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 1st, 2nd, and 3rd 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 2nd 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 1st 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! |
No comments:
Post a Comment