General Discussion

It appeared that sparse numbers of people were just wandering aimlessly around in the state booths, some of which were little more than the sort of display you might see at a state park entrance. There was a ferris wheel that didn't always work, people selling Jesus, a rodeo, a cardboard mockup of the Great Arch that was already falling apart and reminded everybody of Spinal Tap's Stonehenge, absurdly overpriced food ($9 for a glass of lemonade, $25 or so for a stuffed pretzel roll), and not much else. Genuine state fairs have corn dogs, everything you can eat on a stick, lots of rides, a midway, a haunted house, all kinds of stuff for sale, big name concerts, art shows, prize pigs and cows, farm equipment displays, an orchid show, a giant pumpkin, enough to do and eat that you need days and enormous stamina to experience it. I go almost every year, just for the corn dogs and cheese curds and fry bread.