Last Photos from the Stearns County Fair, School Year Coming

 Sunday, August 23, 2015. The school year will be starting soon. I've seen a few recreational vehicles go by outside, probably being driven home after the summer's: recreating?

It's been overcast and raining about half the time this week, including Friday and Saturday: when I made an unexpected delivery to North Dakota. I was filling in for my son, who wasn't able to go: and so spent a few hours visiting with the kids and granddaughter up there.

These are the last photos from the Stearns County Fair.


In the 4-H building, mostly photography displays. (August 1, 2015)


I always stop by the model rocket table, remembering when I made that sort of thing. (August 1, 2015)


Nicely-framed clouds, seen through the 4-H building's west door. (August 1, 2015)


And walking back through the midway, on my way home. (August 1, 2015)


A patch of blue sky, branches being blown about: today felt like autumn. (August 23, 2015)

After spending much of Friday and Saturday either getting as much as what I'd planned to do finished, or driving to and from North Dakota, I'm fresh out of stuff to say. For me, that's an odd sensation.

More Photos From the Fair

Sunday, August 16, 2015. Another week has gone by, we've had sunshine and rain, the school year is lurking on the calendar, and I didn't take any photos.

There are, however, a few from the Stearns County Fair that I haven't shown yet.


The two smaller critters are leopard tortoises. The big fellow, imitating a rock, is an African spurred tortoise. (August 1, 2015)


Deer are fairly common here in Minnesota. Patagonian cavys, not so much. (August 1, 2015)

Those pictures were taken in the Conservation Club building. The critters are from the Hemker Park and Zoo, north of Freeport, about 15 minutes down the road: a family-run outfit that's been around since 1977. I've never been there, but members of my family have: and say it's a nice place.

Stearns County Fair: Midway and Beyond

Monday, August 3, 2015. Stearns County Fair ended yesterday. I was feeling very relaxed yesterday, which is why Sunday's entry is showing up on Monday. It's a beautiful day, by the way.


The midway: it's noisy, fun, and maybe the most colorful end of the fair. (August 1, 2015)

Oddly enough, Stearns County Fair's midway is at the west end of the fairgrounds. (August 1, 2015)


I like Saturday afternoon and early evening at the fair. It's when you'll see the most families. (August 1, 2015)


The north lane - I don't know if that it's name, or if it has one - where the 'real' fair starts. Vendors and exhibitors are in booths by the lane, and in the buildings. The white roof, at the end of the lane, is one of the livestock buildings. I didn't get that far this year. (August 1, 2015)

There's more, but I'm saving those photos for next week.

No More Mead's

Sunday, August 24, 2014. I've got a few photos left to share, from the Stearns County Fair.


Stearns County Fair, Conservation building: the duck in the water pan is okay. He's got his head underwater, looking for food. July 30, 2014.


Stearns County Fair, the midway: near sunset. July 30, 2014.


Stearns County Fair, near the Bingo booth: a family having fun with a high striker. July 30, 2014.


Stearns County Fair, midway: on my way home. July 30, 2014.

Mead's department store, downtown, won't be there soon. I gather that the Mead's are selling the store: and that another outfit will open a similar outlet in the building. I may know more about it next week. Then again, maybe I won't.

Looking Ahead to School, Back at the Fair

Sunday, August 17, 2014. School starts September 2, according to the Sauk Centre Public Schools website. They've got the usual announcements about Fall sports, open house, and school supply lists.

Looking back at the Stearns County Fair, I have more photos to share.


Stearns County Fair, 4H building: photography. July 30, 2014.


Stearns County Fair, Conservation building: new bird enclosure. July 30, 2014.


Stearns County Fair, Conservation building: fish pool. July 30, 2014.

I like what they did in the Conservation building: replacing cubicles displaying various birds on the south wall with a sort of bird run. The only disadvantage I saw with the new arrangement is that it's a bit hard to tell which labels go with which birds. Maybe next year they'll have photos, or sketches, to help.

Stearns County Fair: Bingo, 4-H, and Aerospace

Sunday, August 3, 2014. Stearns County Fair started this week.


Stearns County Fair's midway. July 30, 2014.


Knights of Columbus Bingo booth. July 30, 2014.


4-H Exhibits cover a lot of ground. July 30, 2014.


The Aerospace 4-H category is one of my favorites. July 30, 2014.

There's more, including the end of Sauk Centre's bowling lanes: but that will wait until next week.

Sinclair Lewis Days Parade is Done; Next Comes the Stears County Fair

Sunday, July 27, 2014. It got into the mid-70s today, rained a bit, punctuated with sunshine. Or maybe it was sunny punctuated by rain. Either way, it's been a pleasant day: not exactly typical for July, but this is Minnesota. Our climate has personality.

Stearns County Fair is coming up, starting Wednesday. The Knights of Columbus Bingo booth will start up sooner than we have in past years. I'm not sure why: apparently the Fair board told us that we would, and we're complying.

I've got quite a few photos of the Sinclair Lewis Days parade left. It's one of my favorite annual events here.


Sinclair Lewis Days parade: Some units fit on a small flatbed trailer.... July 19, 2014.


... others don't July 19, 2014.


Flowers in someone's front yard, and a small park. July 25, 2014.


Friday was more July-like. That sign is new since I moved to Sauk Centre: but it's not exactly new. July 25, 2014.

Thanks to the new schedule, I've got a different shift at the K. of C. Bingo booth. Since I'm retired, that's not a problem: can't say that I miss being locked into a nine-to-five routine.

Heat Advisory, Fun Factory, and Fairs

Sunday, August 25, 2013. There's a heat advisory on for quite a bit of Minnesota. When I noticed it on Friday, Stearns county was on the north edge of the advisory area. The edge has moved northwards since then:

"Heat Advisory"
Statement as of 11:22 AM CDT on August 25, 2013

Minnesota counties involved in the heat advisory, Sunday morning. August 25, 2013.

I've been to the Minnesota State Fair a few times, but this year I'm glad I stayed home:

Dozens Treated For Heat Illness At Minn. State Fair
Stephen Tellier, KSTP.com (August 25, 2013)

"...Regions Hospital officials said there were a few dozen cases of heat-related illness at the fair on Saturday, and at least six people were transported to the hospital as a result...."

The article says that folks who got dizzy, felt faint, or otherwise needed medical attention had something in common. They hadn't brought water, or didn't get around to staying hydrated. I hope the hospitalized folks are okay.

It's about 90° F as I'm writing this, 5:00 p.m. - which isn't all that warm. The problem this week was that the nights weren't particularly cool. It was 64° at 7:00 Monday morning, and 49° at Friday morning, but we didn't have much of a chance to cool of the other nights.

Enough about the weather. The Fun Factory and the 'tractor' part of a semitrailer are all that's left of the portable portions of Stearns County Fair.


Leftover from the Stearns County Fair. August 25, 2013.

I've spent the week inside, staying cool, so the only other photo this week shows sun baked grass and some trees.


Blue sky, a few trees, and tan grass. Those buildings are on Main Street. August 25, 2013.

The heat advisory ends midnight, Tuesday. Not that it'll be particularly cool after that.

Stearns County Fair, Mostly

Sunday, August 4, 2013. 'Tis the season for fundraisers. Holy Family School's Casino Night is next Tuesday, The Knights of Columbus and other groups have their booths at the Stearns County Fair, and households have rummage sales.


This used to be at Gerard's here in Sauk Centre, but since that place closed they're holding it in the Greenwald Pub. July 29, 2013.


I talked with Ryan, the young man who opened this shop near Our Lady of Angels church: and learned that longboards are sort of like long, wide skateboards. Also that longboards aren't used for stunts. August 1, 2013.


Rummage sale: there's always seems to be at least one going on in town during summer. August 2, 2013.


I enjoy seeing the Orient Express ride each summer at the Stearns County Fair. August 2, 2013.


Stearns County Fair midway. August 2, 2013.

Ice cream, cheese, and not a bit of tofu in sight. August 2, 2013.


Beer, Bingo, and - I think - brats: brought to the fair by the American Legion, Knights of Columbus, and Eagles, respectively. August 2, 2013.

I think this is the first time since moving to Sauk Centre that I missed my turn at calling numbers for the Knights of Columbus Bingo games. I arrived just a little too late. Embarrassing, but happily they had enough men there to keep things going. Next year I'll set off earlier.

Photos from the Fair

Sunday, July 29, 2012. This has been a dry summer. America hasn't been this dry, I've read, since the 1950s and 1930s. Someone I talked to, who had been working on a well in this area, said that water in the major aquifer in this part of the state starts 61 feet lower than it usually does.

The good news is that Earth isn't running out of water: it's just being distributed a bit differently this year. A normal season or so of rain should percolate down to that aquifer and get water levels back to what we're used to: but right now, a whole lot of water isn't there.

I don't have numbers, but it seemed to me that there weren't quite as many folks at the Stearns County Fair this year. Which isn't to say that the fairgrounds looked empty.


These folks drove by the corner of Ash Street and 9th Street South Saturday morning. July 28, 2012.


I started taking photos on my way to the Knights of Columbus Bingo booth. This was about 6:00 p.m.. July 28, 2012.


Saturday at the Stearns County Fair. Lots of families. July 28, 2012.


The midway: this is the 'amusement park' end of the fair. July 19, 2012.


Same place, a minute or so later. July 28, 2012.


Looking back the way I came, near the ticket booth. July 28, 2012.


"Bingo:" That's where I called numbers for two hours. I like doing that: it's a way I can help. July 28, 2012.


Inside the 'Bingo booth.' There in the lower right of the photo is the board where we keep track of which numbers have been called in each game. July 28, 2012.


About two hours later, my shift is over and I take a look at some of the exhibits. July 28, 2012.


4H does a lot more than model rocketry: but that's one of my favorite stops in their building. July 28, 2012.


This is part of the 'real' fair: agricultural machinery on display. July 28, 2012.

I've got almost two dozen photos of the fair, and am half-done.

---

Sunday, July 29, 2012: Still more photos. 11 photos down, 11 to go. This next set is inside the Conservation Club building.


Ducks, gadwall and otherwise. July 28, 2012.


Some of the critters in the Conservation Club building are native to Minnesota. Others, like the golden pheasant there, aren't. That Chinese bird certainly is colorful, though. July 28, 2012.


The three-section aquarium that's built into the floor. July 28, 2012.


Whitetail deer, like this fawn, live here in central Minnesota. July 28.


Wallabies, not so much. July 28, 2012.


A family and a horse at one of the livestock barns. July 28, 2012.


Pigs are big in this part of Minnesota: a big part of agribusiness, anyway. You can see a horse's ears, inside the building. July 28, 2012.


Other buildings have commercial exhibits. This is where the arts and crafts are shown. July 28, 2012.


The Ferris  wheel. 'It just wouldn't be a fair without the Ferris wheel.' July 28, 2012.


Daylight is just about done. Whole families are still on the midway, and now groups of teens. July 28, 2012.


An old standard of the midway: a merry-go-round. July 28, 2012.

That's all for this week. Summer is more than half-over. Next big transition on the calendar is the end of harvest, and the start of school.