Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - Fairgoers find indoor exhibits cool in the State Fair Center hall

Fairgoers find indoor exhibits cool in the State Fair Center hall

Jul 25, 2007 - 04:03:55 CDT

By ALYSSA SCHAFER
Bismarck Tribune

MINOT - You could call it an oasis. A pocket of cool air amid a whole lot of hot.

The air-conditioned State Fair Center is a popular place this week, as thousands of fairgoers take in the North Dakota State Fair's indoor exhibits, said Fern Laudenschlager, North Dakota State Fair quilt exhibit superintendent.

For those escaping the heat, there's plenty to see indoors.

About 13,000 open class static exhibit entries fill the State Fair Center's 4-H Hall this year.

Entries include photos, arts and crafts, needlework, food, school exhibits, flowers and creative writing works. These open class exhibits are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Margaret Lee is the education coordinator for Minot's Taube Museum, which manages the fair's fine arts and crafts exhibit.

"They seem to very much enjoy the exhibit," Lee said. "People really like looking at the art work."

Lee spent between 60 and 80 hours setting up the fine arts and crafts exhibit, which includes a few hundred entries.

"The thing I think is very cool is the diversification (of entries)," Lee said.

Adults and children from all over the state submit entries.

This year, residents at a Bottineau nursing home entered pastel drawings and watercolors, she said.

Micaela Gerhardt, 11, of Bismarck, won Best of Show in the NDSF writing contest for her story, "Marizo: A Story in Dreams."

"I really encourage people, quilters especially, to come from all over the state," Laudenschlager said.

Laudenschlager said the quilt exhibit features about 90 quilts that competed for Best of Show, Best Workmanship, Best Use of Color, Best Original Design and Best Embroidery titles.

"(While) the women are looking at the quilts and checking out the food ribbons, the guys can go check out the Harley (-Davidson motorcycle) stuff," Laudenschlager said.

The collections and hobby exhibit includes Harley-Davidson motorcycle memorabilia, buttons, ash trays, Furby dolls and other collectibles.

"No matter what you like, there's always something to do (at the fair),"Alyssa Montgomery, of Jamestown, said.

So far, the North Dakota State Fair has welcomed 107,500 fairgoers.

Fair marketing director Jessica Bullinger said attendance is down a bit from last year, but she expects a rush this weekend as temperatures cool and big-name acts like Def Leppard, Dierks Bently and Big and Rich take the stage.

For more information, visit www.ndstatefair.com.

(Reach reporter Alyssa Schafer at 250-8264 or alyssa.schafer@;bismarcktribune.com.)

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Comments

John wrote on Jul 25, 2007 12:01 PM:

" Just curious as to why so many of ND folks head to the Minnesota state fair every year and not attend ours...some comments i hear is that ND state fair is nothing more than a Huge County fair. Whats going to happen as Farms continue to decrease across the state and the "X" generation(folks in their early 20's) state to have families. Most are not going see a bunch of farm animals and equipment on display...I would guess in next 5 to 10 years the state fair committee will have to make some drastic changes to the theme of the fair. Larger family venue's and entertainment geared at the whole family. Ive been to our state fair the last 5 years and iv notived that even the SAME food vendors and display vendors have the same location Year after year ...it NEVER changes...quite frankly...its boring...if we didnt have the concerts, attendence would probably be one of the lowest state fair attendences....ok bring on the onslaught of responses....Is it just me??? "

TD wrote on Jul 25, 2007 11:07 AM:

" I have always wanted to enter something into the fair... But I never see any information on how to go about it. "

Farmer wrote on Jul 25, 2007 9:34 AM:

" I took a group of farm kids to the fair thinking they would enjoy the animal's that come from farms. Well to our surprise we witnessed a farmer taking a big broom and beating on some sheep. I will not take any more kids to see that. One of the sheep looked like it was hung in the corner of the pen. How disgraceful.Some of the other sheep were wearing jackets and hoods and it was way to hot for that. I think they should send the humane people to look at how some of the animals are treated . I left with five children crying and wanting to know why the mean man was hitting the poor sheep. "

Tommy wrote on Jul 25, 2007 8:11 AM:

" I think they should change the dates of the state fair to spring or fall.. for the past few years I have wanted to go but it has just been way too hot to enjoy it. this year I didnt even hear about the fair or who was playing on the music side.. I saw one television add that didnt make any sense. Usually I hear a ton of adds. "

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