Saturday, August 24, 2013

Dear Diary, My State Of A-Fairs

 Friday, August 23, 2013
Dear Diary, 
Today was my first visit, for this year, to the Minnesota State Fair. As in years past, we drove to the local Park-n-Ride to catch the bus to take us to the fair. Since I'm not a fan of driving in traffic, nor do I get a thrill out of driving around the grounds looking for a parking spot, riding the bus is a blessing from above! Today I am joined by daughter Sara. 

Our day began with me judging 4-H demonstrations. I learned about pigeons, rabbits and chickens by some very knowledgeable 4-H'ers. After completing my judging session, it was time to hit our usual first stop, the butter head booth.
Princess Kay is always carved on the first day of the fair, so she is finished.
Each 90 pound block of butter waits in the rotating cooler to become a likeness of one of the Princess Kay finalists.
Princess Kay finalist Alydia Lee visits with a fair-goer while taking a break from the butter booth; dressed comfortably for the 40 degree temps in the booth, but pretty toasty for an 89 degree day outside the cooler.
Our friends Molly and Andy were at the fair too. Their son Finn especially loved the cows in the Miracle Of Birth Center. I believe a trip to our farm is coming soon so Finn can continue honing his skills on mooing.
I never could pass up a photo opportunity with a cow! You may not be able to take a cow home with you, but the good news is milk comes to your grocery store within 2 days of leaving our farm. So leave the cow-care to us, and enjoy the freshness of dairy.  

I'll be back to demonstration judge again on Sunday. Looking forward to new adventures. Until then, good night diary.
Jan


Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Our New Princess Kay of the Milky Way

MarJenna McWilliam, a 20-year-old college student from Winger, Minn., representing Polk County, was crowned the 60th Princess Kay of the Milky Way in an evening ceremony at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds August 21. 


McWilliam, who will serve as the official goodwill ambassador for nearly 4,000 Minnesota dairy farmers, is the 60th woman to hold the honor. MarJenna is the daughter of Bruce and LaVonne McWilliam of Winger, and attends North Dakota State University, majoring in English education with a Norwegian language emphasis.

County dairy princesses from throughout Minnesota competed for the Princess Kay of the Milky Way title. Rachael Rostad of Wanamingo, representing Goodhue County, and Katie Schmitt of Rice, representing Benton County, were selected as runners-up. Alydia Lee of Lake City, representing Wabasha County, was named Miss Congeniality. Scholarships were awarded to Johanna Knorr of Pelican Rapids, representing West Otter Tail County; Libby Mills of Lake City, representing Goodhue County; and Schmitt.

McWilliam’s first official duty as Princess Kay will be to sit in a rotating cooler in the Dairy Building for about six hours on the opening day of the Minnesota State Fair to have her likeness sculpted in a 90-pound block of butter. Each of the other finalists will have her likeness carved in butter during the fair, as well. This year marks butter sculptor Linda Christensen’s 42nd year carving the Princess Kay of the Milky Way winner and finalists at the Minnesota State Fair.

Throughout her year-long reign as Princess Kay of the Milky Way, McWilliam will make public appearances helping consumers make a connection with Minnesota dairy farm families who are dedicated to producing wholesome milk while caring for their animals and natural resources.

Princess Kay candidates are judged on their general knowledge of the dairy industry, communication skills, personality and enthusiasm for dairy promotion. The Midwest Dairy Association sponsors the Princess Kay program with funds provided by dairy farmers. 

See you at the Fair!
 






Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Malts and More!

It's worth the wait at the Dairy Goodness Bar!
The Dairy Goodness Bar, proudly brought to you by Minnesota's dairy farmers, is a fair-goers favorite food stop. The Dairy Bar will be serving up malts, sundaes, and cones, as well as milk, yogurt, Greek yogurt, cheese sticks and fresh cheese curds. What a great way to get some of your 3-Every-Day servings of dairy while visiting the Minnesota State Fair.

Some tasty MALT facts -
  • In 2012, more than 115,400 malts were served throughout the fair.
  • Strawberry is the number one fruit flavor. The 2012  MN Sate Fair used 6,990 pounds of strawberries and 3,690 pounds of rhubarb-strawberry.
  • Malt flavors are chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, rhubarb-strawberry, apple-caramel, raspberry and blueberry! Are you drooling yet?
  • Minnesota-grown apples and strawberries come from Pine Tree Orchard in White Bear Lake, MN.
The Dairy Goodness Bar is located in the Dairy Building, right next to the Princess Kay of the Milky Way butter head carving booth, an added benefit while waiting for your treat!


Also, thanks to everyone who entered My Very First Giveaway!
The winner of 4 Minnesota State Fair tickets and 4 malt coupons is
Randy K. W.
Congratulations and see you at the FAIR!


Friday, August 16, 2013

Butterhead Basics At The Minnesota State Fair

On opening day of the Minnesota State Fair, the newly crowned Princess Kay of the Milky Way has her likeness carved from a 90 pound block of butter. Each day thereafter, a Princess Kay finalist also has her likeness carved. The butter sculpting booth in the Dairy Building is an exhibit sponsored by Midwest Dairy Association, on behalf of Minnesota's nearly 4,000 dairy farmers. Here are some butterhead basics...
Our daughter Sara was a Princess Kay finalist in 2005.
  • The tradition of carving butterheads began in 1965.
  • 2013 is artist Linda Christensen's 42nd year of butter carving at the Great Minnesota State Fair.
  • The temperature inside the rotating butter booth is 40 degrees.
  • It takes 21.8 pounds of whole milk to make a pound of butter.
 
Sara seeing eye-to-eye with her butterhead.
  • A complete butter sculpture takes about six hours to complete. Sara's took nearly 7 hours (darn glasses).
  • Midwest Dairy Association helps to sponsor butter sculpting at several state fairs in its 10 states, but sculpting in front of fair-goers using a live model is unique to Minnesota.
And yes, each girl gets to take their butterhead home.
 See you at the Fair!

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

State Fair Milk, Verizon, And Tickets!

If you read the title of this post, you're probably wondering what these three things have in common. As a faithful follower of My Barnyard View, you already know that I love the Minnesota State Fair.

Now, about Verizon... Verizon Wireless Midwest let me share that State Fair love by inviting me to write a post sharing my affection for the Fair while wearing the many hats I wear. I hope you enjoy This Dairymom's Hat Trick.



Now, about the milk... Here's the Fair facts - The Minnesota State Fair is home to the All-You-Can-Drink Milk Stand which is owned by Minnesota's nearly 4,000 dairy farmers, and operated by Midwest Dairy. Throughout the Fair, the Milk Stand is primarily staffed by dairy farmers and their families, who volunteer their time. 2 percent white and low fat, 1 percent chocolate milk are served in a 12 ounce cup for only $1, and it's all you can drink! The average customer drinks 2-3 glasses. In 2012, we served 15,893 gallons of white, and 15,691 gallons of chocolate milk. The building features a second story "loft" where milk is stored in ten 300 gallon totes. The cold milk travels through 200 feet of stainless steel pipes to go from tote to cup. And finally, the milk Stand was voted the People's Choice Award from the State Fair for Best value in the Food/Drink category!

And now, about the tickets...

Have you entered? 
Giveaway ends this Thursday at midnight.
 4 MN State Fair Admissions and 4 malt coupons. 
Click this link- My Very First Giveaway!



Sunday, August 11, 2013

Dena's Getting Married! And My Giveaway Continues!

My niece Dena is getting married soon, to farm boy Aaren, and we couldn't be happier for them. Sara and I hosted a bridal shower for them yesterday, and after getting many requests for the egg bake recipe that we served, I thought I would share it with you as well. Served with muffins, fresh fruit, a tall glass of milk, and a cupcake to satisfy the sweet-tooth, no one left hungry. Thanks to Stacy and Peggy for the recipe.

Since Dena and Aaren first met while working with the 4-H program at the Minnesota State Fair, this seems like a perfect time to remind you of my giveaway to win admission tickets and malt coupons for the fair. See the link below to enter. Good luck!


Egg and Hash Brown Casserole
12 oz hash brown potatoes
8 cups hot water
10 eggs
1 cup cottage cheese
2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
4-6 tablespoons minced onion (optional)
1 teaspoon salt
dash pepper
12 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
paprika

Pour hot water over hash browns and let stand 10 minutes. Drain well. Beat eggs, add potatoes and other ingredients except bacon and paprika. Pour into 9x13 pan. Sprinkle with bacon and paprika. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Uncover and place in cold oven. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until eggs are set. (For a smaller quantity - use half the measurement of each ingredient and bake in a 10 inch pie pan).

Have you entered my giveaway?
4 MN State Fair Admissions and 4 malt coupons. 
It's a $60 value!
Click this link- My Very First Giveaway!

Friday, August 9, 2013

60 Years Of Princess Kay! And A Giveaway Too!

Most people lament the end of summer, but for the 12 Princess Kay of the Milky Way candidates preparing for judging and coronation on the eve of the Minnesota State Fair each year - it's something they've been looking forward to their entire lives. 

Reigning Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Christine Reitsma at last years coronation


Princess Kay of the Milky Way serves as the official goodwill ambassador for Minnesota's nearly 4,000 dairy farmers. To learn how these lucky ladies have been chosen to possibly become our next Princess Kay, you can visit Who's Number 60? 2013 commemorates the crowning of the 60th woman to wear the crown. This year's Princess Kay of the Milky Way coronation ceremony begins at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 21, at the State Fair Band Shell (1302 Cooper Street) and it's free to attend!

  Have you entered my giveaway - 
4 MN State Fair Admissions and 4 malt coupons. 
It's a $60 value!
Click this link- My Very First Giveaway!

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Hey Hay, Looky Here! and A Giveaway Too!

Farmer John is a happy guy this week as he added a new "work-horse" to the farm. 

This is how we brought newly baled alfalfa bales in from the fields, last week. Large bales were carefully placed on a wagon, holding eight bales. Driving through bumpy field roads, and traffic on the highway, we prayed each bale would stay in its assigned seat.
The "before" photo.

And this is how we bring newly baled alfalfa bales in from the fields, this week. This wagon holds twelve bales. Each bale is neatly nestled in its "seat" enjoying its ride to the hay barn, where it will wait for its turn to be fed to our cattle. Farmer John says our $7,000 wagon was worth every cent! 
 
The "after" photo.
             
Room for 4 more.
 
Don't forget to enter my giveaway- 4 MN State Fair Admissions and 4 malt coupons. 
Click this link- My Very First Giveaway!




Thursday, August 1, 2013

My Very First Giveaway!

Happy August! To parents and kids, August reminds us of the end of summer and the fast approaching start of a new school year. But August also reminds us that the Minnesota State Fair is right around the corner, beginning August 22nd and running through Labor Day. If you are one of my  faithful blog readers, you know I have a love "a-FAIR" with fairs! 

Hannah Holstein loves the Minnesota State Fair too!


To share in my excitement, I am hosting my first giveaway, in partnership with Midwest Dairy. I am giving away 4 admission tickets to the Minnesota State Fair and 4 coupons for malts at the Dairy Goodness Bar. That's a $60 value, for free. Why not enter, and start your own love "a-FAIR" with the Minnesota State Fair. 

Enter often, and remember to visit my blog often, as I have many adventures from last years Great Minnesota Get-Together that I will be sharing!

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