...And We're Off!

It's Day 1 of the Great Indiana State Fair, and it couldn't have been a better start! Bright blue skies and cooler temperatures surrounded Fair Executive Director Cindy Hoye, Governor Daniels, Lt. Governor Skillman and dozens of others in Dow AgroSciences Celebration Park for this morning's opening ceremonies.

Band Day usually dominates fair headlines on opening day now that the Giant Hot Air Balloon Race has been moved to the fair's second Saturday (Aug. 14), and the high school marchers put on some great performances for the thousands of fans in the Hoosier Lottery Grandstand.

Personally, I have yet to try much of the fair food - you need to pace yourself when you're here all 17 days, but I imagine a Dairy Bar milkshake isn't far off in my future. I have already heard great reviews on the Garbage Burger, this year's signature food, which is in all of the Pork Tents. The deep-fried butter seems to be going over well, too. By the way, that is not a stick of butter that's deep-fried and put on a stick. It's more like a doughnut hole that combines sugar, cinnamon and butter inside that yummy funnel cake batter.

Okay, I've just made myself hungry. Time to go get some fair food.



Submitted by Andy Klotz