We don't go. It's a long drive, probably a little more than yours.

What Arts & Crafts do you do? I have a co-worker that always enters clothes that she's sewn. I believe she also wins, but not sure because she's the very modest type. Would love to see pictures of what you do.

I have always loved going to the state fair but now that I have mobility problems I have not gone in a long time. When we lived in Dallas I always wanted to go to the Texas State fair. I especially wanted to ride the giant ferris wheel, it is one that goes slow and is enclosed in little pods not like the old scary kind with the open rocking seats. But we never did go.

When I was a kid we never ever missed the fair. I remember getting so sick and throwing up after riding some of the rides. I learned real quick which ones to stay away from!

When we lived in the Oklahoma City area we never missed the fair each year. We looked forward to it. But I could walk around there with no problems back then. Same with the big flea markets used to love to go and just walk and look.

With my 2 scooters I could get around some of those places now. Been wanting to go to the Traders Village here in the Houston area, used to go to the one in Dallas when I lived in Oklahoma went with a friend that would drive in from Arkansas to go.

can you show us your entries? Would love to see!

Our state fair is a day's drive away. When I was a kid, we went once on a family vacation. When I was a very active quilter, a long time ago, I checked out the quilts section of the county fair, and was underwhelmed. We had far better entries just in our local guild shows, so I never considered entering. I've performed there as a dancer, though. :) I used to like the county fairs, but they don't really seem relevant to what's happening nowadays, and the agricultural part is of more interest to those in agriculture. I've seen cows, and have no need to see more. :)

Our largest national fair is the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) in Toronto.

It's held over 10 days. In recent years there have been one-time weird food things.......like deep-fried butter (a real hit), cocoa-infused fried chicken (why?) and others. I remember a whack of people getting food poisoning at one of the food booths last year.

If p-log is speaking of the same state fair as "mine', it's in Sacramento, an inconvenient location for most Californians. It's several hours from even the "nearby" SF Bay Area into an area that's uncomfortably hot this time of year. I think the state fair is ultimately a regional thing for those in and around ag businesses in the surrounding Central Valley, as p-log describes.

In California I think county fairs have probably been a bigger deal over the years, and certainly more accessible. Judging from a few in my local counties, I'd say people have lost interest in the traditional attractions and contests and as a result many draw crowds by being a one-week music venue for groups traveling on the fair circuit through the summer. One county's fair used to go on for several weeks, it's now like 3 days and there's talk of dropping it altogether. The county has also been approached by real estate developers who would love to build projects of various kinds on the fairground space in this booming area where available land sites are limited.

Times and tastes change.

I've never been to the state fair in Missouri. And I sure couldn't compete for anything. Lol. I've gone to the DuQuoin (IL) State Fair a few times. That was mainly for the horse shows and races. It seems like the last time I went the racing started in the evening and now they start at noon.

My nephew competes in the Texas State fair, in 2014 he won first place his category. He's a wonderful artist.

As a child, I went to the NYS and Ohio state fairs several times, the latter to coincide with our annual trip to visit g'parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Later in life, I had the opportunity to visit the state fairs in Virginia, Michigan, and South Carolina.

I love the displays, competitions, and exhibits...LOVE them. I'm not sure why, not having an agricultural background, but I could spend hours looking at exotic chickens and scritching gigantic hogs between the ears.

The art and crafts exhibits can be marvelous, and prize roses and tomatoes make my heart beat faster.

My state fair is 6 hours away and I've never been.

When I was a kid, I would go to our local fair but I was never allowed to ride the rides as my parents didn't trust them to be safe with how quickly they are set up and disassembled.

I haven't been in years, it costs too much money.

I live 2 miles from the fair grounds. You betcha, I go. Usually I go with a gal friend, and we ride our bikes, and go on Senior day, no fee that way. Parking gets you otherwise.

Haven't participated since I moved to the greater OKC area... I used to in the county fair.

Moni

In the 38 years we have been living here we have never been to the CA state fair in Sacramento. Mapquest says it would only take 2.5 hrs to drive there. LOL. That would mean NO traffic on the roads. It is more like 4 hrs or even more going through the traffic jams of Silicon Valley and San Francisco. When my son was young we use to go to the county fair every year.

Moni I miss the OKC fair!! AND the big flea market!

I love seeing all the animals too and the flowers and stuff in the competitions. Going through all the buildings was my thing, and well fair food lol

The OKC fair has the best pork tenderloin sandwiches I have ever had they are super thick and super good. We always went there to eat and the roasted corn was right across from that!

carabubble, I primarily enter my baskets, but also like to occasionally enter something different like the 'recycled art' competitions. :) I can't believe it, but I forgot to take photos of my completed entries this year!

raven, I've never been on any of the rides at the State Fair -- not even when I was a kid. :p

plllog, you probably could have entered your quilts without going to the fair -- assuming they have provisions for shipping (that's what I do). I've checked out our County Fair and agree that it's completely lame.

jasdip, they serve some pretty strange food at our fair too -- not the kind of things I go for. That's terrible that so many got food poisoning!!!!!!!!!! I've had it twice and hope I've met my quota. :p

snidely, they are definitely revamping and changing things at our State Fair to appeal to a younger crowd. They're also talking about putting in an RV park.

charleemo, you might be surprised by all the different competitions you could potentially enter and win. :)

lukkiirish, congratulations to your nephew!

rhizo, I'm the same way... no ag background, but love looking at all the chickens and bunnies, etc. :) That's a lot of State Fairs you've been to!!!

Texas_gem, we didn't go on the rides as kids either, but cost was the issue with my parents.

Moni, you are so lucky to be so close!!! you should definitely enter! What did you compete in at the county fair?

caflowerluver, mapquest now gives travel time estimates "based on current traffic", so it really should take 2.5 hours.

The number one food I go for at my State Fair is the Dinosaur BBQ hot sausage sandwich w/ peppers and onions! And, after being told many times that it's the best deal at the fair, I finally tried the $1 baked potato booth a few years ago and loved it. :)

Pennsylvania doesn't have a "state fair", but does have a State Farm Show in January, at Harrisburg the state capitol.It is billed as the 'largest indoor agricultural exposition' in the country. It includes all the stuff normally in a fair, but without the carnival rides.

We do have many county fairs. Butler, near my home has a county fair in early July, and in early August also has a "Farm Show". Pretty much the same thing located on different grounds just 5 miles apart. Love to go to see the exhibits and animals at both, but have never participated in any of the exhibits etc.

gazania, that's so sad that PA doesn't have a State Fair!

lukkiirish -- WOW! Fantastic!!! I don't think one of my baskets would ever stand a chance at winning the Directors Award... nobody but a basket-nut would like a basket that much. lol! I'm still hoping to win the new 'Best in Division' they started awarding a couple years ago -- so far, they've only awarded that ribbon to Nantucket baskets, and that's probably the only kind of basket that I don't make. :O)

Yeah, he was pretty excited, you should post a pic of your baskets, I know I'd love to see and who knows, you could get the best in show @ Gardenweb award!

I'm in Missouri and we always go to the State Fair. It's about 2 hours from here, and one of our sons lives very near there. My DH, an agribusinessman, has to work at the State Fair every year (for at least two days) as his business has a booth in the agriculture area. While he works (greeting farmers, handing out free meal tickets, saying "Hi, How are you? Where are you from?" LOL) I wander around the Fair. I like the Poultry Barn (chickens, roosters, turkeys, etc.), the Floriculture Building (African violets, fresh arrangements, demonstrations, etc.) and the new camper displays.

But I was born and raised in Iowa, the home of the BEST State Fair. Hands-down.

We went to the state fair (Sacramento) with the kids years ago. Back then it was in September so it didn't compete with the county fairs. I'd go now but they moved it to early July. I just attend the Alameda County fair now. Santa Clara County used to be the best county fair in the state but they completely sabotaged it. Used to be a great fair with local food and local participation. Had a great race track and an excellent demolition derby during the fair. I think I miss that most. When they tore down the barns I stopped going.

party_music, really, the PA State Farm Show is any other state's fair on steroids.. It takes place in winter so that farmers can be more involved. It is some 6000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits, 300 commercial exhibits, demos and cooking contests, sheep to shawl, milking contests etc,etc, all on 60 acres, 24 of which are under roof. So it is ok that we don't have a summer time State Fair.

I learned my results today! some disappointments and some surprises. I took two blue ribbons (1st), one 2nd place, and two 4th places. One of the surprises was a 1st place in Fiber Techniques!!! that's a tough competition. This is the basket, handwoven in 4-ply waxed linen. :)

Our state fair is held in Dallas, and that is a pretty far trip for us....since we live on the coast, about 5 hours away. We haven't been in many years, but we have some good county fairs and we like to go to those. I especially enjoy seeing the livestock and the horse shows held in conjunction with the fairs.

Party_music, you can be proud of yourself. That is a very pretty little basket. I can't imagine doing that tiny detail. Does it make your fingers sore?

Party, your basket is amazing. The detail of the inside.....wow! Congratulations on your ribbons.

Oh wow, that is really pretty! I love the colors and how the inside has a different pattern than the outside. Congrats on the ribbons; you deserve them!

Thanks to a reporter following the Presidential races I now know that I could buy 70 different foods, fried, on sticks, at the Iowa State Fair.

Who remembers the movie "State Fair"?

party_music -- Exquisite basket!

Congrats, PM, on all the ribbons! That's a beautiful basket.

I remember the middle movie with the songs. It used to be shown on local TV, pre-cable. I've only seen the early one once, and I don't think I've ever seen the later remake.

Thank you gazania, rhizo, lukkiirish, chisue, and plllog! I am thrilled to win this 1st place ribbon.

gazania, it's not the fingers it hurts -- it's the eyes! I can only work on it for about an hour a day, maximum, and I can't keep that up every day. This basket was a 3 month effort and I worked hard at it! :p

The reason the inside is different is because it's woven twice. This weaving technique is called a Cherokee Double-Wall. :)

Congrats party_music...that's a beautiful basket!

When the kids were in elementary school we took them to the county fair every year which takes place about 10 minutes away. It was nice for them to see farm animals up close. And my neighbor always entered a few of her cross stitch pieces so it was fun to see them displayed.

Our state fair is about 45 min away but just seemed like a larger version of the county fair a week or two later so we never went.

Love the movie State Fair...haven't seen it in quite awhile.