What Is There to Do at the Kansas State Fair?

Our family went down to Hutchinson for the day to visit the Kansas State Fair. We had excellent timing - after a summer in which the highs in July were sometimes in the 60s, the fairgrounds were reported to be a balmy 106 degrees. We also had a serious of  unfortunate events on both the drive up and the drive back that greatly extended the typical one-way travel time of 2 hours. All of which begs the question, What Exactly Is There to Do at the Kansas State Fair? 

Anticipate the thrill of the fair. Or enjoy whatever DVD is playing in the van. 

Speculate about large fires.

Purchase admission tickets and use up almost all of our cash. Marvel at how we are paying to enter a place where the entire goal is to spend even more money on vendors, rides, the lottery.

Oh yes, the lottery.

Watch a live Pig Race. Or not.

Comment on how the many tractors on display look just like Pa's miniature tractor collection.

Whine the entire time about the 106 degree heat and attempt to join the masses in one of the few air conditioned buildings.

Melt.

But while melting, try to convince the kids that the fact that this is the 100th anniversary of the fair is really super cool!

Check out the Domestic Arts building with sewing and cooking projects in display. Hear strong opinions from our under-10 crowd on the mistaken decisions in the quilt judging.

Watch foods' judging.

Check out the Girl Scout and Boy Scout  exhibits. Remain confused the entire time how this overlaps with the 4-H exhibits.

Check out the visual arts projects on display.

After a near meltdown, discover there is a booth with FREE ice cream! Revive.

Prevail in the mission to view the Butter Sculpture! 

Go on a ski-lift type ride across the fairgrounds. Decide this is the most terrifying experience ever and will not be repeated (okay, that was just me).

Make a super fast attempt to actually see some of the 4-H animals on display (okay, just me, again).

Visit the exotic animal petting zoo! Fall in love with the kangaroo and emu.

Go on a Camel Ride!

Play Midway Games. Somehow get lucky on all games, again.

Go on Carnival Rides!

Run into one of my WM friends and get to hang out with her and her delightful children!

Encounter a Robot.

Encounter many pro-4-H-recruiting signs, including quite a few that seem tailor-made for our family.

Melt. Always melt.

While the Kansas State Fair was the big highlight of today, we have been having other fun this week. On Monday (Labor Day), my parents came up for the day to visit! The crew headed down to Rocky Ford Fishing Area. Once again, Daniel was in heaven with the abundance of dead gar.

Then, Thursday was a "Worldwide Holiday" (according to my iPhone)...Will's 37th birthday!! Daniel had turned down our invitation of joining him for lunch at school previously, but decreed that since it was Dad's birthday he would tolerate our presence. ;) We all had a great time and are going to plan to eat lunch with both kids every Tuesday (Annika was on a school field trip when we visited Daniel).

Daniel loves the after-school program, just like he did at camp.

That night, we had the Thorntons over for ice cream cake, present-opening, and chair destruction demonstrations.

Happy Birthday, Will!! We love you!