Ode to In-N-Out

When I was a kid in the San Francisco Bay Area, the only reason I knew about In-N-Out Burger was because lots of cooler-than-me cars had bumper stickers advertising the hip Southern California fast food chain. Back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, In-N-Out was as much an only-found-here feature of SoCal as Disneyland and the Hollywood sign.

It wasn’t until Rob and I were dating long-distance in 1990 that I had my first In-N-Out burger. I quickly proclaimed that all my visits to Southern California to see Rob would include at least one Double-Double. I was falling fast in love with both Rob and the iconic burger joint.

Later that year, specifically on December 3^rd, Rob’s brother Rick gave us a super fun wedding present: his and hers matching t-shirts from his new employer. The shirts were even more special because by that time, Rob and I were both living in the Bay Area with no In-N-Out within hours.

Awww, look how young we are! Rob was 24,
I was 22, and Rick (not pictured) was 19.
We still have those shirts. We do not, however,
still have the bodies to fit in them.

Over the years, Rob and I were known to drive hours just to get an In-N-Out burger. We learned the hard way that their food does not travel well (and by that, I mean more than 4 hours in an insulated cooler).

When In-N-Out started to expand and finally opened just an hour away from our East Bay home, Rob and I made somewhat regular treks to Tracy (a town, not a friend...although, also foreshadowing) for dinner. It wasn’t a particularly scenic drive, but it promised Double-Doubles and milkshakes so it was beautiful in its own burgery way.

On visits to see Rob’s family in Orange County, it was and still is understood and approved that at least one meal with my in-laws will be shared in a red and white plastic booth with walls featuring red palm treed tiles. In-N-Out is a family favorite and an unplanned tradition.

Through all this, Rob’s brother Rick continued to work for the company. He started out very junior in a restaurant and earned increasing responsibilities. At one point he was a key figure in the All-Stars Team – the traveling group of highly trained In-N-Out employees who help open new stores to make sure the new crew understands what is expected of them. Rick also had responsibilities determining and setting up parking lanes for the hours-and-hours long waiting lines when new stores opened…especially in new markets. Trust me when I say there is A TON of thought, preparation, and communication with nearby businesses when a new In-N-Out opens and threatens to snarl traffic, freeways, and parking lots.

Now nearly 35 years later, Rick is working in the corporate office as the Executive Assistant to In-N-Out’s VP of Operations. Which is how this happened tonight, the eve before the Grand Opening of Washington’s very first In-N-Out Burger:

I ordered a Double-Double with only ketchup, mustard,
pickles, and chopped chilies, Light-well fries, and
a Chocolate-Strawberry shake.

Rob ordered a Double-Double grilled onions only,
Light-well fries, and a fountain drink.

Our customizations were good training, right??

Yes, tonight Rob and I were incredibly lucky to attend the Friends & Family Store Party for In-N-Out Store #424 in Ridgefield, Washington!! OMG! And decidedly NOT hours from Woodhaven!

Truth be told, Rob and I have known about the plans for the Ridgefield location, the party, and the Grand Opening date for some time. Mmmms was the word for soooo long! We were sworn to secrecy, so not even our cat knew where we were going when we left Woodhaven this evening for an uncommonly early dinner.

As we arrived at the shopping complex housing the nearly-open-for-business In-N-Out, traffic was mostly flowing but there was definitely a LOT of activity towards the new burger place. 

Feeling super fancy, we drove past the “Closed for Special Event” sign and showed the friendly Burger Employee our special VIP wrist bands. With a smile, a welcome, and some hand motions, Rob and I were granted admission and parked in a large gravel lot that will undoubtedly be the staging area for the eager Burger Masses for months to come.

I felt like a Very Special Insider when
this arrived in our mailbox a few
weeks ago! I will find out during
tomorrow's shower if the wristband
is waterproof.

The party had officially been underway for less than an hour by the time we got there, but it was already full of buzzing energy, controlled chaos, fanatic enthusiasm, and general wonder that the loooooong awaited Ridgefield In-N-Out was FINALLY open.  WHOO HOOOOOO!!!!

We look super stoked, don't we??
SO EXCITED!!!

I asked Rick who gets invited to these Night Before Grand Opening parties. He said new employees get to invite family members, construction crews who build the store get invited, as do some local businesses, city officials, and “special invited guests” like me and Rob. In other words, yahoos who are just dang lucky. I also saw a number of Ridgefield Police officers enjoying burgers, no doubt preparing for the long months ahead helping manage traffic and hangry frustration.

Planning to get a burger but then utterly distracted by the Merch Truck, Rob caught up with me in the short line to purchase the Inaugural Washington State In-N-Out T-shirt. I also eyed a set of French Fry plushies, but settled on a black logo hat because for some reason I didn't have one yet.  

My Merch! 
If you look closely, there's a Sasquatch at the top
of the waterfalls. HA! 

All swagged up, our next stop was the History Corner and Backroom Tour. COOL!

As we were admiring a collection of historic bumper stickers (including the one I remembered from the ‘80s!) and the very first In-N-Out logo, Rob introduced himself to the collection’s curator, Tom. Rick had mentioned Tom would be there and to be sure to say hi.

The bumper sticker second from the 
bottom brought back many memories!

The Very Original Logo!
Pleaaaase make a purchasable
t-shirt with this on it,
Awesome In-N-Out Marketing People!

As Rob explained that he was Rick’s brother, Brenda spun around with bursting excitement. “YOU ARE RICK’S BROTHER?!?!” She was practically bouncing with joy! She and Rick have worked together in various capacities for years. Brenda is clearly a fan. It made my sister heart beam with pride to hear how caring, supportive, and kind Rick had been when he was part of a store’s management team with Brenda years ago.

I love that Tom is wearing an 
In-N-Out apron! And that Rob is
wearing his red Hawaiian shirt
with palm trees! Not an accident.

We then got a personally guided tour of the Backroom. We were not allowed to take any photos. Suffice it to say, this company knows what it is doing. They only do a few things (burgers, shakes, and fries) but they do them extremely well.

Everything is thought through with purpose, efficiency, and quality. All produce is fresh, the onions and tomatoes are selected not just for their quality but also their size to properly match the burger patty, there are no freezers on the premises, the buns are delightfully spongey due to a lack of preservatives, granulated sugar is used instead of high fructose corn syrup in their ketchup. On and on.

No, this is not a paid endorsement. I’m just a fan that might have drunk the Lemon-Up (lemonade mixed with 7-Up). But I gotta say, as impressed as I have been with In-N-Out over the years just hearing Rick talk about the company and experiencing the food and service as a customer, the Backroom tour Double-Doubled my fandom. The company is just so dang intentional!

About mid-way through our tour, an extraordinarily fun woman named Tracey bopped up to us and excitedly announced, “YOU ARE ROB AND TONI!!”

“You are right!!” we confirmed, having no idea who she was but really hoping she wanted some new friends.

Tracey explained that Rick had texted our pictures to her and asked her to take good care of us. Holy Animal Style, Batman, did she ever!

Tracey was like a personal Hamburger Ambassador. She made sure we were in the right line for food, she found a table for us just as we were starting to look for one, she checked on us to make sure we were happy, she helped us find Rick’s boss and a few other VIPs so we could say hi and thank you. All while tending to her other duties of training the new crew and keeping the dining room a happy hum of controlled chaos. Tracey was not an All-Star. She was a Rock Star. Thank you, Tracey!!

Tracey!! Doesn't she look like a 
ton and half of fun?? 
In-N-Out hires Good People.

As Rob and I were waiting for our food at our Tracey-procured table, a trio of more excited employees came up to us. “Are you Rick’s brother?!?” More fandom for my brother-in-law! I swear, it felt like we were related to a celebrity! Rick is clearly loved by many In-N-Out peeps. Such a proud sister right here!

More of Rick's Fan Club!
Ashlynn, JP, and Amada say HI!

I was amazed by how many employees were onsite – in the kitchen, cleaning the dining room, talking to customers, offering to fetch ketchup, welcoming fans, sharing the excitement, offering to take photos, and smiling broadly despite – and maybe even because of – the utter pandemonium of so much pent-up Burger Love. It made me want to give the whole Store #424 a great big hug of thanks.

The Kitchen was BUSY!! But
also oddly totally under control.
At least from my vantage point.
Impressive!

Once our food arrived, Rob and I settled into lots of happy noises and mmm’ing and little bounces of joy and thankfulness. Well, ok, that was mostly me. Rob acted like a grown-up. Me, I asked for a hat and a sticker on our way out.

The Face of Gratitude

The Face of Double-Double Joy Joy

Rob and I knew to savor every last bite of our Double-Doubles and Light-Well fries tonight because it might not be until 2026 that the crazy lines die down enough for us to visit Store #424 again. Seriously. Burger fans are reportedly planning to trek from Seattle (3 hours away), Idaho, and Alaska (soooo many more hours away) to get their In-N-Out fix. I get it. I was once one of them.

But now. NOW, I can patiently wait with the knowledge that the day will soon come when Rob and I can spontaneously decide that In-N-Out sounds good for dinner, and less than an hour later, I will be making happy eating noises while bouncing joyfully in my seat.

Welcome to Washington, In-N-Out!! WE ARE SO EXCITED YOU ARE HERE!!!

And THANK YOU, RICK!! What an incredibly cool and exciting experience you gifted us tonight. Love you tons!

I may or may not still be wearing the
hat.

Attention Shoppers!

A couple of months ago, I was minding my own doomscrolling business on Facebook when an ad caught my eye. Which happens way more often than I’d like to admit. 

The photo accompanying the ad was of an author standing behind her book display in a grocery store. Not a bookstore, not a coffee shop, not a book fair. A grocery store, snuggled between the Produce and Floral departments.

I took the bait and clicked. After much research, I determined that the catchily named National Authors in Grocery Stores Program is indeed legitimate. And it’s been around for over 20 years but mostly in Texas and eastward. Apparently rather recently, a Kroger-family grocery chain local to the Pacific Northwest (Fred Meyer) joined the program.

The gist of the program is that authors sign up with NAGSP for an annual fee. In return, they can schedule “book signings” pretty much whenever they want for as many hours as they want at participating grocery stores. NAGSP handles all the money stuff and communication with the stores and takes a cut of each sale. No other authors are allowed to hold signings at the same time, so there’s no competition. You just set up your table, get comfy, and hope shoppers decide to interrupt their quest for yogurt and laundry detergent to chat with you about your book.

Having an I’m FINE. pop-up in a grocery store sounded weird, quirky, and right up my alley (aisle?). And a fantastic way to extend the relevancy of my highly curated book fair set-up. I signed up right away!

There were a few technical glitches, most notably that my book's UPC wouldn’t scan in the Fred Meyer POS system. It does now and I have to admit, it’s pretty dang cool to swish my book over the scanner and hear a beep as my book and price pop up on the screen! Just like peanut butter or salad dressing!

Today was my first signing. I’m a bit pooped. Oh the irony of the literal pain caused by trying to sell books about chronic pain. So much sitting and lugging stuff around. But overall a successful foray! YAY!

Ready to greet you and block the display of
Multi-Purpose Copy Paper! Ooops.

I have never seen an author sitting at a book display in my local Fred Meyer, so I was suspicious that I might be the first/only one giving this a go around these parts. My suspicions were stoked when I received the signings schedule for this week for my division. The division includes all the Fred Meyers in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska – a total of 135 stores.

This week, the full number of authors in my division doing book signings is…2. Yep, me and Adam in a town in Alaska whose population would fill less than half of the grandstands at my beloved Clark County Fair. Look at me! I’m a trend setter!

My view for 4 hours.
Much pondering why Zesty Jalapeno Popper Doritos
are called "Late Night." If I'm eating those
late at night, they need to come with Prevacid.

Ray, the guy in charge of the NAGSP, is an unending source of information, advice, and guidelines. My email inbox is smokin’ from all the help!

Among Ray’s suggestions was not to schedule signings on Mondays and especially not in the mornings. Perfect! 

Since I didn’t really know what I was committing to, nor how my stamina might be, I broke all the rules and scheduled 4 hours today (a Monday) – from 9:00am to 1:00pm. I chose a Fred Meyer I go to occasionally and never run into anyone I know. Only a few people knew I was going on this little adventure – one of whom (Rob!) was kind enough to show up to take a few photos. Think of it as a “soft launch.” And soft it was.

When I arrived, the store manager suggested I set up my table over in the Seasonal area – currently “Back to School” supplies. He warned me that there wouldn’t be much foot traffic, as I had chosen a very quiet time to be in the store. I happily explained it was entirely on purpose so I could see how the program worked and learn a few things.

The manager offered to help me set up my table (I declined), invited me to stay as long as I wanted, and wished me well. About 15 minutes later, I was set up and ready to greet the tens of people who grocery shop on Monday mornings.

It was fascinating sitting there as people entered the store. Many people entered clearly on a mission, list in hand, eyes scanning the overhead signage for direction. Some walked right past me without any realization a person and her table were even there. I tried to find a comfortable balance of looking friendly but not desperate, while also appearing approachable and not engrossed in my cell phone. I made eye contact and smiled but I tried not to look too eager.

I enjoyed watching the bustle of store employees and noting that Exercise Gear is the finery of choice for grocery shopping. I loved eavesdropping on moms with their kids going on excited scavenger hunts for teacher-required school supplies. Well, except for Hunter who just wanted to sit on the displays and read his book. Mom was understandably exasperated.

The store’s music was pretty awesome – clearly they are targeting Gen X because it was all ‘80s. Men At Work, Phil Collins, Tracy Chapman, T’Pau. T’Pau!! It got a little weird when Def Leppard’s “Rock of Ages” wafted through the store, but the playlist quickly recovered with some Talking Heads.

I ran a few experiments for entertainment and edification.

First, I determined that Ray was right – having a sign with your pricing means people make assumptions without even talking to you. More people stopped to chat after I stashed my pricing info under my table. People who were sincerely interested in my book very unawkwardly asked me the price. Fascinating! Thanks, Ray! The pricing sign has officially been ejected from my Grocery Store Book Tote.

I also determined that standing up is more attention-getting but also more intimidating. More people saw me when I stood up behind my table instead of sitting casually in my carefully chosen camp chair. But more of those folks deftly detoured around the bin of on-sale ketchup to avoid me. Noted: sitting is better than standing.

Confirming what I discovered at the book fair last month – and with apologies to professional salespeople – I am hereby giving myself permission not to force conversations. Although Ray suggests greeting people with, “Hello, would you like to hear about my book today?” that’s just not me. And it’s not my target audience.

Chronic pain is a tough and touchy subject. Not everyone wants to talk about it – which is a recurring theme in my book. Indeed, I was amazed at how many folks with canes, scooters, and back/knee braces ambled right by me. A few even read my “CHRONIC PAIN SUCKS!” banner and laughed, saying “You got that right!” as they beelined it for the greeting cards. Another told me about her chronic pain and then proudly explained, “I don’t read self-help books.” Ok then!

I watched one brave woman stop several feet past my table, take a deep breath, nod reassurance to herself, and come back to ask me about my book. She told me a bit of her pain story, clearly testing the waters of talking about her pain out loud. She was not ready to buy a book about her truth – that was obvious. But I was so impressed by her courage to take the first step. Of course, I couldn’t tell her any of that. I could only reassure her she is not alone in her experience and give her my business card.

Counter to stereotypes (and I used to
counter them), a number of the folks
who talk to me about their chronic 
pain are younger than me.

By the time I was packed up and trolleying my display back to my car, I had sold one book. Yep, just one. Yep, ONE! But I made connections with several people, had a few honest conversations, and handed out several business cards – including one to Michael the Security Guard whose mom lives with chronic issues.

In a number of small ways, it felt like I had an impact. A few people even thanked me for writing a book about chronic pain, which was very unexpected and humbling.

So, yep, I guess it's official. I will be signing up for more opportunities to hang out among condiments and office supplies and bananas to help other chronic pain sufferers know they aren't alone. YAY!

 

2025 Clark County Fair! Recap – After the Final Milkshake

As I have been running around the past three days not resting nearly enough, it occurred to me that it feels like I went on a 10-day vacation but with a house that sort of exploded while I was gone. Lots of things got thrown on tables, presents from the cat got only cursory attention, the kitchen floor had bits of Fair strewn about…

I’m still not caught up…or rested. And sadly, like so many vacations that come to an abrupt halt with demands to return to reality, I feel the escape of my beloved Fair slipping away. It was a loooong 10 days, and yet I can’t believe they are already over.

Almost literally our home away from
home for 10 days! Doesn't it look
like an Information Booth?
Or a Fotomat?
(Google it, youngins!)

As anticipated, this year’s fairing was not typical at all. Working (as volunteers) at my Fair is a totally different experience than just showing up and moseying about. 

Although Rob and I were able to see all the events and exhibits we wanted to, we faired in bits and pieces. There weren’t those long, leisurely stretches of just watching the Fair or chatting with friends or breathing in the much-needed respite from the responsibilities of real life. We were often interrupted by texts or phone calls with Gazebo Duties. We signed up for that, so it’s more of an observation than a complaint. But it made Fairing feel choppy instead of lingering. I still escaped from reality; I just didn’t get to sink deeply into it.

The only time we caught the animal races -- 
from behind the trailer as we were scurrying 
about the Fairgrounds on Official Gazebo 
Business. The goats were so cute!

I loved being a part of my Fair in a bigger capacity than ever before. While still not totally an insider – insiders don’t get to go to concerts and Demolition Derbies and hypnosis shows – I got to meet and chat with lots of them. They don’t know it, but many times I felt like I was meeting royalty when I finally got to put handshakes and faces to legendary Clark County Fair names I have seen and heard many times over the years. My Fair Stalker heart was soooo happy!.  

I loved getting a better understanding of the different departments that make up my Fair, even if I’m still confused about the difference between a Boer meat goat and a Market meat goat. We discovered there is a Cheese Department! And we were instrumental in getting Curly the Camel plugged into the Passport to Fun program so that he can officially be the insider he always should have been. The memories of Curly’s dad’s excitement when we gave him Passports and signs still have me beaming!

A friend's daughter just whipped up a camel
stamp when she heard Curly was going to be
a Passporter. WOW!!! It was adorable.

And, I’m not gonna lie – I enjoyed walking around with my Fair Pass Lanyard when duty called. It gave me some credibility as I was meeting the real insiders and helped me feel like I had a seat at their Fine Fair Folks table.

All swagged out in my most favorite
uniform ever!

I’m always amused by what fairing inspires me to order either during the Fair or right after. Past purchases have included cow earrings, Clark County Fair customized sweatshirts (thanks, Zazzle!), an electric canner, a The Guess Who Greatest Hits CD, and a Captain & Tennille 8-track cassette to display on our bookshelf.  

This year’s fairing resulted in the following superfast deliveries from Amazon: two “Congratulations!” ink stamps, a variety pack of hydration packets for downing my daily morning bottle of water while finishing up my nightly blogs, and a pack of HP 962 ink cartridges because my printer ran out of yellow. A fascinating reflection of how different this year’s Fair was!

We got Prime for super cheap
when Rob was in school getting
a Master's degree. Amazon's plan
worked like a charm - I got addicted
to the fast shipping and now pay
full price for the convenience.

I am more exhausted this year than in the past. We did 10 days straight without a day off. We walked more than we ever have, averaging 4.2 miles per day. And we taxed our brains, solving problems bigger than just what to eat next (although still a discussion several times daily). As an introvert, it was a LONG ten days of soooo much peopling. I am talked OUT. But I was surprisingly excited by the opportunity to start building some teamworky relationships with various Fair departments.

As exhausting and unrelaxing as my Fair was this year, I was absolutely thrilled to be a part of creating Fair Joy for others, especially kids. It made my heart both melt and sing when I listened to Rob encouraging kids and parents to enter their creations in the Fair next year – drawings, Lego structures, photos, new forays in gardening. “You can be a part of the Fair!” So much FAIR JOY!!

Although this is my final Fair blog for the 2025 Clark County Fair, it will still be a bit before the Fair is fully wrapped up. Rob and I are eager to debrief with new Marketing Assistant Jenny. We have two spreadsheets and three pages of notes to share to hopefully make things go even smoother next year.

We learned A LOT together this year – mostly on the fly and in the moment – so presumably things won’t be quite so exhausting and occasionally bonkers next year. We have spreadsheets built and all the laminated signs my organized little heart could think to seal.

It will be sooo much easier next year
not thinking of these needed materials
at really inconvenient times during the 
Fair... or in the wee hours when my
brain really needs to turn off.
FAIR! FAIR!! FAIR!!

Next year? Do I want to “work” again with the Passport to Fun program next year? If asked by the Marketing Department, yeah, probably so! I ADORE Marketing Assistant Jenny – she is a rockstar and fun and real and I hope she has room for a new best friend. She was an absolute BLAST to work with!

And yes, I realize I am saying “we” a lot. To paraphrase one of Rob’s all-time favorite quotes from the wise Super Chicken: He knew the job was dangerous when he took it. The job? Marrying me! I absolutely could not and would not Fair without Rob. He is an AMAZING Fair Buddy.

We participated the HECK out of the
Fair this year! Very proud of our 
ribbons, even if they were gifted to
us by unimpressed last-place-finishers
in the Cheeseburger Eating Contest.

And so I guess my Fair is over. I am relieved, sad, grateful, tired, and wistful.

Thank you, Tawnia, for inviting me and Rob to help spread Fair Joy in a bigger way this year. Thank you, Jenny, for doing an incredible job with just a few months of training. You are a pro through and through. It was an honor to be part of your team.

And thank you, Rob, for carrying my stuff, toting so many Beanie Babies through the Fairgrounds, fetching me snacks, slowing me down with thoughtful considerations when I wanted to jump in to solve problems ASAP, and staying up later than you wanted to each night as I tapped away on my keyboard. I love you and am so deeply grateful for you and your willingness to join me on my adventures with corn dogs and clipboards.

Thank you all for Fairing with me!
Let's do it again August 7-16, 2026!
The End.

2025 Clark County Fair! – Day 10

Wow. What a final day at the 2025 Clark County Fair! It got up to 98 degrees at the Fairgrounds – a far cry from the refreshingly rainy 69 degrees just 4 days ago. The crowds were definitely lighter today – we don’t do heat well here in the Pacific Northwest. Those of us who showed up – and the numbers grew as it got closer to Monster Truck Time – mostly slogged around in the heat.

Rob and I arrived after church and met my mom and her friend Linda outside the Food Court. The ladies had already been fairing for a couple hours and had wisely spent most of it in the Big Air Conditioned Building. They emerged just in time to have prime viewing of the Clydesdales Horse Team!

Sooo much better than any
photos I took earlier in the Fair!
Thanks, Mom!

After chatting for a bit – and totally neglecting to take a sweaty photo – we hugged goodbye so Rob and I could take a lap around the Fairgrounds before our final afternoon shift in the Gazebo.

We attempted to watch the Pirate Parrot Show. We have seen it many times in past years but hadn’t had a chance to catch it this year.  Rob is a trooper and sat through the entire show on hot metal bleachers without shade. There were four other adults, one kid, and one very weary pirate. Major props to Pirate Christopher who fulfilled his show duties despite a meager audience and what had to be a sweltering pirate costume. Arrgrh.

A true pro right there.

I tried three times to join Rob in providing spectator moral support for Pirate Christopher, but the heat hit me hard. I kept having to retreat to the Goat Barn with its glorious fans. I never quite recovered and struggled with the heat all day. I refilled my big Smashers cup at least 4 times with ice water (BLESS YOU, Clark Public Utilities Free Cold Water Booth!) and still couldn’t shake a massive headache and slight nausea. I’m hoping a solid night’s sleep in Woodhaven’s air conditioning will take care of things. (UPDATE: It did! All good now!)

I later found another fan at the other
end of the barn that was equipped
with hay bale seating. Ahhhh....
Thank you, Goat People!

The very last shift in the Passport to Fun Gazebo was thankfully largely uneventful. Phew! Marketing Assistant Jenny’s crew was able to scrounge up enough Passports from stashes around the Fairgrounds to get us through the Final Fair Day. HOORAY!!! And while we apparently dipped heavily into the 2026 Beanie Baby supply for prizes (!!), we gratefully had enough for the very last kid who came by 15 minutes after closing (Rob and I always stick around a few extra minutes after the Gazebo officially closes to keep an eye out for runners). I am SO relieved the panicked imaginations of Passport Mutiny on the Midway never materialized!

All that was left.
I suspect next year's order will be BIG.
Nobody wants to relive the Passport and Beanie
Baby Shortage Stress ever again!

We did almost have An Incident in the Gazebo. And I’m still shaking my head. 

A grown woman – probably about my age chronologically – tried to cheat her way into “winning” two free Beanie Babies. And not for kids, for herself. It’s a long story, which I typed out and deleted but feel better for the venting. And it proved our new “Congratulations!” redemption stamp system works. YAY! But the woman was mean and angry and exhibited absolutely zero Fair Joy. 

Unfortunately, I had to let her get away with being a Cheater McCheaterpants (she literally grabbed the Beanie Babies and trotted away with choice words after I called her out). I didn’t want actual children witnessing a tantrum by an adult who should have known better decades ago. BOO, Cheater Lady!

Yes, they are adorable. And meant for CHILDREN.
Good grief.

After we handed out the Very Last Beanie Baby of the 2025 Clark County Fair, Rob and I headed down to see Tosha for our Final Fair meal. As ALWAYS happens, my appetite suddenly switched off today and I only ate about half of my delicious Italian Sub Smashed Potato dinner. Somehow my weary body always knows when the Fair Feast Finish Line is within sight.

Our last Beanie Baby Recipient
celebrating in the mister.

Rob and I intended to finally take our annual ride on the Ferris Wheel tonight, but the line was at least an hour long. We looked at the line, looked at each other, and promised we would ride the Ferris Wheel at the next Fair we go to in the not-too-distant future (insert foreshadowing music here).

Instead, we took a last leisurely stroll through the moonlit Fairgrounds in the warm 80-degree air. We said goodbye to Smasher Stan and Jaymi on our way to the Milkshake Barn for our final Fair treat. We strolled out of the Fairgrounds at about 9:30 after pausing near the deserted Pirate Ship to look down the Midway to wistfully bid the 2025 Clark County Fair a very fond fairwell.

I still haven’t cried, which is surprising. I think I’m too exhausted and perhaps still a little heat-stricken. The tears of appreciation and gratitude will come. They always do.

I will write one more blog about this year’s 2025 Clark County Fair after I’ve gotten some sleep, cooled down, and had a chance to fully realize what an amazing 10 days this has been.

Not quite the same as riding the
Ferris Wheel but it was still
a romantic walk with the
very best Fair Buddy I 
could hope for.

FAIR FOOD FEAST COLLAGE!

Top Row:

Pork Plate from the Hawaiian Islander stand
outside the Food Court. I did not enjoy the
chicken bowl from them earlier in the Fair
but we sat next to some folks at the
DogTown show yesterday who raved
about the pulled pork. Verdict: Nope.
Even doused with BBQ sauce, it didn't have
a lot of flavor and it was mushy like the
chicken. And a number of pieces
were pretty much just fat. BOO!
The macaroni salad was pretty good,
but not enough to go back next year.

Strawberry Mango Smasher! The last
one until next year! Thanks for keeping
me hydrated, Stan and Jaymi!

Bottom Row:

Free ice water in my Smashers cup
from the Clark Public Utilities booth.
Thanks, PUD People!

Italian Sub Smashed Potatoes from 
the Raclette booth. Super good yet again.
But the heat and 10 days of fairing
caught up to me -- I only finished about half.
Thanks for feeding me, Tosha!

Fresh milkshake peaches! I had no idea
you could buy cups of fruit from the milkshake
barn! Or, maybe it's only on the final day? In 
any case, this dish of fresh peaches was SO good!
A great way to ease my body back into a more
grown-up post-Fair diet. Mmmm! 

 

2025 Clark County Fair - Day 9!

Goodness, it's late! We fully Faired today! According to our video doorbell, we left Woodhaven at 9:08am and returned at 11:08pm. On Day 9! We are on punchy fumes!

Since The Last Day of Fair tomorrow (my heart says BOO! My body says YAY!) will start a little early, we're going to do something a little different tonight. I present to you:

A Photo and Caption Parade of Today's Fairing!

Because we waved our paddle around
in last year's Junior Livestock Auction,
we got invited to the JLA Breakfast
this morning. We felt very fancy!
It was held in a non-public "Hospitality"
area behind the Big Air Conditioned Building.
It was such a nice gesture even though
we felt like total imposters. I need to buy
me some Wranglers - and maybe a farm -
if we go again next year. We ran into our
neighbor who is a Fair Board member and is
legitimately fancy with his lanyards and
badges. We chatted Fair, parking, and Clydsdales.

Food eating contests are a HOOT if 
you know people stuffing their faces.
Today we knew most of a relay team
attempting to eat 8 cheeseburgers.
Although they came in last place,
it was very entertaining watching them.
I especially enjoyed watching Ali take
her time eating her burgers even though
it was a race. That comment deserves 
her pose in the photo.

We hung out in the Llama Greenway a
few times, wistfully remembering how
huge a part llamas once were in our 
Fairing. Things changed post-Covid
and there just hasn't been a lot of energy
or camelids the past few years. BUT! Our
chats today with old and new llama friends
have me bouncy with hope that grand days
in the Llama Greenway are again on the
horizon! YAAAAAY!!!!!

We were paddled up again for the Junior Livestock
Auction! There were about a zillion and half pigs
(actually 80ish) so it was a LONG day in the
auction ring. Those poor Rabbit kids. They
were last in the lineup after Poultry, Hogs, Beef,
Goats, and Sheep. I wonder if there were
any people and money left by the time
it was their turn? We popped in and out while 
waiting for the kids we wanted to support to be
called. No, we don't attempt to buy any animals.
We do this thing called "Add Ons" which is
basically just giving a kid extra money to say
"Great job!" without having the responsibility
to "process" and consume a whole pig or steer.

I chatted with one woman next to me who bought
a whole bunch of chickens and turkeys. She said
she used to do only add ons but last year things
got a little out of hand and she and her husband
bought a pig. I so desperately wanted the full story!
The spontaneous pig purchase ended up being very
expensive since they also had to buy a new freezer to
put the meat in. I'm relieved to say today's paddle waving
did not result in Rob and me needing to purchase
any large appliances. 

We had a list of a few kids we wanted
to support based on interactions and
parents. 4H Kids take note -- you NEVER
know what random stranger you chat
with will be impressed by your enthusiasm
and will make a note in her auction program
after you walk away so she can throw some
money your way. In addition to our list,
Rob gave me free rein to spontaneously wave my
paddle for whatever inspired reason struck my heart.
Like how ADORABLE are the ears on this black pig!?
Cha-ching!

This kid was an excellent pig tapper.
Not too hard, not too often, just enough to
guide the pig where he needed to go.
Cha-ching!

This girl smiled at the crowd the entire
time she was in the auction ring.
Cha-ching!

A polka dotted pig!!!
Cha-ching!

Passport Emergency!
We are running low on Passports! YIKES!
Rob and I spent an hour visiting a few departments
and managed to find about 70 surplus fans. We might 
need to hunt more down tomorrow. We also landed
on the idea of giving completed but unwanted fans
to the many adults (typically middle-aged women) who
just want the fan for cooling, not for playing. We have no
 idea how long today's recycled fans will last given tomorrow's 
forecast for mid-to-high 90s. Might be a long last day in the Gazebo.

I finally got to pet some animals!
Not pictured: a bunny rabbit and a guinea pig.
SO SOFT!!!
I'm pretty sure the gal is staring at my
milkshake earrings. I got lots of compliments
on them.

We finally had a chance to check out
the Cheese Department. The title
of this intriguing diagram is 
"The equitable art of cutting cheese"
Not even kidding.

We spent some time in the Poultry
Barn where I tried to take artsy photos
of chickens.

We attended the final round of the
Tuff Trucks with a capacity crowd!
Some friends were not able to join
us because the entrances were closed.
Clark County LOVES its dirt sports!

My friend Linda is a fellow Clark County
Fair Fanatic. She was so kind to gift me
some stickers and a pin she made! We bemoaned
the continued lack of any Fair swag and compared
notes on the swag we have made ourselves.
Linda is my people.

FAIR FOOD FEAST COLLAGE!

Top Row left to right:
Scrambled eggs, country potatoes,
sausage, and biscuit and gravy at the
JLA Breakfast. One of the nicest meals
I have had in a long time -- and it had nothing
to do with the food. Thank you, JLA!!

During the auction, 4H kids hand out free
water and snacks! Very smart way to keep people's
wallets from wandering away. I had forgotten
how deliciously salty Fritos are!

Strawberry Peach Pear Smasher!
My favorite this year!

Middle Row:
After watching all the hogs in the auction ring, 
I was hungry! There's a dearth of bacon available
on the Fairgrounds, so I had a ham and cheese
sandwich from the Church Ladies Pie booth.
Hit the spot!

Caramel apple from the fudge vendor inside
the Big Air Conditioned Building. I impressed
myself by not wearing any of the caramel! I hadn't
had a caramel apple in years. SO good! And not
nearly as messy as I feared.

Boysenberry and pineapple shave ice.
Still loving the boysenberry! The pineapple
was good but not a strong enough flavor. From
the Hawaiian Shave Ice truck outside the Food 
Court to the east.

Bottom Row:
That really tasty Lemon-Basil-Cucumber
water again from the Raclette Cheese booth.
I am going to have to try making this at home.
I'm getting a little addicted to it.

I returned to the Mac Shack for the Fried
Chicken Sandwich but this time without
the mac and cheese since it was boring a 
few days ago. I was all set to devour the
delicious fried chicken and was SO 
disappointed. They put some sort of 
thin cheese sauce on the chicken which made
the crispy batter all mushy and all the
spiced flavors disappeared. Annoyed, I
didn't finish it. I could ask them
not to put the sauce on, but I'm done trying
to like this booth. I'll go elsewhere next year.

Anticipating that the milkshake barn will
be closed when we leave tomorrow night, 
I got my favorite Strawberry Cookies n Cream
as a penultimate fairwell snack. I was intending
to enjoy it on the drive home, but I was done before
we got into the car.  Oops.

2025 Clark County Fair! – Day 8

Yowza. I’m exhausted! Great day at the Fair today! It ended with a moment of technological panic but all is fine now. Mr. Zuckerberg, you are all kinds of annoying. ANYway… Onward and Fairward! (I don’t know what that means, but it sounds fun!)

We arrived on the Fairgrounds at a leisurely hour, checked in with our Smashers friends, and had lunch while deciding what we wanted to do next. While stuffing my face with Bahn Mi, I got a text from my friend Terri (of the day-old scone intel). She revealed that she had been suddenly roped into participating in the donut eating contest. Off we went!

Terrie’s friend Stephanie was the roper. When I asked Stephanie what inspired her to be a donut eating contestant, she replied, “Lunch!” Meanwhile, Terri didn’t really know why she had said yes. She had had breakfast and was also concerned that she prefers to chew her food instead of inhaling it. But Terri likes donuts – and Stephanie – and thus found herself on stage as Contestant #2.

Stephanie showing Terri the 
Smushing Technique

Terri ended up finishing 2.5 of the 5 basic glazed donuts before the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place winners were determined. Stephanie finished 3 of them. Key strategies included smashing the donuts to make them smaller and less airy, and drinking lots of water to turn the donuts into something more like applesauce. When I asked the 2^nd place winner how he felt afterwards, he replied, “Bloated.” I guess there’s a lot of air gulping in an eating contest.

Contestant #3 is the bloated one.

The winner was FANTASTIC! Adam the Great (contest emcee and magician extraordinaire) has lodged a 3-year campaign to get an on-duty Sheriff on the Fairgrounds beat to join the annual donut eating contest. Today victory was Adam’s! A newbie deputy was voluntold by his superiors that he would be corroborating a stereotype.

Deputy rethinking his career choices.
Or contemplating retribution on the next
new guy.

Yes, not only did a cop participate in today’s donut eating contest…HE WON!! It was awesome! The deputy was such a good sport, if not a little urpy at the end. I’m not sure how long he wore his 1^st place rosette on his gun belt, but I am sure his day was MUCH better for winning. Can you imagine the ribbing he would have gotten if he lost?! Major props to the new guy!

His crew was taking lots of photos
and seemed genuinely impressed by
the big blue ribbon! Great day for
the new guy!

We attended both Tuff Truck shows…which were looooong because our county is overflowing with rednecky adolescents eager to run their rigs through a dirt obstacle course. The afternoon show wasn’t as exciting – I think the boys (and a few girls) were learning the muddy track and trying to make sure they had a working rig to bring back to the evening heat. Nevertheless, there were a few rollovers and popped tires and dislodged bumpers, so a good time was had by (most) all.

The tire just dangled when the truck
was lifted off the dirt. The Jeep didn't make
it back to the evening show, which
had its own share of oopsies (click here).

Terri and I laughed ourselves silly when we realized one of the announcers (the less experienced, less understandable one) sounded just like Mater from the Cars kids movies. Once this revelation hit, we couldn’t hear anything else except a talking tow truck. Anthropomorphic Fair Joy!!

I checked. Larry the Cable Guy was NOT at the 
Clark County Fair tonight. At least not in the 
announcer's booth. Coulda fooled us!

Later in the day, Rob and I finally had time to read a new display of the groovy history of the Clark County Fair in the 1970s. The orange and yellow posters announcing performances by icons like Helen Reddy, Loretta Lynn, Glen Campbell, and the Osmond Brothers were far out! I was frustrated to see that a season pass was offered back then. I’m still mystified why we can’t have one in the mid-2020s. BOO!

A Season Pass was $18. 
Today, that will buy you parking and
a one-day admission for a kid aged 7-12. 

I was also astounded to learn there was once a very serious effort to build a stock car race track adjacent to the Fairgrounds. Best I can tell, the horse folk of the county said, “Nay!” (neigh?) and a horse arena was built instead.

My most favorite part of the ‘70s Fair Retrospective, though, was the poster in the middle pulling it all together. We happened to meet the very talented guy who designed it. Darren, I would seriously buy a t-shirt with your out of sight creation on it! Please?!

How adorable is that?!? I am REALLY hoping
Darren does one for the '80s next year!
That would be totally rad!

We are up early again tomorrow to attend the Junior Livestock Auction. I get to wave my paddle around!!  WHOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!  FAIR JOY!!!

Today's photo of Rob lugging Beanie
Babies through the Fairgrounds. This
time with a box of Passports, too!

FAIR FOOD FEAST COLLAGE!

Top Row left to right:

Four Berry Smasher! I don't get this one
very often and I have no idea why. It 
was really good! It wasn't as tangy as my 
other favorites, but it still hit the spot.

Bahn Mi Rice Bowl (kids size) with
added jalapeno slices. SO good! The
woman sitting next to me in the Food
Court eyed it and I convinced her to get
one, too. If I can get other people to enjoy
my favorite vendors, I increase the chances
the vendors will be back next year!

Hush Puppies from Daddy D's BBQ. Rob
ordered these so I only had one. Really good!
Crispy and spiced on the outside, conrbready
goodness on the inside. From our memory and 
exploration last year, the hush puppies are the 
best thing on Daddy D's menu.

Bottom Row left to right:

SweetTarts! I love SweetTarts but I rarely
allow myself to eat them in real life. I eyed
the Bottle Caps and the Hot Tamales, too. I
might return to the little candy trailer later
to get more favorites before my food rules
resume. Note: the candy trailer has relocated
this year to the area outside the south end of the 
Food Court, near the Sweet Cheeks booth.

Rhubarb pie from the Church Ladies Pie Stand
(officially called the Community of Christ booth).
Homemade by a church across the street from the
Fairgrounds. SO delicious. I even ate most of the sugared
crust. In real life, I'm not much of a crust eater.

Sauce Sampler from the Greek Cusina at the southeast
corner of the Food Court. The sauces were tzatziki, feta,
and hummus. I loved the tzatziki and feta but thought
the hummus was boring and needed some garlic. Until
I ate more and realized there was PLENTY of garlic
in the other two sauces. The pita bread was warm and
freshly grilled. I really enjoyed this and would get it
again. However, beware of garlic breath. Not even
my SweetTarts could cut it down. Sorry again, Ali!