The Iowa State Fairis all about ____________ (fill in the blank)

Everybody thinks of something when they go to the Fair. Food on a stick. The big boar. The Midway. Livestock judging. The Butter Cow. Quilts. Horses. Big name acts in the Grandstand. When we go to the Fair, we have our own list of ‘must sees,’ 

But in the course of a day walking around the fairgrounds, some of the most interesting things are the things we didn’t set out to see.  The extremely serious little boy taking his first spin at throwing a pot while his enthusiastic, encouraging mother looks on. The art of sunlight through a large leaf in the Master Gardener’s garden.  The spiderweb grill of an old Oliver in the classic car line up.

Of course, in a year like this, it’s impossible to avoid your random politician. But the fun part of that is listening to the people watching the politicians. The politicians give parents an up close and personal moment to engage their children in a discussion of the political process.

The Fair gives me opportunities to learn something new about such random things.  I happened upon domestic cat judging this year. Judges look for overall condition and handleability. Cats, of course have minds of their own and when they’re done being handled, they’re gone. Often before the judge is finished.

The Fair is all about … Everything. Anything. For sure, the Fair is all about fun.