[QueenAngie]

The State Fair parade was on Thursday PM and it was hotter than ever! Did you attend the fair parade?

I did not, but was the chauffer for two sons. They met up with a friend, so the 3 of them watched the parade and then went in and had some fun on the 1st night of the fair.

It was so hot, 1st they all 3 did was to buy some bottled water.

Review of 1st night food: ice cream at the Prairie Farms foods area was creamy and cold. The ever popular cow made out of butter, lifesized and known as the Butter Cow was in a new area in the center of the dairy building and rotated.

Big hula ballo in the local newspaper as the Wednesday foods columnist suggested having the Butter Cow retired. This brought tons of Letters to the Editor as well as editorals in support of the favorite Butter Cow.

State Fair taffy: great as always. No fillings or retainers were lost with this treat.

Lemon Shake-ups: always very refreshing and tangy.

Pork Producers: Have a free drink (coupon in the newspaper) with any pork purchase. Includes pork on a stick, pork burger, pork kabob, and butterfly pork chops. Mmmm!

DS#2 has been helping nextdoor neighbor young man in FFA with his family's sheep competition. DS#2 was even helping to wash the sheep in preparation for the showing. (The same 18 yo that will wash a sheep, won't wash the family car these days. Go figure.)

Lots and lots of rides and the Big Slide is a colorful yellow. Participants ride down potato sacks from the top to the bottom.
Wheeeeeeee!

Lots of freebies at various tents.

I have driven by the State Fair several times. Traffic routes have changed to one way around the fair just for these 10 days or so. That means my traveling to work or other places in town must be carefully planned out.

Are you going to the Illinois State Fair this year?

[hongyan]

I am!