Where was I ?

Wow! Time can get away from you really fast!

For those of you still tuning in, I hope you are all enjoying the new school year. Yes, I know that homework is NOT enjoyable, but I think school is fun because then you can see your friends again. And really, what classes aren't fun with your friends ?

It seems like eons ago that the Great Minnesota Get Together happened, but it was not even 12 days ago that the barns were loud with livestock, streets packed with fairgoers, and stomachs full of food only sold on a stick.

To give you a recap, here is my own list of :
The Minnesota State Fair... in NUMBERS!

1,790,497... The final, RECORD BREAKING, attendance of all 12 days !

90,807 ... attended the Grandstand shows including: Jeff Dunham, Kid Rock and Casting Crowns ! ... Kelly Clarkson cancelled her concert because she felt sick., not too many people were happy.

20,000 ... dollars in scholarship money awarded by the State Fair to 4-H and FFA members!

4,788... flu shots were administered to fair-goers ! ... 120 4-H kids were sent home because of H1N1 :(

1,952 ... livestock were exhibited in the State FFA Livestock Show including 328 beef cattle, 284 dairy cattle, 495 swine, 86 goats and 759 sheep! I was proud to have exhibited and shown my own Polypay ewes , where one was named Grand Champion!

1,310 ... pounds ...the weight of "Deano", Minnesota's Largest Boar !

500... different kinds of food you can eat at the State Fair!... 70 are on a stick.

254... people that only cared to ask, "Where is the bathroom?" , while in the FFA Chapter House. ... The bathrooms are in the Coliseum!

170 ... total births that occurred at the CHS Miracle of Birth Center including 125 piglets, 33 lambs and 12 calves !

90 ... pounds of butter were used to carve the likeness of Hutchinson FFA member Elizabeth Olson! She was crowned the 56th Princess Kay of the Milky Way!!

78 ... FFA members made their way to the Swine Barn to get down at the FFA Dance!

69 ... degrees Fahrenheit, the average temperature at 1 pm for all 12 days... not bad.

55 ... years that FFA has held a State Crop show!

30 ... FFA members from across the state volunteered their time to work at the CHS Miracle of Birth Center. They spent many hours telling not only the story of Minnesota agriculture, but their own story. ... And I could never forget, from my own experience, the many interesting questions asked by fairgoers.

26 ... past state officers that I met and talked to in the FFA Chapter House!

14 ... chapters competed in the Landscape booth contest. Forest Lake FFA was named Champion!

10 ... slices of free pizza that I ate in one day! Thank you Moo Booth!!!

3 ... rounds of questions before the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted FFA Chapter was named the 1st Annual FFA Quiz Bowl Champion!

1... More year until the next !!!

Mark your calendars for August 26 -September 6, 2010!

We as FFA members have incredible opportunities each time we visit the state fair. Whether it is winning premium money for exhibiting livestock or crops, meeting new friends in the swine barn, promoting the agricultural industry at the CHS Miracle of Birth Center, making an appearance on TV, eating some delicious fair food or visiting with politicians- everyday is a brand new, exciting day at the fair, and it is waiting for you to give it a shot!

FYI: The Minnesota State Fair rocks.