Rides & Ribbons

Fergus Falls held the annual East Ottertail County Fair last week and we did our best to contribute to the financial security of the event.
Wrist bands on Wednesday night, allowed the girls to ride as many rides as they wanted between 5:00 - 11:00 PM. Of course, we didn't stay until 11, but even by 10, they had gotten to ride all rides at least 4-5 times. I would definitely advise going on the first night to avoid the crowds.
I was tempted to buy a ticket for myself just so I could go on the Supershot. It looked like a blast to me, since I love the falling feeling.
Way up high and then a quick drop, what more could you ask for, except to go on it again, and again, and again!
I love the reflection of the "Spider" in Steve's sunglasses. Abby said her tummy felt yucky after this ride, but she was a great big sister and accompanied Kippy anyway.
Here they are getting ready for Moby Dick to start.
Even when Abby's BFF joined her at the fair, they both still chaperoned Kippy on all the rides.
The Scrambler was one of their favorites.
I think they secretly liked the Carnie worker who would stand just at the edge of the ride so that it looked like the car was going to hit him. Nothing like a little fear factor to up the excitement of the ride. Steve & I got to check out all of the exhibits and critters, while the kids filled themselves up with junk food and tried not to get sick on the rides.

This year, our whole family did entries in the Open Class exhibits and earned some ribbons.
Steve entered one of his knifes in the metal work category, complete with custom leather sheath.

Abby entered two drawings... one in pencil and one in colored pencil.

Kippy had three art entries... a poster, a water color and a drawing.
I mostly entered photos...
but had one sewing project, one crochet and one jewelry entry to mix it up again. All totaled, the Lindgren's earned $36 in premiums. Rest assured, we spent much more for admission, delicious junk food and rides, but still we all felt a certain sense of accomplishment.

Judged at the county fair

The Lindgren family tried something new at the Ottertail County fair last week. We each entered exhibits in open class. We were actually inspired two years ago by Rachel and Ryan Landmark when we checked out their exhibits at the Marshall County fair. It just took us longer to get our act together and try it out ourselves.

A week before the fair, I got a listing of all the possible areas in which the kids and I could enter things we had made. It didn't take too much effort to pull together 20 exhibits. The girls each used a school art project and then made drawings to enter. Most of my entries were of photographs that I had already printed and framed, plus a few sewing projects. Steve even got involved because he had just taken some pictures of the girls and me on Mother's day, so I entered his photos too.

Angelique entered three art projects and earned ribbons on all three.

Abby entered two projects and earned a ribbon on one. If I would have been judging, I would have given her a blue 'cause I thought her Tinkerbell drawing looked amazing. Steve thought it may have looked too good... making the judges think she traced. When you go with open class, you don't get to answer any judges questions, nor do you get any comments, so who knows?

Steve's photographs of the females in his life... he earned a 2nd place ribbon.
I got the most ribbons only because I had entered the most exhibits. I entered three sewing projects and 11 photographs.
Some didn't get ribbons, some got blue, some got red and one of my favorites earned a....
a third place ribbon, but in my eyes, Nixin is a grand champion all the way!

The coolest part and something that I didn't know about ahead of time, is that the county fair pays out a premium for each ribbon earned in the open class. Turns out out of 20 exhibits, our family got a total of 17 ribbons and earned $41. What do you know? That covered the cost of the midway ticket wristbands for the girls! It didn't make much of a dent in our snack budget tho... shakes, cheese curds, mini donuts... mmmmmm. Maybe next year will give it a try again and see how we do!