Iowa State Fair, 2011

Possibly my shortest time there ever (for varied reasons). Observations:

  • The Shenaniguns Wild West Show may have been around a while, but bad puns are still funny.
  • The Hot Beef Sundae is five years old!
  • Cattlemen groups in some northern counties have dropped participation at the Beef Quarters, and Mills/Montgomery are now together.
  • The Swine Barn seemed even emptier than it has been the past few years.
  • Windstream has ended the old Iowa Telecom’s presence by the Farm Bureau tent.
  • “America Needs Farmers” is a very worthy cause, but can’t Farm Bureau offer something for, you know, the agricultural school?
  • Iowa State-Texas A&M Homecoming T-shirt – inadvertent future collector’s item?
  • Why is there a special T-shirt for the Iowa State-Oklahoma State game – which, because it’s a night game on the Friday before Thanksgiving break, is going to be too cold for T-shirts?
  • In the same vein of “this single-game shirt thing is going too far,” UNI’s formerly generic “Beat State” shirt is now directed specifically at this year’s ISU game.
  • Nebraska-related items are crawling out of the woodwork with multiple vendors.
  • Putting the creationists right across from the Democratic Party? I don’t care who you are, that’s funny right there.
  • The U of I showed off the original Cy-Hawk trophy before its retirement. Its passing has generated comments that are mixed at best.
  • The Hall of Law seemed emptier than usual, too. The weather area had a poster about the July derecho.
  • Why no continued advertising about the Rice Krispie bar on a stick Fair Squares? I had completely forgotten about them.
  • Trial by Jury has moved from the Family Center to escape the heat and nearby music – and traded it for the music from the horse show.
  • I miss the train.
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