It's That Time of Year...

Summer! Bugs! STATE FAIR TIME!
Somehow we missed out on this the first time here, but will probably go today to take in the great NoDak State Fair. After growing up on Ohio's version (and being to the California fair once), I'm not so sure how underwhelemed I'll be when it's said and done. How much better can it be than the butter cow and milkshakes? Ohio has the dairy area, complete with butter sculpture, ice cream and milkshakes. It is a MUST DO stop while there. It was probably my favorite thing to do at the fair, other than the commercial buildings. (I want a shamwow... what are the odds that they'd have that in Minot?)

BUTTER SCULPTURE FACTS
• The butter sculpture tradition began at the Ohio State Fair in the early 1900s, when Ohio State University and dairy processors sponsored sculpting contests. The appearance of the butter cow and calf became an annual fair tradition in the 1920s, after the Dairy Products Building opened.
• In the 1960s, the display's sponsors — the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council Mid-East — added another featured sculpture, usually a human celebrity with an Ohio connection.
• Featured sculptures over the years have included: astronauts Neil Armstrong and John Glenn, professional golfer Jack Nicklaus, Star Wars' villain Darth Vader, Wendy's founder Dave Thomas, A Tribute to the Columbus Zoo and A Tribute to Milk Delivery.
• About 1,000 pounds of butter are used for the displays.
• About 500,000 people visit the sculptures every year.
• Butter sculptures have gained national attention. In 1987, the sculpture of Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, of suburban Columbus, appeared on NBC's Late Night with David Letterman. In 1997, Sports Illustrated featured a photo of the butter sculpture tribute to Ohio State football coach John Cooper. (Hmmmmm, there's a mistake some would rather forget! LOL)
A short story with pic of cow, from the Lantern, tOSUs student paper... http://media.www.thelantern.com/media/storage/paper333/news/2005/08/11/Campus/Butter.Cow.Is.Udderly.Popular-966584.shtml
Some more pics of works.... I guess I might actually really go today to the fair here.... it has to be OK. http://www.dispatch.com/live/foundation/slideshow.jsp?file=/multimedia/daily_slideshows/2007/07/fairbutter.html&image=1&adsec=multimedia&tot=10

Did you know they claim 250,000 attendees at the fair here? Hopefully they don't all come this afternoon. I'm not one for crowds.

I'm off to get ready for the day... make sure I have the camera... maybe NoDak has something awesome like the butter sculpture. I'm feeling kind of young thinking about the dairy area in Columbus. :)