By Stephanie Precourt

It was the last night of the fair. The weather was cool and refreshing as we made our way to have a last meal of sorts of our favorite fair foods. Fried vegetables, curly fries, super-big corn dog, and lemonade. Something I just had to try before it was too late- the Deep Fried Pepsi.

It was small deep fried doughnuts with Pepsi syrup in the middle, sprinkled with cinnamon & sugar. Quite interesting and definitely worth the $4. I was able to share with each of the kids and they loved it.

Carter rode the swings and then all three boys did the mini bumper cars one last time. After a couple more rides, all the tickets were gone and it was time to head to the Grandstand for the fireworks finale.

We got a bench right in the front row and the show was amazing. It definitely beat the 4th of July. We headed back to our car on this cool summer night and waved goodbye to our favorite fair folks breaking down their tents and loading up their trucks.

It was good, Porter County Fair. Can’t wait until next year.

Stephanie writes for NWIparent at Close To Home and at her personal blog, Adventures In Babywearing

By Randi Potts

It’s the last Friday of the Porter Co. Fair and I had to spend the first half of the day at work! Today the fair seemed to be hopping with people enjoying one of the last few days of the fair.

I was thinking back today as I watched all of the kids in 4-H around the fair. I realized how much everyone is growing up. Granted I am only 21 and have only been out of 4-H for 2 years, but it hit me that I’ve been here to see some of these kids grow up and now graduate. It is nice to see a program that gives so
much to kids in the sense of learning, friends and life skills.

Back to the rest of the day, the master showmanship competition was tonight. The kids all did so well!! I am so proud of the kids who participated, and want to congratulate Sierra Gearhart on her winning tonight!

There are two more days of fair everyone…get out here and have a good time at the 2009 Porter Co. Fair!!!!

By Stephanie Precourt

Funnel cake.

Wow- how surprised I am.

I set out last night planning a taste-test between the funnel cake and elephant ear. Always been a big fan of elephant ears- greasy fried dough with cinnamon & sugar. But I must say, the powdered sugared funnel cake I ordered for just $5 was mighty delicious. Light and crispy and so very tasty.

I don’t think I’ll ever go back. To the elephant ear, that is.

I then had to order a deep fried Milky Way when I saw it on the menu served with a deep fried Reese’s AND two deep fried Oreos. The first bite into the Milky Way was… confusing. Then gooey and delicious. But I couldn’t take another bite. So I moved on to the Reese’s and that was nice and thick and peanut buttery. Just right with the dough. But only one taste was all I could handle. I am not an Oreo fan in non-deep fried fair life, so I decided to save the million calories and passed those on to the kids.

My favorite was still the funnel cake. I could eat one every day.

I hear that before the fair is over I need to try the deep fried Pepsi. For real? That just sounds wrong. But I’ll probably try it anyway.

Stephanie writes for NWIparent at Close To Home and at her personal blog, Adventures In Babywearing

By Randi Potts

Today went great! The kids showed their dairy cattle this morning and the
poultry show was also going on. People seemed to be enjoying the beautiful
fair weather. It is really weird that the temperatures have been so mild, giving
a few of the animals some get up and go in the show ring.

After a day of getting various things done, it was auction time. I buy for my
grandpa’s business at the auction, so I got my names together and sat down
to make my purchases. I ended up buying a pig and going in with a group for a
goat that broke a sales record… Reserve Champion Dairy Goat Weather record is now $2000!!! Thanks to all who bought at the auction last night, it really is
great support to the county.

After the auction ended, it was time for take-down. Then bed! There will
be some various horse shows and master showmanship tomorrow evening!

By Stephanie Precourt

This was the last photo taken with my camera last night. What would the fair parking lot be without the loooong line of motorcycles showing off their stuff?

As usual, we went to refill our souvenir lemonade shakeup cup and were off to the carnival rides.

Soon I’d find out that you know those fun bracelets we got on Monday for the boys to ride all week? Are not for all week. They were for one day. Tuesday must’ve been a big oversight because they rode and rode and no one ever said otherwise. But Wednesday the operator of the Shrek Funhouse grabbed Carter’s wrist and shook his head. No go.

The ticket booth cleared it up for me, and we bought tickets this time, as I had only planned on letting them ride for a little bit. As they were riding the mini bumper cars, I reached in my bag to check my phone (oh yeah, I had left the baby at home with hubby. I never do this!) I stuck my hand into inches of liquid. My lemonade had filled the bottom completely. And my poor camera was doing the backstroke.

I pulled out all the important stuff fast, praying the ride would keep going, and dried what I could with my skirt. And then I turned my camera on (which later would find out you should NOT do) and sigh, I think it’s a goner.

We made our way over to the TSC animal barn and guess what was the kids’ favorite? The cats & dogs from the animal shelter! They were pretty cute. Also, the baby pigs this year are the cutest baby pigs you’ll ever see ever in your whole life. They were all colors and full of spots and polka dots and oh my goodness. So cute. I would’ve taken a picture, but, you know.

Oh, and P.S. We learned: True or False? Horses vomit. False. Good to know!

I let the kids play the frog fishing game (who knew you could fish for frogs?) (hey, it’s one of those play to win ones- so no complaints.) They picked out those ANNOYING humongous blow up swords and I thought that was a great segue to head for home.

Tonight we celebrate my Mom’s birthday at the fair, so I predict more fried veggies and a Kenny Ahern show in our future. As well as a little experiment I’d like to do- what is the difference between a funnel cake and elephant ear? And which is better?

Stephanie writes for NWIparent at Close To Home and at her personal blog, Adventures In Babywearing