This year's State Fair theme is 'Journey out of the Ordinary' and the people running this year's edition challenge you to not go just go out to see the same things you see every time you go.  Mary Ellen Chesbro, the Fair Agriculture Manager (in charge of livestock, and competitions, including food, plants, arts and crafts) says that even parking in a different place or going into a building through a different door will give you a different perspective, and show you more of the huge variety at the Fair.

Monday morning, there's a ribbon cutting for the Dairy Building's new milking parlor, designed to let you see, as Chesbro says, 'moo to you.'  Also before the official Thursday start, the horse show--competition begins Tuesday.  Wednesday is butter sculpture unveiling day, and it's also the last chance to buy advance, discount entry tickets.  And you can pick  up the visitor guide (concert, special events info)  there, or find complete schedules on the Fair website.

A couple quick reminders:  If you're one of our Facebook fans you can sign up for grandstand concert tickets (the drawing is Wednesday)--if you're not a fan, click the link and 'like' us. And both Matt Stevens and I will be out at the Fair---we'd love to meet you in person!