Princess Kay Of The Milky Way, MN State Fair, St. Paul, Minnesota, August 2008, all photos © 2008-2009 by QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
The Minnesota State Fair kicks off this week and it’s time for our annual State Fair post on red Ravine. We’ve covered a lot of history in the past, so this year I’m focusing on one of my favorite attractions at the Minnesota State Fair — the Princess Kay butter sculptures (I fondly call them the Butter Queens). Would you believe it takes 21.8 pounds of whole milk to make a pound of butter? And 90 pounds of butter to create one princess.
Traditions Of Butter Sculpting
Butter sculpting is a long-time tradition at many State Fairs. The first recorded North American sculpture was created by Carolyn Brooks for the 1876 U.S. Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. In 1910, the first Buttercow was created by a sculptor only recorded as Mr. Daniels at the Iowa State Fair. Though the Midwest Dairy Association and its 5000 dairy farmers sponsor butter sculpting at State Fairs in 9 states (including North Dakota), sculpting in front of Fair-goers using a live model is unique to Minnesota (click for slideshow of past butter sculptures from Iowa and Minnesota).
This year marks artist Linda Christensen’s 38th year creating butter sculptures at the Minnesota State Fair. Carving busts from butter is no easy task. The dizzying temperature inside the rotating booth is a cool 40°F (notice the sitting Princess is wearing mittens?). Linda spends 6 to 8 hours on her feet to complete one sculpture. She builds her body of work on a long tradition of American frontier women from the 1800’s who molded and imprinted their homemade butter.
Butter sculptures were first featured at the Minnesota State Fair from 1898 through 1927 to highlight Minnesota’s claim as the “Butter Capital of the Nation.” In 1965, the American Dairy Association of Minnesota began its tradition of having the likeness of the dairy princess sculpted in butter and constructed a booth which was expanded in 2008 for better viewing.
While researching this piece, I also discovered that butter sculpting is a Tibetan tradition that goes back 400 years. Butter sculpture originated from Tibet and was introduced to the Tar Monastery, also known as Kumbum Monastery, in the early 17th century. Originally made with pure yak and goat milk butter as the raw material, the sculptures were hand formed and painted with mineral dyes.
They were created as symbols and secret offerings for the Tibetan New Year and other religious celebrations, and sometimes depicted stories about the life of Śākyamuni (Siddhārtha Gautama), the founder of Buddhism. Today monks create traditional butter sculptures with staples of the Tibetan diet: barley flour, butter (mixed with a little wax) and water.
Dairy Princess Alysha Thompson, Sculptor Linda Christensen At Work, MN State Fair, St. Paul, Minnesota, August 2008, all photos © 2008-2009 by QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
Princess Kay of the Milky Way Butter Sculptures
The Princess Kay of the Milky Way coronation ceremony at the State Fair band shell on August 26th at 8:30 p.m. kicks off this year’s Minnesota State Fair. Reigning Princess Kay Kristy Mussman will pass the crown (don’t you think the winning Princess should be crowned a Queen?).
On opening day, August 27th, the newly crowned Princess Kay will spend up to 8 hours in the rotating butter sculpture booth in the Dairy Building having her likeness carved out of a 90-pound block of butter provided by Associated Milk Producers of New Ulm. The 11 other finalists will have their likenesses sculpted in butter throughout the remaining days of the fair.
Princess Kay candidates, and Minnesota’s county dairy princesses, are daughters of dairy farmers, employees of dairy farms, or daughters of dairy farm employees. Each year, over 100 young women from across Minnesota are crowned county dairy princesses, and 12 are selected as finalists to become Princess Kay. Princess Kay acts as goodwill ambassador for the dairy industry and the state’s dairy farmers, but all dairy princesses across the state serve in that capacity in their local areas.
For the first time, Princess Kay will be blogging from the Butter Booth this year! And you can also follow her on Facebook by becoming fans of her new Facebook page (and Midwest Dairy Association) at a kiosk in the Dairy Building, just across from the butter-sculpting booth.
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Frozen Pickle On-A-Stick (Leprechaun Legs in the background!), Wild Rice Corndog On-A-Stick, MN State Fair, St. Paul, Minnesota, August 2008, all photos © 2008-2009 by QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
MN State Fair – Foods On-A-Stick
Our Minnesota State Fair post wouldn’t be complete without the annual foods on-a-stick list. Here’s the luscious lineup for 2009 along with a few photos from foods we tried last year. If you are looking for the location of specific foods at the Fair, here’s a link to their FoodFinder with a map of the Fair. (Oh, and check out ybonesy’s post on Chinese food on-a-stick.)
The Minnesota State Fair begins this Thursday, August 27th and runs through September 7th. Be sure to stop and enjoy the crop art and the work of Minnesota State Fair commemorative artist Leo Stans. You’ve got one more day to purchase your Blue Ribbon Bargain Book and save a little cash. Enjoy!
- Alligator Sausage on-a-stick
- Bacon (Fried) on-a-stick
- Bananas (chocolate covered) on-a-stick
- Beef Kabobs on-a-stick
- Beer Battered Brats on-a-stick
- Bomb Pops on-a-stick
- Butterscotch Cake on-a-stick
- Candy Apples on-a-stick
- Candy Bars (deep fried) on-a-stick
- Caramel Apples on-a-stick
- Catfish on-a-stick
- Cheese on-a-stick
- Cheese (fried) on-a-stick
- Cheesecake (chocolate covered) on-a-stick
- Chicken on-a-stick
- Chicken Bites on-a-stick
- Coffee (frozen) on-a-stick
- Corndogs on-a-stick
- Corned Beef and Cabbage on-a-stick
- Cotton Candy on-a-stick
- Dessert Pizza on-a-stick
- Dixie Wings on-a-stick
- Espresso (frozen) on-a-stick
- Fiddlestix (chocolate-dipped ice cream) on-a-stick
- Fruit (fresh) on-a-stick
- Fruit (fried) on-a-stick
- Fry Dog on-a-stick
- Fudge Puppies on-a-stick
- Hot Dago on-a-stick
- Hot Dish on-a-stick
- Hot Dogs (wrap) on-a-stick
- Key Lime Pie Dipped in Chocolate (frozen) on-a-stick
- Lamb (leg of) on-a-stick
- Macaroni & Cheese on-a-stick
- Marshmallows (Chocolate-dipped) on-a-stick
- Meatballs (porcupine wild rice & ground pork) on-a-stick
- Meatballs (Scotch) on-a-stick
- Meat Kabobs on-a-stick
- Nut Roll (chocolate-dipped) on-a-stick
- Pickles on-a-stick
- Pickles (deep fried) on-a-stick
- Pizza on-a-stick
- Poncho Dogs on-a-stick
- Pork Cheeks on-a-stick
- Pork Chops on-a-stick
- Pronto Pups on-a-stick
- Rueben on-a-stick
- Sausage on-a-stick
- Scotch Eggs on-a-stick
- Shrimp on-a-stick
- Shrimp (grilled) on-a-stick
- S’mores on-a-stick
- S’mores (deep-fried) on-a-stick
- Spaghetti & Meatballs on-a-stick
- Spudsters on-a-stick
- Steak on-a-stick
- Taffy Pops on-a-stick
- Tater Tots (deep-fried) on-a-stick
- Texas Steak Dinner on-a-stick
- Texas Tater Dog on-a-stick
- Tornado Potato on-a-stick
- Turkey Tenderloin (bacon-wrapped) on-a-stick
- Vegie Fries on-a-stick
- Vegetable Kabobs on-a-stick
- Waffle (Belgian) on-a-stick
- Walleye on-a-stick
- Wild Rice Corndog on-a-stick
Total Number of Foods-On-A-Stick: 67*
Catfish Cajun Style, Bull Bites, MN State Fair, St. Paul,
Minnesota, August 2008, photos © 2008-2009 by
QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
New Minnesota State Fair Foods In 2009
(including *4 new foods on-a-stick not on list above)
- • Beignets (Sweet, fried dough)
@Ragin Cajun, located inside The Garden
• Brat Burger (Ground bratwurst in a grilled patty served on a pretzel roll)
@Ball Park Cafe, located between The Garden and the Food Building
• Breakfast Spam Sandwich (Spam, egg, cheese)
@Spam Burgers, located on Cosgrove St. across from the Creative Activities Building
• Deep Fried Norwegian Banana Split (Banana rolled in lefse, deep fried, topped off with ice cream and all the toppings)
@Ole & Lena’s, located on Liggett Street at Carnes Avenue
• Fiddlestix (Premium vanilla ice cream hand sliced, skewered, dipped in chocolate and rolled in chopped nuts)
@Wells Concessions, located inside the Mighty Midway
• Foot-long Dessert Pizza on-a-stick (Pizza dough, sweet cream cheese, cinnamon and sugar on-a-stick)
@Green Mill, located in Baldwin Park
• Fry Dog (French fry encrusted deep-fried hot dog on-a-stick)
@Blue Moon Dine In Theater, located on corner of Carnes Avenue and Chambers Street
• Funnel Cake Fries (Funnel cake formed like French fries, served with chocolate dipping sauce)
@Apple Lil’s, located just inside Heritage Square
• Krumkake (Thin, crisp pastry made fresh, rolled into a horn shape, filled with whipped cream and topped with fresh fruit)
@Ole & Lena’s, located on Liggett Street at Carnes Avenue
• Open-faced Grilled Spam Sandwich
@Spam Burgers, located on Cosgrove St. across from the Creative Activities Building
•Peach Glazed Pig Cheeks (Pork cheeks marinated in garlic, herbs, spices and honey, served on-a-stick and grilled with peach chipotle glaze)
@Famous Dave’s, located on Dan Patch Avenue at Liggett Street
• Pot Roast Sundae (scoop of mashed potatoes covered with roast beef, gravy, corn and a cherry tomato)
@Main Street Butcher Block, located on the corner of Dan Patch Avenue and Liggett Street
• Sunfish (Sunfish filets served in a boat)
@Giggle’s Campfire Grill, located on Cooper Street and Lee Avenue
• Swedish Meatballs and Gravy
@Lynn’s Lefse, located inside the Food Building
• Tornado Potato (spiral cut potato on-a-stick)
@Sunny’s Spiral Potatoes, located inside the Food Building
Spaghetti & Meatball Dinner On-A-Stick, Fried Fruit On-A-Stick, Macaroni & Cheese On-A-Stick, Bull Bites, Deep Fried Tater Tots On-A-Stick, Grilled Shrimp On-A-Stick, Vintage Kids & Fair Food!, Leprechaun Legs, MN State Fair, St. Paul, Minnesota, August 2008, all photos © 2008-2009 by QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
-posted on red Ravine, Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
-related to posts: MN State Fair On-A-Stick (Happy B’Day MN!), On-The-Go List Of Must-Haves (MN State Fair), Nightshot – Carousel, MN State Fair On-A-Stick II – Video & Stats, food on-a-stick haiku
I have never been to any state fair. I lived in California until last year and never went to the one there. The Oregon State Fair begins this Friday in Salem, about 45 minutes from me. I’m pretty sure I won’t go this year, either.
It does look like fun. I used to love to go to the county fair, first in my native Santa Clara County then in Los Angeles. I love the exhibition halls! One day I’ll go to another county or state fair and remember all the good times we had when I was younger and used to go to the fair.
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Yeah! The annual MSF post!
I almost stayed for the coronation tonight; I’ve never been to it. The Fair has that wonderful pre-night energy…lots of happy people setting up their tents in the campground, vendors racing to get the finishing touches on their booths, and all the new employees walking around in their royal blue “Staff” t-shirts.
I’m going to the Bonnie Raitt concert at the Grandstand on opening night. Food on a stick tomorrow? A Pronto Pup. There is no other choice.
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Love, love, LOVE these posts, the food on a stick entries just…do something for me for some reason! Love it. They cheer me when I need cheering, I wish I knew why food on a stick seems so very uplifting to me!
(Sorry my comments have been few and far between lately, I have been unbelievably busy, but please know I still make time to stop by and read!)
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I just mentioned to E that we should venture to MN this time next year for the fair…he seems game!
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:He seems game:
The more I say this in my head, the less it sounds right…you know what I mean, though! Haha.
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Tempting, tempting. So many foods-on-a-stick. How does one ever choose?
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peach glazed pig cheeks? … I may never recover…
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Happy opening day, MSF!
QM, I loved the butter sculpting piece as a focus for this story. It *is* a fascinating tradition, both in MN (and other dairy-rich areas of the US) and in Tibet. I never knew that about Tibet. Did you read, the sculpting goes on for about three months in winter, and often the monks’ hands will get deformed from prolonged exposure to the cold. Also, in the YouTube video that you posted, I was surprised to see that the monks do their work with the butter (and their fingers) in ice water. Ouch.
But back to Princess Kay. I guess that if one comes from dairy stock, then one does not think that sitting in a refrigerated, rotating glass booth for 8 or more hours is a job hazard. I remember once being in a workshop at my workplace with a young man who grew up on a dairy farm. When we went around the room and said what it was we liked about our jobs in high-tech, he said that the best thing was being able to wake up at 7a and still get to work on time. Then he explained that all his life up to going to college entailed waking up by about 4a. Those dairy farm kids are hardy.
As for the foods on-a-stick, well, what I want to know is, Is there a requirement that foods on-a-stick must be as unhealthy for a person as possible in order to qualify as Fair food? 8)
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UPDATE: Princess Kay of the Milky Way 2009 was crowned last night and will be sitting the Butter Booth today, opening day of the MN State Fair, to have her likeness carved in butter.
Her name is Elizabeth Olson. Congrats to Elizabeth!
Here’s a blurb from the MDA site where you can read more about last night’s ceremony (LINK):
Elizabeth Olson, a 19-year-old college student from Hutchinson, was crowned the 56th Princess Kay of the Milky Way in an evening ceremony at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds August 26. This marks the first time two people have been named Princess Kay from the same family; Olson’s sister Sarah was crowned Princess Kay in 2002. Her other sister, Lana, was a finalist in 2005.
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Here’s another UPDATE: Liz woke up in a MN STATE FAIR mood this morning and decided to call in FAIR to work. She’s off to the MN State Fair on opening day! I’m excited for her because she loves the Fair so much and now gets to go a couple of times this year. It’s a beautiful day for it, too. She said she’d check in from there later.
ybonesy, I have no idea how they choose the Fair foods on-a-stick. But one thing I know is that it’s food you can’t get any other time of the year. And to splurge a bit on this one day of the year seems FUN. There is nothing like trying new Fair food to put you in a good mood.
Oh, there is one healthy thing in these photos — the grilled shirmp on-a-stick. We had it last year and it was really good. Don’t know what Liz will eat today but I can’t wait to find out. We are going again with a couple of friends toward the end of the Fair’s run.
ybonesy, I loved learning about the history of butter sculpting. I didn’t know about Tibetan butter sculpting until I did the research for this post. I found it fascinating. Especially the video link with the monks. I enourage people to check out those two links. Expands the mind. Their hands really do go through it with the cold water and prolonged exposure. It reminds me of another practice. I bet it takes a lot of discipline.
The Midwest traditions of butter sculpting are pretty cool, too. The photos really capture the steel blues and grays and how cold it must be in that butter booth. While we are all sweating in the August heat outside watching. It’s so much fun to watch Linda doing her sculpting work.
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Corina, I’d love to go to the Oregon State Fair some day. It’s a part of the country I’m really fond of. I hope to get back there. Liz’s nephew just moved back to Oregon from New York City this summer. Maybe we’ll get to visit him there in Oregon.
Teri, the pronto pup sounds great. Now which booth is the original Pronto Pup booth? Bonnie Raitt will be fun, too. She’s there with Taj Mahal, right? I saw them on TV together not long ago. Good energy. I saw Bonne Raitt for the first time in the mid-70’s when she came to the college I was attending. We sat on the floor right up front in our long straight hair and bell bottoms. She did lots of blues back then. Fantastic!
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Good for Liz! I saw her update this morning on Facebook. Is Opening Day pretty crowded, or given that it’s a weekday, is it not? I love going to our State Fair on a weekday, and I think last year I went both on a weekday and a weekend day. (Or maybe I only made it on the weekend day.)
My favorite food at our State Fair is homemade pie. Usually after I eat a piece, I have no room for anything else. The girls love the old-fashioned cotton candy, and only in the dairy farm section can you get the kind that you watch being made from the cotton candy machine. The person working the machine gets covered with cotton candy, especially in their hair.
What day are you going to hit the MSF, QM? And what foods on-a-stick are you planning to try this round?
I love sausages, so I’d probably try the Brat Burger (I like pretzels, too), and the Fiddlestix for dessert.
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Scaramastra, you and E. should come for sure next year during the MN State Fair! That would be fun. Just let us know and we can prepare with pre-season tickets and a Blue Bargain Book!
I find the food at the MN State Fair to be fun, too. The Fair always makes me laugh and have a good time. I get worn out though because I’m not a big people person. So I usually only go once. I think Liz could go 3 or 4 times and be quite happy. She LOVES it!
Heather, the peach glazed pig cheeks really caught my attention, too. I’d like to try them just to say I had tried them (and maybe snap a photo or two!) Maybe I can talk Liz and our friends into it.
Bo, how DOES one choose which foods to eat? We print out the list and go down it, marking the foods we want to try this year. We never make it to all of them but usually get to at least 2 or 3 things we haven’t tried before. I recommend printing the list!
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Ahhh, the MSF post! I’ve been waiting to see all the foods on a stick! Hope the weather holds out for event.
Lucky Liz! Going to the fair on opening day! Can’t wait to read her update! When do you plan on attending QM? If I recall from last years post, it must take you all week to pack the backpack for the visit! (You prepare more for a day at the fair than I do for a weeks vacation! Ha!).
I see a few Spam creations are on the menu! I love Spam, but peach glazed pig cheeks? Hmmm, no way! And why not a Tornado Potato, given the recent weather in your area. Are you & Liz planning on attending any Grandstand events this year?
Oh & the butter sculptures are just beautiful! Congrats to the Queen of the Milky Way! D
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UPDATE: Adding a couple of links I just found.
Princess Kay of the Milky Way 2009 On Facebook (LINK) – lots of cool photos and updates on her wall
Cool Black & White photo of the original Butter Sculpting Booth (LINK) – You know me. I love history and old photographs!
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diddy, yep, just heard from Liz at the MN State Fair. I’ve been distracted following her Twitter. Feels like I’m there vicariously. She said she thought about tasting the Spam curds but held back. Don’t think she’s eaten anything yet. But she did post this photo:
MN STATE FAIR – SPAMVILLE EST 1937 (LINK)
Maybe when Scaramastra and E. come out next year for the MN State Fair, you, J., A.and Brant can come along. Ya’ll should do a road trip to MN.
About the Grandstand events, we weren’t planning on it. But then when Liz decided to go to the MN State Fair today, a friend said she had an extra ticket to see Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal! So Liz is actually going to the Grandstand Event tonight. Should be fun! Last year we saw Cloud Cult at the Grandstand and we were dancing up a storm.
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Oh, Bonnie Raitt! I’m so green with envy!Lucky Liz!
I would try the Spam curds! I wonder if they are like cheese curds? Have you ever tried those? Delicious! Gotta check out the Spamville link! Hope Liz has a great time today!
We’ll see about the road trip. Brant would just love that, as would we! Do you have any plans on visiting our neck of the woods soon? We would like to go to Daddy & J’s wedding, just not sure we can make the long trip. Also, it is over the Labor Day week-end & I have a thing about traveling over holidays. We’ll see. We are still throwing the idea around. J is doing much better these days. I think you would be surprised. Eating healthy & gaining a few lbs.. Last blood work was all good. D
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ybonesy, that cotton candy sounds heavenly. So in New Mexico the cotton candy is in the Dairy Farm section? I can imagine it does get all in their hair! When I pass the booths where there is hot grease on hot August days, I really feel for the MN State Fair workers who are in there deep frying all day.
I’m going to go with Liz and a couple of friends on September 6th. It’s a ways away. The friends we are going with are going twice, once early with their kids, and then later with us. We had a good time with them last year. Tried a lot of crazy foods.
This year I want to try the Deep Fried Norwegian Banana Split (Banana rolled in lefse, deep fried, topped off with ice cream and all of the toppings). I talked to Liz a few minutes ago and we’re going to save that one to split 4 ways! I think I might have to try the Peach Glazed Pig Cheeks, just to say I did. And I tried the Wild Rice Corndog last year and LOVED it. So one of those, along with the regular Pronto Pups that Teri mentioned.
Otherwise, I’m going to punt and see what everyone else is up for. Last year I tried the Frozen Pickle Juice on-a-stick and it was so strange!
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diddy, that Lizzie is a lucky girl! Talked to Teri (our friend who works at the MN State Fair) today and she’s going to the Grandstand show, too. Teri’s working 11 hour days right now. Those State Fair employees are hard workers! Have you ever seen Bonnie Raitt in concert?
We always do get a container of Cheese curds. I do like them. Last year we split with two other people. I’d try the Spam curds. But only a few!
I may make it home in October. Not sure yet. I have to see how plane prices go. They are totally unpredictable right now. Good deals spring up once in a while. Will keep you posted. Hope you get to go to the wedding. Maybe you can plan to stay overnight on the way. That helps a lot. Sometimes too long to do in one drive. I always wished the drive from PA to GA and SC was about 2 hours shorter. The hotel stay really helps. Glad J.’s health is better. When I talked to him when you were in Western PA, he seemed pretty good.
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Oh, ybonesy, I WOULD try the Fiddlestix, for sure. I forgot that one. It’s new this year. Premium vanilla ice cream hand sliced, skewered, dipped in chocolate and rolled in chopped nuts! HMMMM.
UPDATE: Wanted to mention that I ran into PRINCESS KAY OF THE MILKY WAY #44 – KARI STANEK (goldenhillcows) ON TWITTER (LINK). Really nice woman. We tweeted about what it was like to have your likeness carved out of butter in the Butter Booth at 40 degrees. Her parents are MN dairy farmers. They are all going to be at the MN State Fair exhibiting their Jersey cows on 8/31-9/3. She said to come and visit! And to look for Diamond S Farm – Skiba’s Jerseys with the cute lil brown cows!
To read our exchange, go to her Twitter Link above. And to our red Ravine Twitter page for the responses (LINK).
Oh, and my friend skywire7 had her photo taken (here’s the link she posted to the photo on TwitPic (LINK)!) with WCCO’s Good Question Guy – Jason DeRusha (DeRushaJ on Twitter). COOL!
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UPDATE: skywire7 just posted this great photo of Princess Kay of the Milky Way 2009 Elizabeth Olson on her laptop in the Butter Booth (LINK) with sculptor Linda Christensen still working away!
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The Bonnie Raitt concert was a-m-a-z-i-n-g. I’ve seen her three other times at the Grandstand, and this was hands-down her best performance.
Her brother Steve died in April of brain cancer. She always talked about him during her concerts, as he lived in the Twin Cities. Last night was her first return to play in Minnesota since his death, and she was clearly moved and tender. She was clearly spiritually connected to her life, his life, her music, and the concert-goers.
Bonnie is 59. An inspiration.
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I only eat Pronto Pups from the stands that have been at the Fair since 1947. There are about four or five of them scattered about.
Today? A sundae at the Dairy Building. Probably blackberry.
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Bonnie is an inspiration. So incredibly beautiful, inside and out. She and Taj Mahal will be here in September. Not sure that I’ll see them. I saw her alone in an acoustic performance in a small auditorium. The venue for this next show will be worlds different.
Blackberry sundae sounds yummy.
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Teri and ybonesy, Liz came home from seeing Bonnie Raitt last night and was talking about how grounded and spiritually connected she seemed in the wake of her brother’s death in April. I knew he lived in Minneapolis but had not heard that he passed away.
I’ve always had a lot of respect for Bonnie Raitt. She’s really paid her dues and is still going strong.
It was fun to debrief with Liz last night after all her experiences at the MN State Fair yesterday. And after doing all the research for this post and following Liz on Twitter at the Fair yesterday, I’m obsessed with it this week!
(My apologies to Commenters on other posts. I promise to catch up on my responses soon!)
It’s been a lot of fun for me to follow what’s going on at the Fair so early in the game. I won’t be going until near the end of the Fair. So it’s fun to experience all the excitement people have early on.
I’m staring at Liz’s Bonnie Raitt ticket, her Fair buttons, and a photograph of WCCO’s Jason DeRusha and Angela Davis at the Fair yesterday.
Did anyone see Jason DeRusha on the WCCO Good Question last night: Why are Minnesotans Obsessed with the Fair (LINK)? I’m even a transplant and I still get MN State Fair fever every year. Go figure!
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In other exciting news, I have a MN STATE FAIR UPDATE to post here. This morning bright and early Teri called to let me know that MN State Fair Butter Sculptor Linda Christensen had made the Star Tribune this morning for turning 300 lbs of white chocolate & 5 lbs of bacon into a sculpture of Conan O’Brien! It’s hilarious. She’s amazingly skilled at what she does!
Here’s a link to the Minneapolis Star Tribune article:
Minneapolis Star Tribune: Bacontastic – MN State Fair butter carver Linda Christensen turns 300 lbs of white chocolate & 5 lbs of bacon into Conan O’Brien! (LINK)
Then I found a City Pages link that actually shows a video of Conan receiving the butter sculpture in white chocolate and bacon! And, one of the best parts, they reprinted the letter that No Name Premium Meats wrote to Conan when they presented the butter head chocolate sculpture gift. It’s really fun.
City Pages: Behold the Bacon Chocolate Conan O’Brien head! (LINK)
Here’s an excerpt from the letter to Conan. But go to the link to get the whole experience!
Bravo, Minnesota. You rock!
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A few other UPDATES before I step away from the computer for a while.
ybonesy, I found a list of healthy foods at the MN State Fair. And the people at Andres Watermelon are wearing their watermelon hats. The Midwest Dairy Association (who sponsors the Butter Queen sculpting) is also on the list of healthy stuff at the Fair for their all-you-can-drink Milk booth! (I LOVE MILK. Just ask Liz.)
HEALTHY FOODS AT THE MN STATE FAIR (LINK)
Another great tip — the woman I met on Twitter yesterday, Princess Kay of the Milky Way #44 (Kari Stanek) has a great post on her blog about what it’s like to be a Princess Kay. Along with a few tidbits about Princess Kay of the Milky Way #6 from 1959 – Betty Jax Cole, and the current 2009 Princess Kay Elizabeth Olson (along with two of her sisters who were also past Princess Kay of the Milky Ways!). It’s a fun read:
56th Princess Kay of the Milky Way Crowned – Elizabeth Olson at The Dairyman’s Daughter (LINK)
And finally a link to black and white photos of all the Princess Kay of the Milky Ways, all the way back to 1954. I love history. And these women were important to the fabric and roots of Minnesota farmers and dairy producers. (Sustainable agriculture. This is our food chain.):
Meet the Princess Kays at the Midwest Dairy Site – 1954 through present (LINK)
Hope you find these links as enjoyable as I do. Thanks to all who stop by red Ravine!
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There is one person (that we know of) who was born on the Fairgrounds…back in the day when one of the houses on the grounds was lived in by a normal family. He has a big tatoo of the Fair logo on his forearm.
He stays at the campground every year…sort of a mascot.
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Teri, that’s an amazing bit of history about the MN State Fair? He was actually born on the Fairgrounds? That’s a cool story. Would love to meet him. And learn more.
Wanted to ask how you are holding up? Employees of the Fair and vendors are really working their butts off right now so all of us can have smooth sailing at the Fair. Continue to think about you. And I look forward to going to the Fair next weekend.
Today is a beautiful day to be there. It’s sunny and blue and only 63 degrees. Perfect Fair weather for me. Others might like it hotter. But I love these end of August cool Fall-like days! Look forward to your next check-in.
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Jung’s theory of synchronicity in action. Last night in the zendo in Taos we watched, The Man on the Radio in the Red Shoes. It was about Garrison Keillor(sp?). There were scenes of him at the Minnesota State Fair and he bought cone dogs on a stick. I looked for Teri in the crowd scenes sure that I would see her. Today I told the students about the “on-a-stick” things and about the post on red Ravine. Hope they checked in. I didn’t know that you had posted it until tonight as I fired up the computer in Tucumcari, NM. Thanks for this post. I enjoy it and hope it remains a tradition. I plan to come to the fair at some point in the future. Great piece.
yb, sorry we didn’t have time to stop and call. Will visit you in October if it works for us both. We are on our way home.
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Bob,
Naturally, I’m thrilled Garrison Keillor was featured in the zendo. I’m so curious, what was Natalie’s idea for showing it? I have seen him in the Grandstand, and he’ll be there this Friday for his annual show.
Yes, Bob. You’ll have to attend the Great Minnesota State Fair. At least once in your life.
QuoinMonkey,
On Thursday, the attendance record was broken. When I get to work today, I’ll see the results for Friday. On Saturday (yesterday), no one had ever seen anything like it. It is extremely intense to work there, but we try to make it look effortless for the guests. I don’t know how many days in a row I’ve worked, but it’s a lot. You sort of lose track, and the rest of life becomes a distance blur. That being said, I’m really enjoying it!
Someday, perhaps I can hook you up with the man who was born on the grounds. He and his sister were both raised on the State Fair grounds–a fact they are excessively proud of.
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Too bad we didn’t get to connect while you were here, Bob, but yes, next time.
Teri, what do you think is causing the record attendance? I’m esp curious if in an economic recession, perhaps the Fair is seen as something folks can experience all day at a relatively low cost. (Although, when we go, when you add up the food and rides on the Midway, it can be a hefty cost.)
Maybe people just need to fun after a tumultous year. Maybe the cloud is starting to lift? I wonder if the Fair can be a bellweather for the mood of the nation.
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Bob, how strange you watched a movie about Garrison Keillor in Taos the same week I posted this piece. That is wild. I’m sure you must have seen Teri in the crowd. Probably Liz, too, since she loves the MN State Fair so much. Liz and I actually saw Garrison in his red shoes a few months ago at a writer’s reading at Common Good Books. So I can picture them now! Like Teri, I’m curious, too, about why Natalie chose to show the film. Glad you stopped by and hope you have a safe drive home to Missouri.
Teri, glad things are going well at the MN State Fair this year. Have the attendance numbers been broken every day? Or just opening day? Liz said the roads and Fairgrounds were so crowded when she went on opening day. Like ybonesy, I’m curious as to why it’s so crowded this year and if it has to do with the recession. It is a good run for the buck, especially if you get their early and leave late!
I’ve got a MN State Fair question. Can’t remember if Teri already asked this in another of our annual State Fair posts. But I just ran across this somewhere and thought I’d pose the question:
Anyone know where the MN State Fair mascot Fairchild got his name?
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ybonesy,
Yes, what we are hearing is that people can’t afford big vacations, but they can splurge on the fair. I’m a little behind in the numbers, but we’ve broken records a few of the five days.
It’s Day 6..hump day! I’m going to the Randy Travis concert tonight after work with a group of employees. I can feel deep tiredness setting it, but nothing that a few 10-hour nights of sleep won’t cure after Labor Day.
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[…] To jog your memory, this year’s whole list of Minnesota State Fair foods on-a-stick and a link to their FoodFinder (along with links to past State Fair posts) can be found at our annual red Ravine State Fair post MN State Fair On-A-Stick (Princesses & Butter Queens). […]
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Natalie showed the documentary on Garrison Keillor because of what he said about writing and how he goes about writing. She wanted us to use him as a model. I would suggest that you rent the film if you can and watch it. It appears a little “too cute” at times, but what he says is worth hearing.
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Teri, can’t wait to see the attendance numbers that will all be posted somewhere after the end of the MN State Fair.
In the meantime, I read that the attendance record for Opening Day was 114,439 people and that broke a record.
Another attendance record was broken Tuesday with 129,423 people! I suppose it’s going to be nuts this weekend, too. Makes total sense that people would Staycation at the State Fair.
Bob, we’ll have to check out the documentary. Garrison is wildly popular here in MN. I’d never heard of him until I lived in Montana for the first time where I think A Prairie Home Companion came in on Public Radio. But when I moved here, it was all over. He’s everywhere!
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Heading out to the Fair soon. It’s MPR day. Maybe you’ll see us on their live FairCam (LINK)!
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It’s Day Ten. I still haven’t had a blackberry malt at the Dairy Building, and my co-worker has had one nearly every day. Will I feel like blazing a path through the Saturday crowd? TBD.
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[…] Labor Day, final day of the Minnesota State Fair, when the last of 12 Butter Queens will take her place in the Butter Booth at the Dairy Building. We spent 6 hours walking around the […]
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This is an excerpt all the employees received on the first day of the fair from our boss, Jerry Hammer:
“….The Minnesota State Fair’s long history as a world-famous event is amazing, and it’s due to the efforts of many incredibly dedicated people whose lineage stretches back more than 150 years. All of us who are privileged to help produce the Minnesota State Fair are part of this legacy. Let’s live up to it by making this the most spectacular fair ever. Take good care of our visitors, take good card of each other, pay great attention to detail and be the very best that you can be. Thanks for putting the “great” in the Great Minnesota Get-Together.”
All the fair employees get Monday off. My first order of business during the long weekend? Sleep. Plain and simple sleep.
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Teri, I want a boss like that. What a great quote that honors the legacy and tradition of the MN State Fair. Thanks for adding it to this post.
I hope you get some good rest, now that the Fair is over. Everything I have heard this year has been positive. Did you ever get that blackberry malt at the Dairy Building?
I missed my chance for Fiddlestix this year. And the Deep Fried Norwegian Banana Split. Those are two new foods I didn’t get to try. I was too full by the time we left the Fair. I hope they’re back next year!
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Great vision for the employees, Teri. He lays out exactly what he expects, and I imagine it is very motivating to hear. Rest well.
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[…] Kay of the Milky Way is the first princess to be honored by having her likeness carved in butter. That is followed throughout the week by the creation of Butterheads of princesses from practically […]
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The general manager of the Minnesota State Fair told us today (during the pre-fair pancake feed for the staff) a great bit. A reporter from the L.A. Times went to every state fair in the country. He said the Minnesota fair far out-shined all the others. I’m proud of where I work.
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Teri, you should be proud. Who can compete with the Minnesota State Fair! BTW, there was a teaser on the news yesterday about a certain actress liking the Butter Queens. Did you happen to hear it? I missed the name of who it was. Am going to have to look that up. Can’t believe the Fair starts on the 26th. I think of you there every week, prepping for the Summer event of the year!
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I didn’t hear about the actress.
In the paper today, there is a story about a dairy farm family. All three of their daughters have had their likeness sculpted in butter; two have gone on to become Princess Kay of the Milky Way, so their heads have a tiara. haha
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For the first time ever, I went to the Princess Kay Coronation at the bandshell. It was really heart-warming, and terribly sweet to hear these bright young girls describe their roots on Century Farms. Classic Minnesotan.
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Teri, I was just re-reading this post and thinking about you at the MN State Fair! I could have sworn I saw your car parked at the campground when I drove by today. Was that you? I’m glad you got to experience the Princess Kay Coronation. I think the ritual and the way things are passed on from generation to generation of Butter Queens is such a cool thing. Still working on my annual MN State Fair post. Will be a little late. But not too much! Let the butter carving begin!
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It’s opening day of the Minnesota State Fair! Traditionally, Princess Kay of the Milky Way is crowned the night before the Fair starts. (Tons of history in the body of the piece above.)
Heard on the news last night that Katie Miron, a 19-year-old from Hugo and sophomore at the U of MN, was crowned Princess Kay of the Milky Way last night at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. She beat out 11 others for the crown. Congrats, Katie!
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I made the mistake today of going into the Dairy Building on a weekend. What was I thinking? Packed house. And I mean packed.
I’ll get my malt some other time.
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I’m reading about one broken attendance record after another for the MN State Fair this year. The weather this weekend has been a slice of heaven which I am sure is having a big impact on attendance. The Dairy Building is ALWAYS mobbed. It’s a fave place for people to visit. I could not believe the traffic when I traveled over to St. Paul last week. It’s hard to explain to others how HUGE the State Fair is here!
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[…] history over the years, including the debut of Peach Glazed Pig Cheeks On-A-Stick, the fine art of Princess Kay of the Milky Way (and the Butter Queens), Minnesota State Fair poster artists, the history of Fairborne and Fairchild, and the tradition of […]
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[…] Wonder Woman QuotesMN State Fair On-A-StickThe Dying Art Of Letter Writing (Postcards From The Edge)MN State Fair On-A-Stick (Princesses & Butter Queens)Tom Thumb Donuts — Reinventing The WheelSouthern Scratch Biscuits (Closest Thing To Home)The Raw […]
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[…] bust carved into an enormous block of fresh butter. You really ought to see this, so have a look at Red Ravine. At any rate, my malted milk was lovingly served by a team of FFA (Future Farmers of America) […]
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[…] (over 2300 pieces were submitted in 2010). In past years I’ve written about the history of Princess Kay of the Milky Way and the Butter Queens (2011 marks the 40th year sculptor Linda Christensen has carved their likenesses out of butter); […]
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Minnesota Fair I think is the largest in North America. I have been dozens of times and there is nothing like it!! Minnesotans first of all are great people. The history of the fair goes back decades and is really very interesting. Minnesotans be so proud of your food on a stick heritage! Minnesota State Fair Rocks!!!
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Vince, thanks so much for your praise of Minnesotans and the Minnesota State Fair. Such positive comments. It’s become a tradition for Liz and I to go every year now. Before I met her, I’d go about every two or three years, or if there was a concert I wanted to see. Now, I look forward to that once-a-year hit of the MN State Fair. We also have a friend who works there part of the year which makes the experience even more fun. Maybe we’ll bump into you one year, even though we’d never know who you were!
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The new Butter Queen was named tonight. Congratulations to the 59th Princess Kay of the Milky Way Christine Reitsma from Stearns County! She will be in the cooler tomorrow on the first day of the MN State Fair 2012! Another whole year has gone by. See you there!
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