Entry by Courtney Sampson, Marketing and Communications Intern, Indiana State Fair
Let it be known to all! Hereās my new sloganā¦maybe Iāll suggest it to the āHead Fredā of the Indiana State Fair. Probably not. Anyway, here it goes ā The 2010 Great Indiana State Fair ā Making Memories Happen.
OK ā but really, this one-line slogan sums up my entire summer! Thereās been no shortage of things to do around here; I canāt say Iām surprised, though. The Indiana State Fair draws more than 900,000 visitors over 17 days. Hereās a taste of my favorite fair memories:
10 ā Riding The Blizzard with my co-worker, Kris Karolā¦AFTER he ate 2 pieces of fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, and water. Good thing he didnāt drink Pepsi. It might have put āem over the edge. Oh yeah, and he sat on the outside, so I got to slam into him on every corner!
9 ā Paying $12.50 to eat a healthy salad and small Diet Pepsi, and being OK with spending a pretty penny because I skipped my daily fried delicacy.
8 ā Riding So Slow Joe in the Rodeo Donkey Race. Giddy up! (Nope, not kidding.)
7 ā Falling off So Slow Joeā¦breaking my flip flop (yes, I rode them for a brief moment)ā¦getting a bruise on my beeehind from hitting the ground!
6 ā An every-other-day quest to find the State Fairās best chicken tender. Lo-and-behold, on Day 16, I finally found it at āThe Fry Basket,ā which is known for selling the Deep-Fried PB&J. Who wouldāve thought Iād find the perfect, moist, crispy, seasoned-just-right piece āo chicken at the Fry Basket? But I did.
5 ā Thanks to Fair Board Director, Lynette Walter, I touched Keith Urban. āNuff said.
4 ā Thanks to my co-worker, Michelle, I met Sugarland! Jennifer Nettlesā stylist (or maybe just Jen) chose a great outfit!
3 ā I met Governor Mitch Daniels and Indianaās First Lady, Cheri Daniels. I even worked out in a pig costume at the First Ladyās Heartland Walk for Health. And man, it was smokinā hot inside āPorkchop.ā
2 ā Hanging out with the Indiana State Fair Queen several days proved to be some of my favorite times. She forced me to eat GOAT MEAT, and I still like her. In fact, my wave is almost as goodā¦but not quite. Guess thatās why sheās got the title!
Eatinā the goat meat!
1 ā I sure did meet many folks out here, but none of them compare to Liz Bowman, an 83-year-old Indianapolis resident who hasnāt missed one day of the Indiana State Fair in 62 years. Yep, you read that right! She started coming to the fair at age 21, and she hasnāt stopped. Iāve only met Liz a few times, and I feel like Iāve known her for decades. In my moments with Liz, I was reminded that determination and will power, along with a positive spirit, a great family, and a passion for life will keep you happy. Thanks, Indiana State Fair, for a summertime of fun, and thanks, Liz, for teaching me lessons for life.
