Wordless Wednesday...CANstruction at Indiana State Fair

One of my favorite exhibits at the Indiana State Fair is the Canstruction - ONE CAN make a difference in the Ag/Hort Building. I believe they started this fun competition between local engineering/construction companies a couple of years ago. Last year during the Year of Tomatos (Tomatoes), all of the entries used Red Gold tomato cans and the final products were everything from a hot air ballon to a ferris wheel. The best part is at the end of the fair, all of the cans are donated to local charities to fight hunger in our state. So, so cool!

This year all of the final products are related to the Year of Pigs!

Enjoy!

This next one is supposed to mimic the famous Chick-fil-A billboards. When I looked at this one, I couldn't see the words but when I took a photo, they became clear. Very cool.

This one is my favorite...

There is also so, so much more to see and do in the Ag/Hort Building, including a cool garden with a model train running through it from Ball State University, the beekeepers exhibit complete with live bees AND honey, a concession stand featuring "garden fresh" offerings AND strawberry shortcakes, and the giant pumpkins! Right now, there is one giant pumpkin on display where you can get a fun snapshot like this...

The competition for the largest pumpkin is this Saturday at 10 a.m., which is a fun activity for the whole family! The hot air ballon race is that day too.

Thanks to Indiana Soybean Alliance for providing the tickets to the Indiana State Fair.

Linking up Welcome Wednesday and Wordless Wednesday.

Congrats to the Winner...Time to Head to the Indiana State Fair!

 
I spent yesterday at the great Indiana State Fair. While it was a HOT day, I had a blast. Mostly because I was there with a few of my blogging buddies. My eldest nephew and baby sister (Frugalista Farm Life) also were there...
 

 
And now one of my lucky blog readers gets to experience the fair courtesy of Indiana Soybean Alliance as part of our Family Fair Days with Goodeness Gracious -n- Friends!
 
I had three folks comment on my Ticket Giveaway post so I threw their names in a bucket...
 

 
And drew out one name...
 

Congratulation Sterrett! Just e-mail me your address to the email in my profile and Indiana Soybean Alliance will get your tickets in the mail tomorrow.

As for my day at the Indiana State Fair, I'll have more on that tomorrow. However, I just wanted to pass on a couple of tips:

• If your kids REALLY want to visit the Midway, I suggest you check out the deals on the Fair's web site. The wristbands look to be the best deal. The Midway has a great mix of rides for all ages AND even has a log ride to cool you off!
• Drink lots and lots of water before, during and after your visit so you don't get dehydrated. There are LOTS of water fountains across the fairgrounds!
• Spend some quality time in the air-conditioned building. Especially Pioneer Our Land Pavilion, Ag/Hort Building, DNR Building and the Indiana Farm Bureau Building.
• If you want to beat the crowds, plan to be there early (the fair officially opens at 10 a.m., but you can get in a bit early and maybe visit the livestock barns before the rest of the buildings open) AND go on a weekday!
• And here's my biggest tip to beat the heat...grab your food and head to the Pepsi Coliseum. It's usually nice and cool AND there's usually something happening in there - a livestock show of some kind. A comfortable seat, cool air AND a show - what more can you ask for while enjoying some yummy fair food!

The Indiana State Fair runs until Sunday, August 22, so there's plenty of time to enjoy it. I'll be back out there today, Friday, next Wednesday and the entire last weekend!
 
More days, More fun!

Thanks to Indiana Soybean Alliance, American Dairy Association of Indiana and Indiana Beef Cattle Association for the tickets and food at the fair!

Unique Place to Keep a Pair of Handcuffs!

Have you ever wondered wear plain-clothed police officers keep their handcuffs?

I've never really thought about it, but I was at a kick-off event for the Indiana State Fair (still accepting entries for my ticket giveaway here) where Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard also happend to be on Friday and I noticed their security detail milling about.

They didn't attempt to hide who they were and their guns were in full display on their belts. As they passed by me, I caught sight of their handcuffs and just had to get a photo.

I used my camera phone to casually get this shot so it's not as clear as it could be.

Too funny, huh?

I snapped this photo of Off the Cuff and Indypendent at the fair on Friday too.

Isn't she a ham? (Sorry I couldn't resist)

What Little Boys Leave Behind...

Two of these cute little guys hung out at my condo last weekend. A good time was had by all. We played, watched some cartoons and ate some chocolate chip pancakes.

After their parents (who spent the weekend rocking out with Bon Jovi in Chicago) took their angels home, I discovered this art project that I'm sure the eldest nephew left behind.

Guess I missed a spot while dusting last week (or maybe it was the week before). I've left it because how can I destroy such a work of art?

Now, I admit that dusting is not high on my priority list when it comes to cleaning. However, I do try and vacuum my couch on a regular basis because I tend to use it as a kitchen table, computer desk and about everything else!

Imagine my surprise when I lifted the couch cushions on Sunday evening (after the angels were gone) and found this...

If you can't tell what it is, let me tell you. It's a pile of Nerds candy! I don't even remember giving the boys Nerds. M&Ms, yes; Nerds, NO!

I did clean this "work of art" up. I can't wait to see what I find when I clean UNDER the couch!

P.S. There is still time to win 4 tickets to the Indiana State Fair courtesy of Indiana Soybean Alliance! Just click here, and leave a comment on that post and you are entered. Drawing is August 10!

My, That's One Big Fork!

The first time I saw the 25 foot sculpture - "God Bless America" - I was standing on a busy Chicago street last summer watching tourists crane their necks in wonder and snap photos as their children sat next to the giant shoes!

I was one of those gawking tourists, though I only had my camera phone, snapping a shot of my eldest nephew in front of the statue! Here he is, doesn't he look excited...he just wanted ice cream.

I even snapped a shot of this random woman pointing to the statue...

This shot was more to show how big the statue is and how it is truly street art in downtown Chicago!

If you are not familiar with Grant Wood's famous painting "American Gothic," it is an iconic painting depicting rural America in the 1930s.

While it is a look at our past, I also think this run-of-the-mill, hard-working couple also represents our present and future when it comes to agriculture.

Pitchforks have been replaced by tractors, but the PEOPLE, families, are still raising the food we eat. To the tune of more than 90 percent of the farms in this country are family-owned and operated.

The big difference is that those same family farmers are producing more food on less land so there are fewer farmers growing our food today.

I'd like to say the farmers of today don't normally have this severe of looks on their faces. But as I look at the farm wife's expression, I have to say that I've seen that look from my own mother before (sorry Mom), usually when as a child I didn't do what I was told OR when as an adult I say something sarcastic that she doesn't appreciate!

I'm excited to say that the "God Bless America" statue has made it's way to Indianapolis and is currently on display at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. I snuck in last week and took a few shots.

As the Indiana State Fair opens this Friday and runs until August 22, I think the statue will be a focal point that fairgoers will flock to. If you visit, make sure you take a look at the pavers around the base of the statue. Each paver will have a fact about our state's agriculture - mixing a look at the past with where we are today. How cool is that!

Here are some facts that I THINK will be out there:

• Ice cream production is defined as regular, low-fat and nonfat. For 2009, Indiana was the second highest producer of both regular and low-fat ice cream.
• Today's American farmer feeds about 155 people worldwide. In 1960, that number was 25.8.
• An acre of corn removes 8 tons of harmful greenhouse gas, more than that produced by your car.

Remember, if you want a chance to win a Family 4 Pack of Indiana State Fair admission tickets courtesy of Indiana Soybean Alliance, follow my blog and go to my post earlier this week - Our State Fair is a Great State Fair...Ticket Giveaway! - and leave a comment. Or click on the button below for full details of the giveaway.

Tuesday: Time to do some Hopping!

Now, let's have some fun!

Our State Fair is a Great State Fair...Ticket Giveaway!

Are you ready for some State Fair fun???

I am!

My first memory of heading to the Indiana State Fair is when I was about 8 years old and I've been ALMOST every year since then - minus a couple of years that I was living out of state in my early 20's. Over the next few days I'll be sharing some of my favorite parts of the Indiana State Fair, but now I want to share some exciting news.

Some GOODe friends and I are getting ready for Family Fair Days with GOODEness Gracious 'N Friends at the Indiana State Fair! We will be visiting the State Fair - courtesy of Indiana Soybean Alliance - and giving you some behind the scenes looks at awesome State Fair activities!

To kick things off right today, the Indiana Soybean Alliance has given me and all of my friends 4 Indiana State Fair tickets each to giveaway on our blogs to our readers!

So here is how you enter:

• Winner of 4 Indiana State Fair Tickets courtesy of the Indiana Soybean Alliance will be chosen at random on August 10.
• Each person is eligible for 2 entries: 1 entry for following this blog and 1 entry for commenting.
• GOODEness Gracious is offering an extra entry for becoming a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Goodenessgracious
• Please leave a separate comment below for each entry. (If you are already a blog follower or Facebook fan, please just post a separate comment sayin' so.
• Hop on over to all of the following blogs for multiple chances to win!

2 Maids a Milking

3 Kids and Lots of Pigs

Alarm Clock Wars

Beyer Beware

Fence Row to Fence Row

Frugalista Farmlife

Going Jane

GOODEness Gracious

Life is a Highway and Mine’s Surrounded By Corn

Off the Cuff and Indypendent

Good Luck!