This is our annual trip to the Minnesota State Fair. As we have done for the past several years, we went from Fergus Falls by motor coach going and coming in one day. This sign was used for many years where folks who came by trolley would
enter the fairgrounds.
After the demise of the trolleys, it was set
aside in some corner of the fairground property and was rejuvenated for
this year. The fair board spent big bucks in making the north-west
part of the property into a bus entrance for both tours and for city
shuttles.
Welcome to the fair.
This gopher has been here since before we began to attend the fair in 1963. We have pictures of our kids in front of it when they were little.
We always arrive on the first Monday of the fair. Since they have their routines, this morning is for the stock dog trials. A handler and his/her dog must move sheep over a bridge, through a pole maze and finally into a small pen.
The set of three sheep are released into the arena floor.
They are greeted by the stock dog, usually a border collie, who sends them on their way to go through the "hoops" that are set out.
The sheep walk through the bridge at the urging by the dog that moves to commands by the handler. Here the dog is off the photo.
Another test.
Finally the sheep enter the pen and the handler closes the gate.
Their work done, the sheep go back to "home".
The total attendance for the 12 day run was about 1,800,000 persons. This day was comparatively uncrowded. On the Saturday before Labor Day, about 240,000 persons attended probably more than twice the amount attending on our day.
Each day one of the Dairy Princesses have their heads carved in butter by the carver. There are 10 princesses each year and one is elected Princess Kay of the Dairy Way.
