Embracing the “Fairest” Things in Life

Entry by Courtney Sampson, Marketing and Communications Intern, Indiana State Fair

Let it be known to all! Here’s my new slogan…maybe I’ll suggest it to the “Head Fred” of the Indiana State Fair. Probably not. Anyway, here it goes – The 2010 Great Indiana State Fair – Making Memories Happen.

OK – but really, this one-line slogan sums up my entire summer! There’s been no shortage of things to do around here; I can’t say I’m surprised, though. The Indiana State Fair draws more than 900,000 visitors over 17 days. Here’s a taste of my favorite fair memories:

10 – Riding The Blizzard with my co-worker, Kris Karol…AFTER he ate 2 pieces of fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, and water. Good thing he didn’t drink Pepsi. It might have put ‘em over the edge. Oh yeah, and he sat on the outside, so I got to slam into him on every corner!

9 – 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 – Riding So Slow Joe in the Rodeo Donkey Race. Giddy up! (Nope, not kidding.)

7 – Falling off So Slow Joe…breaking my flip flop (yes, I rode them for a brief moment)…getting a bruise on my beeehind from hitting the ground!

6 – An every-other-day quest to find the State Fair’s best chicken tender. Lo-and-behold, on Day 16, I finally found it at “The Fry Basket,” which is known for selling the Deep-Fried PB&J. Who would’ve thought I’d find the perfect, moist, crispy, seasoned-just-right piece ‘o chicken at the Fry Basket? But I did.

5 – Thanks to Fair Board Director, Lynette Walter, I touched Keith Urban. ‘Nuff said.

4 – Thanks to my co-worker, Michelle, I met Sugarland! Jennifer Nettles’ stylist (or maybe just Jen) chose a great outfit!

3 – I met Governor Mitch Daniels and Indiana’s First Lady, Cheri Daniels. I even worked out in a pig costume at the First Lady’s Heartland Walk for Health. And man, it was smokin’ hot inside “Porkchop.”

2 – 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 good…but not quite. Guess that’s why she’s got the title!

Eatin’ the goat meat!