The Minnesota State Fair is the third largest fair in the Country. It is third only because of the way fairs are ranked; they are not judged by size but by the number of days the fair is held. Texas (24 days) takes the lead with California (18 days) following in second place. So, Minnesota is the third largest fair in the country, however, it is the largest of the “12-day” fairs throughout the country.
Having come to Minnesota in December of 2011, this was my first visit to the State Fair. Was I impressed? You betcha! There was lots to eat, miles to walk, entertainment and rides for both children and adults, some of which I had never seen before. What impressed me most, as a Little Sister of the Poor, was the generosity and kindness of all of the vendors at the fair.
COME TO THE FAIR!
What, another Fair? Yes, each year the Little Sisters of the Poor (LSP) – at Holy Family Residence – have a fair of their own; it is to give a little taste of the State Fair to those who were unable to attend. In years past the LSP fair was held concurrently with the Minnesota State Fair. This year, it was decided to hold the fair a few days later. What a great and wise decision! Why? Many reasons…
Several vendors donated their wares to the Little Sisters on the last day and day after the Fair closed. What a wonderful way to serve “Fair” food to those unable to enjoy it on the Fair grounds! It was marvelous to see the Residents walk up to the buffet table to be served scrumptious foods we all enjoyed while on site at the State Fair. There were corn dogs, Australian battered potatoes, hush puppies, cheese curds, pastrami pickle wraps (may not sound good, however, they were soooooo delicious, and everyone enjoyed them), funnel cake fries, pronto pups, deep fried cauliflower, chocolate covered bacon, cookies on a stick, corn on the cob (the absolute best), and much, much more.
Great pains were taken to decorate the dining room to replicate the actual State Fair. Banners lined the walls naming the main attractions which recur at the Fair, streets were listed, parking areas such as Camel lot and Owl lot (from days of old when parking was available on the fair grounds), official maps of the State Fair were used as place maps, and there were fans on a stick. Everything in the dining room spoke of the State Fair, and everyone had a smile on his or her face which glowed with happiness of one enjoying a day out at the Minnesota Fair.
Two individuals, Mary Miller who is employed by the State Fair as Human Resources Director and Carmel Dyer who, with her sister Ann runs the Australian Batter Potato booth at the Fair, came to Holy Family Residence to help serve the Residents. They donned the red & white striped aprons and immediately got to work serving and helping to pick up plates. Both of them were so enamored at the transition of the dining room to a State Fair, and they commented they could actually enjoy the food served, since there was no time while they were working at the Minnesota State Fair.
So, what about next year? COME TO THE FAIR! If you haven’t been to the Minnesota State Fair, mark your calendar and make it a point to be there! The Fair always begins on a Thursday and concludes on a Monday (Labor Day). So, next year (2013) the Fair will begin on August 22 and conclude on September 2, and what about the Little Sisters of the Poor Fair?? Next year it will be held on Thursday, September 5. We invite more of the vendors to join us. Come see your donations being enjoyed so very much by those we serve here and so look forward to “Fair” time.
SEE YOU AT THE FAIR – BOTH FAIRS – IN 2013
WELCOME TO THE FAIR!