Giveaway

Danny would like to celebrate his State Fair wins by having a giveaway of the 2015 State Fair Cookbook (they are published the following year, but he had winning entries last year as well, and they're published in the collection). In addition to the cookbook, there will be other Nebraska souvenirs and depending on where the winner lives, a set of US dry measuring cups so you can easily prepare the recipes.

There were many wins, (Blue ribbon tea ring, biscuits, white cake, breads, etc.) and some perplexing losses (lemon tea bread lost to a banana bread). All in all, I think he took home around 20 ribbons, prize money and a bottle of honey from the Nebraska beekeepers for his winning honey cake recipe. He's already plotting next year's entries. There was a stunning upset in the kolaches-the woman that wins year after year lost to a newcomer. Danny placed fourth and he was amazed he even got that far in such a popular competition.

Want to win a Nebraska State Fair cookbook? Leave a comment before 15 September, and Danny will draw your name from a hat. Contest is open world-wide.

Now, let's have a look at my annual State Fair hat.

 The hat attracted many compliments, which made me happy. I wasn't sure anyone else would appreciate the work I put into it. My family does not share my enthusiasm for the yearly hat.

I was so glad I was able to salvage the hat and give it a bit more life. Some people obsess over their fair contests-I obsess over my hat.

What else did we do at the fair? We drove a boat (on blocks in a building)

We admired all the exhibits in the Open Class building

We visited with the beekeepers...

...and we "Spotted Todd" from the newspaper for our chance to enter a contest and win prizes. Todd was wearing a gps that you could track him online through the fairgrounds, so really it was more like, "Staking Todd." Maybe we'll win one of those room heaters that look like a glowing fireplace . Fingers crossed!

...saw some REALLY big dungarees

...we saw some guy  stick his thumb in the dairy cow milking machine. Never saw him before in my life.

 Game and Parks were there teaching children how to do archery...

...and shoot BB guns.

We watched a movie in a grain bin converted to a theatre.

The Raising Nebraska building has a garden out front that grows a bit more elaborate each year. It will be fun to return year after year and see the trees and perennials progress. They've done such a fab job of it.

We ended our visit seated beneath a gigantic fibreglass cow.

..."Was that you, or the cow?"

Let's have another peek at those prize-wining baked goods...

Danny's blue-ribbon apple-raisin tea ring was so good the judges ate all but three pieces they had left to display. I had to laugh at that.

The Nebraska State Fair runs through Monday. Can't make it in time? That's okay-you can start planning next year's visit.

Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway.