sure dale could come up with clever clues for a treasure hunt--and i would suggest making them more humorous than difficult/obscure. (more fun to listen to)
I LOVE the idea of dale interviewing a goat and/or other prize-winning livestock...for example, if you think of Baa-baa as really saying Bah!, you could come up with some good lines...:-)
it might be amusing for the blog at least and/or website to have people take their RH mug or a toy goat or something around with them and send in their best photos including that object (e.g., toy goat with head tipped into milk glass at dairy bldg or whatever).
could do a joke on the "eating contests" by making people guess what food place to go to from clue, and then they HAVE to eat the key thing of that place, ; then they'd have to describe the flavor or the experience in 3 words, then go on to next; person(s) who get to all the places and eat all the stuff and describe it best wins? could be very funny to have someone doing brief running commentary on stick food eating.....
okay it's true, it's lunchtime and i'm hungry.
i'll be sure to listen online that day!!!!
could have contestant opportunities on the blog--people might even pay to be on the show!
Biggest Noodle - what the hell does that mean?
I'm catching up on the blog today from the bricked book mobile (aka town lib.) in Webb, IA. I completely and udderly love the MN State Fair. Drive up early Friday, Labor Day wkend and stay for APHC at the grandstand. A highlight for my family - counting the # of times I get lost. Can never catch Dale's show though - school in SF starts too early.:(
This little library has a list of "New Rules" posted above the computer desk that's given me my laugh of the day. A few examples:
No hitting, slapping or rough housing in the bldg.
No using the computer for purposes of looking at things that are pornographic (immoral), or dirty words person from the computer. Music is not to be played loudly while other patrons, who may not care for it, are present.
No panhandling (begging people for money) in the library.
And my favorite - There is to be no swearing, on purpose.
So Donna, that does mean that swearing by accident (SBA) is okay...I love it. Thanks for sharing.
no swearing ON PURPOSE? i bet even Donna never swears on purpose.
"Noodle" is often used by others to describe a "weak, simple person" - kind of the same thing as a weiner - as in "what a weiner" - literally what a hotdog. the pole barn definition of biggest noodle is the animal that was the most plaguing in their behaviours this year. as in, whenever possible, 1. sneaking away to chew on the grape vine or 2. eating only the pieces of corn out of their grain mix and refusing to eat the rest or 3. after having eaten the corn out, using their nose to tip the rest of the food and feed dish onto the floor, spilling the contents, wasting the food, and encouraging yet many more generations of vermin like mice, voles, gophers, red squirrels to live in the pole barn or 4. teaching their offspring to stand in the hay rack and pee on the fresh hay. that's a noodle in our barn.
love the scavenger hunt idea also, altho it was always fun the other way
not at all surprised that jim ed will sit it out, he's never been one for lots of people
i've been going since the 60's (high school) and got my daughter hooked and now her boys; it's not the same tho cuz the big machinery is gone and it's not for the farmers so much any more and that gives it a different feel
but we still go and i go at least twice; start at MPR then find breakfast at the food bldg then go up to see the dogs and make our way back to the grandstand; then we just wander and eat and watch people and eat and then go have a couple beers
the twins LOVE the giant slide and the skyride and the baby animal barn
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