The Minnesota State Fair came and it left. I attended with my fishing guide. It is something we do every year. Every year is almost the same, yet we keep going back. I am not sure how to explain that.

We always eat a corn dog

Cheese Curds

Pork Chop on a Stick

And Ice Cream from the dairy barn (sorry it got half eaten before the photo)

Normally we try to find new foods at the fair. Generally this has been New Fair Foods for the year. This year we weren’t that impressed. Instead we decided to just try some things we don’t normally eat.

We got mini donuts. I haven’t had these in years but they were perfect at 8:30AM for breakfast with a coffee. The sugar was all at the bottom but just give them a shake and they are good to go.

We also tried an egg roll. It doesn’t look like much but for $2 it is a nice snack.

Later on we ended up going back to the same place as the egg roll and considered buying chicken on a stick. The guy in front of us heard us and turned around. He gave us the most serious look and said, “you better do it.” The tone in his voice was grave. If we didn’t get this chicken than surely there would be hell to pay. We did and it was one of my new favorite foods! I am looking forward to eating it again next year.

We also walk around the same places. We look at the same things: ice castles, snowmobiles and ATVs, crafts, baked goods (I almost always buy some local honey which I did this year), and the animals. No birds this year due to the bird flu. We also people watch. There are so many “interesting” people at the fair.

We always end up at the craft beer flights.

They have tables outside and you usually end up sharing a table with others. We were able to get a table for just us initially but then two couples that were there together asked if they could join. We of course said yes. Then the state fair craft beer conversation starts.

Where are you from? What do you do? Everyone is always amazed we live in Almost Canada. The people you encounter at the craft beer area are different yet the same. Many are pretentious (if you do not mind my quick judgement) and many are weird.

I’m sure they think various things about us, but it doesn’t matter. It’s fun. It’s interesting. It’s always an experience at the craft beer booth. You never know where the conversation is going to go. It’s like going to the bar but better because it’s at the fair.

Seeing those two couples together at the fair made me reminisce of years past. It goes without saying that my fishing guide and I haven’t always been together. We have known each other since high school but only in the past few years did we end up together.

Before we were a couple, we were in relationships with other people but friends. Couple friends like these two couples we saw at the fair. We actually used to go to the fair together as couple friends.

Those days seem so long ago. I’m not saying I want those days back but seeing those couples together just reminded me of where I was and where I am now. It makes me wonder where I will be in the future. How will I be different? What will next year bring?

Almost certainly the next year will bring the Minnesota State Fair. If for some reason we don’t end up going it doesn’t really matter. I know it will always be there for us. It is full of fun, food, activities, and memories. Old ones, but more importantly, making new ones.