indiana state fair day 12

I rode my bike to the [sniff] last day of the fair to meet Tammy, Cara and Holly. I got there just as Cara and Holly finished getting a Henna tattoos.

We walked around the whole fair, stopping at Pioneer Village. There as an old log cabin in the building. 

I'd written about Dick Reel and his great bench in the Broad Ripple Gazette. I stopped by to say goodbye and see if he'd read the piece and to see how the bench went at the auction. The bench did really well, $1200 and his buddies were teasing him about that and the article, calling him the saint of Pioneer Village. Here is his halo. 

The true patron saint of (Purdue Ag Alumni) Pioneer Village is Maurice Williamson. 

I'm not sure how long he has managed the Village. I do know that it has grown tremendously under his guidance. The Associations efforts with its agricultural museum collection continued to develop and prosper. In 1961 the Pioneer Farm and Home Show Exhibit started at the fair. It It was housed in the balcony of the grandstand. It quickly grew out of the space. In 1966 it was moved to the Purdue Building, in 1967 to the Horticulture Building and in 1968 a new building constructed.

We checked out more animals. I thought I'd spare you all another photograph of the World's Largest Boar. These horses are much prettier and smell a little better also. 

It was fun looking at all of the goodies for sale along the main drag. Lots of giggles, no purchases. 

We did succumb to the call of the potato-y goodness of King Taters. We were walking with our piping hot plate of chips when I heard my name called from the tractor tram. 

My cousin Leo, his wife Luci and daughter Nina. I jumped on the tram with them to visit as we rode to their exit. In my excitement, I took the plate of potato chips with me. In a true testament to my willpower, I got off the tram with most of the potatoes still on the plate. 

I rendezvoused (am I using that word correctly?) with the girls at the Lumberjack competition. It was standing room only. The bleachers were full of women. In case you were wondering why women were so attracted to the manly sport of lumber jack contests I'll let the photographs do the talking. 

As you can see the weather was amazing. And the weather was the real star this year. The temperatures were moderate, hardly any humidity and only one short rain the whole 12 days. 

The theme of the 2008 Indiana State Fair: The Year of Indiana Trees. They did a great job of showcasing Indiana trees, forests and the lumber industry. I learned a ton of stuff. 

-Indiana grows 40% more wood than we use. 

-The forest product industry is the fourth largest manufacturing industry in the state. 

-Indiana has 4.6 million acres of forests. 

-Most common woods: Oak, Hickory, Ash, Maple, Poplar, Maple, Walnut and Cherry. 

-I'll be paying attention to the Lumberjack World Competition next year. Go Derek and Bobby!

I jumped on my bike and rode home. 

Another successful state fair under my (getting smaller) belt.