Wisconsin State Fair, Part III: The Animal Palaces

This bunny has had enough of your sass, buster. 

If Blue Boy the pig from State Fair taught me anything, it's that fairs are about prize-winning animals just as much as they're about romance on the ferris wheel.  My Wisconsin State Fair compatriots and I spent most of our day cooing over animals in the goat and sheep, cattle, and small animal pavilions. 

Goats gettin' judged!

Oh, what a welcome it was. 

Snuggly sheep!

... and sheep with questionable racial politics.

Gettin' sheared. 

We lost our focus in the cow pavilion -- too many majestic animals! -- but we did manage to put ourselves in the cattle stocks: 

In the scant 30 minutes we had to spare before the Weird Al concert that night, I ran around the Small Animal Palace and lost my mind over every pretty chicken.  

This gal had a bustle like a Victorian lady!

Despite his fun, fluffy feet, this guy did not appreciate getting his picture taken, thank you very much. 

This duck was the happiest animal we saw all day, and had a little pouf of feathers on her head like a pillbox hat.  She is my new dream pet, hands down.

We also scoped some bunnies:

This one forgot to put his nose on that morning, I think. 

And here is darling, darling Nibbles, a Flemish giant.


These guys and gals all deserve blue ribbons, as far as I'm concerned, and in the multiverse in which I lead a contented country life, I like to think all of these animals live there with me... except for that mean rooster.

Miss the first two Wisconsin State Fair recaps? See Part I about racing pigs and ducks, and Part II about fair food. 

Wisconsin State Fair, Part II: Fair Food

First things first: there is a hole inside of my heart that can only be filled by a New Glarus Spotted Cow and a bratwurst with sauerkraut and beer mustard. This hole is shaped like the state of Wisconsin. After locking this snack down within our first hour at the fair, I was ready to try some other treats.

Other treats, like flavored milk. 

We managed to get at least one cup of every flavor. Cherry vanilla was my favorite, followed by root beer. 

Soon after, we moved on to the obligatory cream puffs. I respect and appreciate the Wisconsin State Fair's cream puffs. I love their mystique, and I love their eerily efficient assembly line construction. That said, I can't handle a whole puff myself -- I think I made it through a quarter before tapping out -- and find the puff itself a little eggy. Am I alone? Am I a lout?

Shelby adopted an air of scientific curiosity, while Andy immediately adopted a cream puff mustache, as my friend Anna recommended in her guide to the fair.

 I already regret not buying a cream puff ornament.

We introduced Shelby to her first deep-fried cheese curd, and before we left that night, we all had our first deep-fried green beans.

There were also a couple of unexpected food cameos: this stuffed, singing bacon doll (?), and the super-hip pickle on a stick that Mike found.

The gang also insisted we try a deep-fried Snickers bar.

The fellas found this Snickers quite alluring. Zack found it hot in another way. A literal way. 

While the deep-fried Snickers could have been a little less bready, we couldn't have been more charmed by our day of fair snacks. Miss you already, Wisconsin! 

Stay tuned for Part III of my Wisconsin State Fair recap (prize-winning rabbits and chickens!), or take a look at the racing animals of Part I. 

Wisconsin State Fair, Part I: Racing Pigs and Ducks

Two weekends ago, I went to the Wisconsin State Fair for the first time in three years.  My top priority? Taking a trip to Pork Chop Downs to see the racing pigs, of course.

There are almost too many things to love about these races. Pigs with punny names, like Lindsay Loham! Pigs eating frosted oatmeal cookie treats halfway around the track! Pigs! Wearing racing numbers! Being pigs! Wearing little curly tails because they're pigs! 

Luckily, my friends shared my pig racing enthusiasm, as well as my enthusiasm for New Glarus' Spotted Cow beer.

Why the Hawaiian shirts? Weird Al performed at the fair that night!

We came back to the racing grounds a few hours later for my first-ever duck race. 

The ducks chilled out in this cozy pen, where spectators tossed them little pellet treats, until a border collie herded them into their racing lanes. 

It's blurry, but I think you can still see my joy/incredulity here.

The announcer must have known on some deep, psychic level, that my first word was "duck," as he picked me from the crowd to be a third-round duck racer! 

My duck was soft and calm, and when I held her above the water, her little feet started to paddle, even though she was nowhere near the surface.

As the announcer suggested, I splashed her with water as she swam -- and she won the race!

Because my duck won our round, I got to return for the championship race. I was given another duck this time, and was encouraged to name him and announce it to the crowd.  What did I choose? Carl Quacksell. 

I kept my Duck Racer sticker and stuck it on my planner, where it still gives me a little thrill every time I see it.  If anybody out there has a pet duck, he or she is welcome in my home anytime.