100 Things to see at the fair #1: Goats I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in.
100 Things to see at the fair #2: Purity Ice Cream eating contest I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. For the Purity Ice Cream eating contest, a dozen kids had 2 minutes to eat as much Vanilla as they could. Messiness was encouraged.
100 Things to see at the fair #3 High Divers I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. This diver is a member of a pirate themed diving group known as Sinbad's high divers in search of the golden pineapple
100 Things to see at the fair #4: Fire Eater I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. This Fire-eating t was part of the African acrobats show.
100 Things to see at the fair #5: Cow shed I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Over the 2nd weekend at the fair, all of the show cows, along with their owners are in one of the two long sheds
100 Things to see at the fair #6: Randall's Diving Pigs I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Randall's Racing Pigs have been at the fair for several years in a row. One thing this show has that many don't is some of the pigs at the end run up a ramp to the platform and get to splash into the pool below.
100 Things to see at the fair #7: Tractor Pull I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Perhaps the think I liked the most about the tractor & truck pull was to see how these people "Pimped their tractors" and White Lightning was my personal favorite.
100 Things to see at the fair #8: Ferris Wheel I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Although it still felt odd, this was the first time I ever brought my tripod out to the midway. Of course, this gave me much more leeway to where I could take blurred motion ferris wheel pics.
100 Things to see at the fair #9: Beauty Pageant I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. On the 2nd Saturday of the fair, there was a beauty pageant for several age groups that lasted several hours. The youngsters went earliest in the day. Shown here is the oldest age division, which I think was 17-18. After each contestant had a chance to be on the stage alone, they all went onstage at the end.
100 Things to see at the fair #10: Wave Swinger I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. When Opryland was open, My wife's favorite ride always was the Tennessee Waltz. Now, anytime we go to a theme park or a fair, the Wave Swinger (or sometimes called the Tornado) is high on her priority. She's in this picture as she's got her hand on her head to hold down her red hat.
100 Things to see at the fair #11: Rabbit Barn I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. If you've only seen the rabbits they have at the pet store, then you're missing out on some breeds that you've likely never seen before: Rex, lop, angora, Himalayan and long-eared. Some of them are even for sale! My wife and I bought a bunny at the fair two years ago. We still have him and we'll never buy one at a pet store again, because those seem plain compared to the ones at the fair.
100 Things to see at the fair #12: Mother & Baby I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. One of the Goat owners had brought a family of newborn goats to the fair. Under the watchful eye of mom, the 5 day old sleeps. Some of this goats siblings will be seen in upcoming pictures.
100 Things to see at the fair #13: Swine Barn I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. You can stroll the aisles and see all kinds of pigs and hogs, like this female. If you show up at the right time, you might see a pig owner trying to wash their pig in the pig shower, which involves the owner usually getting really wet. One caveat, Compared to many of the other show animals, the swine are not treated like pets! Pigs can be stubborn and have to be strongly coerced to move sometimes, which might be upsetting to children (or sensitive wives, like mine) if you go during the judging Hello to anyone who found this photo here: invivoblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/while-you-were-declaring-... or here: strenua.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/pearls-before-swine-flu/ or here: head-smashed-in.blogspot.com/2009/04/cc-close-call.html
100 Things to see at the fair #14: Funny Dummy I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Funny Dummy is a local ventriloquist who was a fair performer this year. This gorilla girl was my favorite of his three dummies.
100 Things to see at the fair #15 Model Trains I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. A local Model train club sets up a rather large exhibit every year in the exhibitor's building. They have just enough Plexiglas from keeping the hands of children out of the display
100 Things to see at the fair #16: Petting Zoo Camel I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in.
100 Things to see at the fair #17: Midway Prizes I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in It may be shooting hoops or throwing a ring around a bottle, but odds are you and I will not win the prize, even though the carnie can make it 50 times in a row and you'll spend 20 bucks trying.
100 Things to see at the fair #18: Quilt Design contest I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. In the Creative Arts building are several wonderful quilts that have been designed. This one had a certain excellent, yet playful quality to it that made it my favorite. The maker of this quilt should turn this into a fridge magnet that comes with a 2nd smaller magnet with the words "Today, I'm feeling" that you could place ontop if your mood for the day.
100 Things to see at the fair #19: Krystal Square-off Controversy I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. One of the biggest events at the fair was a qualifying round of Major League Eating's biggest prize, the Krystal Square Off. Seen here is competitive eater, the diminutive Juliet Lee, and her controversial eating style. The following are excerpts from the Official Krystal Square Off website's blog: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In a contest marked by controversy and the hottest and most humid conditions seen on the tour so far, Lee’s victory had some calling foul due to excessive debris during the eight-minute regulation period. After a lengthy conference with judges, Major League Eating made the decision to hold a three person eat-off, the first ever in Krystal Square Off history. Explaining its decision, IFOCE.com reports: "Juliet Lee maintained a five second dunk throughout regulation but pre-chewed so aggressively the judges had difficulty determining her final count. Many fans and eaters alike questioned the outcome. Judges determined that the eat off should occur. "Major League Eating has announced it will hold an an impromptu conference call this evening to consider the adoption of a new rule to eliminate confusion in future contests." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yesterday’s Nashville Krystal Square Off V Qualifier, and the controversy surrounding excessive debris from several eaters, including the winner Juliet Lee, has led to the creation of a new rule by Major League Eating that will allow judges to disqualify competitors for “messy eating” during a contest after an initial warning is given. As detailed at IFOCE.com: "Major League Eating announces today the creation of a new rule called the Mustard Yellow Card. The rule allows league officials and judges to formally caution a competitor if the official or judge feels said competitor is eating in a fashion that is so messy it impedes the ability to determine the amount of food consumed. "After one caution is given the judge has the right to disqualify the warned competitor if the competitor has not satisfactorily corrected his or her eating style. "While no formal definition need be given, messy eating can include food and debris on a competitor and in a competitor’s eating area and cups." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You can read the entire blog HERE, and then HERE. Hello to anyone who found this photo on EatFeats.com eatfeats.com/link-buffet-october-10-2008.html The comments on the blog post there has quite a discussion from competitive eating enthusiests of Juliet Lee's eating (or lack thereof) style. Hello to anyone who found this photo on AwesomeOff.com www.awesomeoff.com/entries/competitive-eating-4494.html
100 Things to see at the fair #20: BMX Stuntbike I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in.
100 Things to see at the fair #21: Insect display I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Inside the agriculture building was a wide-ranging display of an insect and bug collection. If you've ever wondered what a Swallowtail, an Imperial Moth, or an Assassin Bug look like, here's your chance. Unfortunately, they also had cave crickets.
100 Things to see at the fair #22: Grist Mill Demonstration I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. In the Volunteer Village, a demonstration is given showing how grain is ground into flour using a modern gristmill. The ground flour comes down the blue chute and fine flour falls into the red box, while the larger grain falls into the pile on the left. The operator is sifting through the flour to make sure it is good, and then will scoop it into bags which he sells.
100 Things to see at the fair #23: High Diver I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. The pinnacle of the Sinbad Diving Pirate Show is when one of the pirates climbs to the top of the platform and dives into the pool below.
100 Things to see at the fair #24: Omega Force I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Omega Force is a collection of people who do feats of extraordinary strength while promoting their love of Jesus. In this scene, the man on top weightlifts a several hundred pound log while the lower man supports him while on top of a bed of nails
100 Things to see at the fair #25: Petting Zoo pig I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. In the petting zoo, there were two young black Vietnamese Pot-Bellied Pigs
100 Things to see at the fair #26: Tropical Illusions bird I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Tropical Illusions is an animal themed magic show for the family. Befroe the show starts, this bird does a trick. (If you know what kind of Macaw or Parrot this is, please help me out!) This bird is perched on a stick. the host had an empty water bottle tied to the end of a rope hanging from the stick, and dropped a fruit loop into the water bottle. The bird uses his feet to slide the rope through his feet so that he could reach the water bottle with his beak. He leans backwards to let the fruit loop fall into his mouth. He then dunks the fruit loop into the water dish so that he could eat it.
100 Things to see at the fair #27: Leather Guitar I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. One of the contests in the Creative Arts building is Leathercraft. The Blue Ribbon winner was a guitar made out of leather. If you look closely, there are 4 midstate logos on the guitar. The first you'll notice is the Tennessee Flag. To its left is a Columbia Mule Day logo. Below that is a Tennessee Walking Horse. To the right of that one is the Grand Ole Opry. Hello to anyone who found thise here: www.environmentalgraffiti.com/offbeat-news/works-of-leath... 5 Incredible Works of Leather Art
100 Things to see at the fair #28: Wave Swinger at Night I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in.
100 Things to see at the fair #29: Audad I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Yes, this was labeled in the Petting Zoo as an Audad, and no, I hadn't heard of it either. Googling it found that the more common spelling is Aoudad. Googling that took me to the Wikipedia page where I find the more common name is Barbary Sheep, and I suppose I may have heard of those before. Even though it is called sheep, it is more similar to a goat or an antelope, and they originally come from northern Africa. This fella was anxiously waiting for you to pet him.
100 Things to see at the fair #30: Bumper Boats I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. This girl and her younger brother were having fun on the bumper boats. He would steer while she sat back and relaxed as best one could in an impact prone hyrda-vehicle. In case of fire, thank goodness there's an extinguisher nearby.
100 Things to see at the fair #31: Chef Landry I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Chef Landry was a Comedy / Cooking show. Maybe a better description was he told funny stories while occasionally telling us what he was doing to the Jambalaya. As he was slicing raw chicken breasts, he reminded us that more people hurt themselves with dull knives than with sharp knives.
100 Things to see at the fair #32: Cavies I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Cavies are betten known to a lot of people as Guinea Pigs. There were two judges looking at the cavies without as much fanfare as some of the other animals
100 Things to see at the fair #33: Goat shed I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. While not the petting zoo, some of the animals in the other stables will let you pet them.
100 Things to see at the fair #34: All the King's Horses I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. All the King's Horses is a traveling Horse show. Each of the horses is graceful in its own way and each one has a different talent. However, None of them could put Humpty Dumpty back together again.
100 Things to see at the fair #35: The Music Circle I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. This musical act played on the Purity Main Stage on a weekend night.
100 Things to see at the fair #36: Keith King I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Keith King is the leader of a touring BMX bike stunt show. While the other performers do airborne tricks, King specializes in flatland tricks.
100 Things to see at the fair #37: Kids Talent Show I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Contestant #208 was a show stealer at the Fairest of the Fair talent show. She's dressed as Dorothy while singing "Somewhere over the Rainbow." A judge told me later that she was the grand prize winner. Hello to anyone who found this photo here: www.minthilltimes.com/archives/3650 or here: medlit12h.blogspot.com/2013/03/httpwww.html
100 Things to see at the fair #38: Political Cake Design I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Cake design is a contest held every year. This year, there were many cakes designed with a political theme. I'm not sure if it was a special subcategory for an election year, or if the topic was just fresh on everybody's mind. This is indeed the top of a cake! Personally, I think it would be really cool if a 50 foot George Washington was there to stop both candidates from getting to the white house. :) Hello to anyone who found this photo from Cake Wrecks cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2009/02/its-form-of-flattery-hone...
100 Things to see at the fair #39: "Badlands" Booker I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Eric "Badlands" Booker was the fan favorite at the Krystal Square-off. Maybe it was because he gave out free copies of his competitive eating themed rap CD, or maybe it was because he looked like he was eating like the rest of us eat and not squishing 4 in his hand at time, flinging bits everywhere or dunking it into soggy red goo. This picture was taken during the three person overtime and his Krystals still look like Krystals. I know you want to hear his music. Lucky for you, he has his own myspace music profile, and you're in for, ahem, a real treat. Check out "She's My Bunnette" or "Sweet Science of CE" which samples the Thomas Dolby song. The fun doesn't stop there, as he's got his own clothing line, Hungry & Focused Apparel. If that doesn't satisfy your craving of Booker weblinks, check his Original website and his Facebook fan appreciation page for his "Krystal Square-Off Rap" and a song that samples ABBA's Mamma Mia, and finally his YouTube page. By the way, the dude in the background is an ESPN video camera operator.
100 Things to see at the fair #40: Pony ride I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in.
100 Things to see at the fair #41: Frog I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. By now, I don't even remember why there was a small tank with a frog in the Agriculture Building. I was just happy he was front and center for me.
100 Things to see at the fair #42: Before the jump I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. This was taken right before the big jump, which is seen here.
100 Things to see at the fair #43: African Acrobats I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in.
100 Things to see at the fair #44: Spinning Wool I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. This lady was one of the nicest ladies I had the pleasure to meet at the fair. She and her husband had brought some of their prized sheep to show. Well after the judging was complete, she took wool sheared from their own sheep, dyed it the blue-ish color and she was spinning it when I got there.
100 Things to see at the fair #45: Quilting Demonstration I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. At the fair, the Volunteer Village is made up of several different artisans demonstrating their craft. The Quiltmaking lady, along with her husband, the grist mill operator, has come from Kentucky for several years in a row. She is one of the nicest people I have ever met.
100 Things to see at the fair #46: Blue & Yellow Macaw I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. The Blue and Yellow Macaw was the second bird to appear with the Tropical Illusions magic show. Here's the other.
100 Things to see at the fair #47: Tractor Pull I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. For those of you who've never seen a tractor pull, here's how it works in a nutshell. Hitched to the back of the red tractor it a second vehicle that probably has some technical name, but I'll call it "is to be pulled." To signify that the "is to be pulled" is hooked up properly, it turns on the wide green light. Then, when the tractor is ready, it begins to rev up and the white smoke emitting from it turn dark gray. Once the tractor starts to go and crosses the starting line, the cabin on the "is to be pulled" glides forward on top of the flatbed. Once the cabin reaches the end, they measure how far the tractor has pulled it. Then they spend 5 minutes towing the tractor away while they smooth out the dirt track for the next one. I wish I could say it was entertaining, but it wasn't my thing.
100 Things to see at the fair #48: Ferris Wheel I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in.
100 Things to see at the fair #49: Baton Twirlers I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. The Tennessee Twirlers were amazing to watch. Unfortunately, the action photos I took of the twirlers were not so interesting. If you want to twirl, classes are starting, so call now. :)
100 Things to see at the fair #50: Thunderbolt I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. The Thunderbolt is one of those rides that goes faster than you think it will, and if you're expecting a very calm ride, it isn't. For this ride, I set up the camera to focus in tight on one spot in the sun, and just held down the rapid-fire-take-a-picture-over-and-over mode as the riders kept whizzing by. This mother and daughter consistantly had the best facial expressions each time they passed by.
100 Things to see at the fair #51 Riverboat Jim I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Out at Volunteer Village, Riverboat Jim is a singer and Mark-Twain-esque storyteller. At the time of this picture, he was singing Oh, Susanna.
100 Things to see at the fair #52: Sleepy Kid I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. "Kid" as in 5-day-old baby goat. One thing I like about barnyard animals is they sleep in piles and use each other as pillows. I guess that is learned early. If you think this is cute, watch the video I posted on youtube of what this fella was doing 30 minutes earlier. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXU7mKMEtB8
100 Things to see at the fair #53: Horse shed I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. The last two sheds at the fair are for horses and mules. I'd never seen horses look as affectionate as these did. Soon after this picture was taken, they both scooted back a few feet and eventually tried to lick each other through the fencing.
100 Things to see at the fair #54: Pottery Demonstration I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Volunteer Village is made up of all kinds of Arts and Crafts.
100 Things to see at the fair #55: Model Train display I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in.
100 Things to see at the fair #56: Llama I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. This Llama was in the petting Zoo. Be careful, they spit!
100 Things to see at the fair #57: Powersurge I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Powersurge is a newer ride, and perhaps the most popular based ont he long lines of people willing to pay $6.25 (or 5 tickets) to ride it. I had trouble counting all the ways it spins a person. It also has brilliant lights turned on later in the day.
100 Things to see at the fair #58: Breadmaking contest I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Fleischmann's Yeast sponsors a breadmaking contest, one of the lesser known contests at the fair. Hidden Valley Ranch sponsonrs a salad-making contest, too.
100 Things to see at the fair #59: Booker and Eric "The Red" I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. I discussed Eric "Badlands" Booker, on the left, in this previous photo. This photo was taken soon after the 8 minute contest was over. Eric "The Red" Denmark takes his nickname from Eric "The Red" Torvaldsson, a viking. However, it is an apt description for his eating style, which made him the grossest competitive eater to watch. He brongs with him a red colored liquid, and he dunks all of his food in the red liquid, which is permitted in the rules. In addition, during the contest, there was always a piece of red-colored Krystal hanging out of his mouth. I did take pictures of that and you should thank me for not posting them here. Hello to anyone who found this photo here: eatfeats.com/link-buffet-october-20-2008.html
100 Things to see at the fair #60: bike flips I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Many of the stuntbikers were able to go up the ramp into the air and do a flip, but only if you cheered really loud for them
100 Things to see at the fair #61: Pumpkins I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. To win the pumpkin contest, you have to be able to grow one well in excess of 1000 pounds. The watermelons also have to be sizable.
100 Things to see at the fair #62: Deep Fried Goo-Goos I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Deep Fried Goo-Goo Clusters are the official candy of the TN State Fair. Other vendors offered deep fried Snickers and Milky Ways. I think this poster is Groovy and surreal in a 70's kind of way. Hello to anyone who found this photo here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/thirteen-tn-inventions/ 13 Awesome Inventions You Probably Didn’t Know Came From Tennessee
100 Things to see at the fair #63: Ventriloquist I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. The baby was the first of three ventriloquism dolls used by the Funny Dummy show.
100 Things to see at the fair #64: Ride in a monster truck I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Before and after the Monster Truck show, fair patrons had the opportunity to ride in the flatbed (and held down by a safety bar) of Carolina Crusher, a monster truck retired from competition. Cost was $10.
100 Things to see at the fair #65: Deer I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in.
100 Things to see at the fair #66: Show cows I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. This class of cows was one of the more populated divisions. After parading around the show arena, they were all lined up
100 Things to see at the fair #67: Copper art I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. In the same corner of the creative arts building that had the leathercraft, also had art etched from copper, such as The Last Supper seen as the winner here.
100 Things to see at the fair #68: Powersurge at Night I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. I like how the white lights that are on the bottom of the chairs tear across the picture as if they were claws.
100 Things to see at the fair #69: National Diving Dogs I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. The National Diving Dogs is a travelling show sponsored by Purina and Oust. The "winner" dog is the one that can jump in the pool the farthest. In most cases the dog's owner tosses one of the dog's toys in the air, times with a running leap, the dog tries to get the toy midair. Those on the front row will get wet. Best I can recall, the winning dog from this show went 28 feet!
100 Things to see at the fair #70: Alpacas I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. While Alpacas tend to be some of the goofiest looking animals, the one on the right certain has one of the sweetest faces on an alpaca that I've seen. Part of the petting zoo.
100 Things to see at the fair #71: baby goats I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. While many of this goats siblings were resting or playing, this one wanted to pose for the camera
100 Things to see at the fair #72: Weightlifting contest I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. This is the contest I probably would have won if I didn't spend my time picture taking. Ha.
100 Things to see at the fair #73: jump rope team I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. The Hot Shots Jump Rope team did some pretty impressive things. Many of those things just don't look interesting as a photograph, so here's a pic of them all jumping at the same time Hello to anyone who found this photo here: bodyfitnessworkout.com/2010/04/24/how-to-jump-rope/
100 Things to see at the fair #74: Horse takes a bow I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. All the Kings Horses is a show of several horses, each trained to perform different tricks
100 Things to see at the fair #75: Shearing sheep I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. There's not much to it. You just have to make sure the sheep won't get away. Many put them on platforms so it's easier to reach all over. Then get out the shears. Later, the guy's wife will spin the wool.
100 Things to see at the fair #76: Racing pot-bellied pigs I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. The final race of Randall's Racing is two adult Vietnamese Pot-bellied pigs. It's a slow race.
100 Things to see at the fair #77: Brandi Thornton Band I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. She and her band performed on the Purity stage one evening.
100 Things to see at the fair #78: Scarecrows I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. These decorative scarecrows and jack-o-lanterns were in an annex building between the Creative Arts building and Exhibitors building. These were for sale, along with fall plants such as mums.
100 Things to see at the fair #79: Fairest of the Fair I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. The beauty pageant lasted several hours as there was many age classes starting with the toddlers and all the way up to 18. This age class was the 13-15 year olds, I believe. After each conestant was onstage alone, they all came onstage together at the end.
100 Things to see at the fair #80: rides for all ages I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. So you don't think you can take the PowerSurge? There are other rides that you can handle, such as the Wave Swinger, which is good for children and those who wish to relive their childhood.
100 Things to see at the fair #81: Bull judging I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. When the bulls, and most other animals are judged, the owner leads the bull around the arena. I believe in this contest, the humans were 18 and under. Hello to anyone who found this here: thepriorart.typepad.com/the_prior_art/2009/06/buying-tivo...
100 Things to see at the fair #82: Cornucopia I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Mixing art with agriculture is the cornucopia contest. The purpose is to design vegetables in some container (usually baskets) and often featuring sunflowers.
100 Things to see at the fair #83: Tropical Illusions I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Tropical Illusions is a magic show designed for children of all ages. A volunteer from the audience has been asked to retrieve an animal out of the vase because the host is too afraid to. What's in the vase? Is it a cobra?
100 Things to see at the fair #84: Catfish I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Funny Dummy the Ventriloquist had three dummies brought out, and this was the middle one. The hayseed boy is named catfish.
100 Things to see at the fair #85: Monster Truck show I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. To many people, this is what they came to see, the Monster Trucks. "Bad News Travels Fast." When the show starts off, they race. After they race, each truck is given an opportunity to freestyle, where they run over demolished cars and get their front wheel high in the air. Hello to anyone who found this photo at AwesomeOff.com
100 Things to see at the fair #86: Petting Zoo goats I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in.
100 Things to see at the fair #87: Magic I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. In this Tropical Illusions trick, the wife of the host gets in the box and then he puts 5 swords through the box. I hope she turns out o.k.
100 Things to see at the fair #88: Fashion design contest I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Another contest in the creative arts building is Dressmaking, as well as fashion design for other types of clothing.
100 Things to see at the fair #89: Krystal Trophy I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. This is what the Krystal Square-off qualifier Championship Trophy looks like. The winner of this trpohy, got to go to Chattanooga for a chance at what I presume is a bigger trophy. To win this, all you had to do was eat 60+ krystals in 8 minutes without cheating too much
100 Things to see at the fair #90: Stunt Bike I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. This was part of the Keith King BMX stunt show
100 Things to see at the fair #91: all kinds of goats I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in.
100 Things to see at the fair #92: Cloggers I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. The Southern Country Cloggers spent an hour clogging at the Purity Stage. If you are not familiar with Clogging, it's a type of folk dancing popular in the south. The cloggers wear a special shoe that makes tapping the floor more prominent. There are several Clogging groups in the region and the performers are in all skill ranges, from novice to expert
100 Things to see at the fair #93: Country Ham demonstration I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. This was a demonstration and Q&A session on ways to prepare county ham in the Agriculture Bldg.
100 Things to see at the fair #94: Graceful horses I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. during the "All the Kings Horses" show, each horse had different skills. This one could walk sideways
100 Things to see at the fair #95 Sheep building I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in.
100 Things to see at the fair #96: Talent Show I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Children of all ages could participate in the "Fairest of the Fair" Talent show. Unless I'm mistaken, I think this girl did a Shirley Temple routine On an odd note, I knew one of the judges. I was so trying to get a good shot and she was so in to judging accurately that we didn't notice each other despite being 5 feet apart at times.
100 Things to see at the fair #97: Cake design contest I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. An elegant wedding cake was the winner, but this was my favorite based on sheer cuteness factor.
100 Things to see at the fair #98: Krystal Square-off Winner I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. One approach to take when describing this picture is inspirational: Even a diminutive woman can win in the male dominated sport of competitive eating, just as Juliet Lee did here at the Nashville Qualifying round of the 2008 Krystal Square-Off. As she holds up her trophy she smiles for the camera, which is ESPN. However the real story here is she was declared the winner after controversy. I documented the story as the caption of my photo of her eating here: flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/2925735717/ Essentially, she started as a crowd favorite because a petite woman was competing with the big boys, but her eating was half of the burger not reaching her mouth. Look at the grease-soaked shirt! Hello to anyone who found this photo on EatFeats.com eatfeats.com/link-buffet-november-9-2008.html
100 Things to see at the fair #99: Midway slide I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. Here's something on the midway that parents and children can enjoy together. You get a potato sack and climb the stairs to the top of the slide.
100 Things to see at the fair #100: Randall's Racing Pigs I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take 100 images to get it all in. An advantage to spending 4 full days at the fair like I did is that you can see certain events at non-peak times. Every time I'd seen the pig races in the past, there was a huge crowd, but on this day, I was able to get right where I wanted to be. Unfortunately, right where I wanted to be was the wrong place because for the first time that I had seen, Randall made the track clockwise, whereas I was expecting it to be counterclockwise. I got some great shots of pig butts as they ran away from me. Lucky for me, with only 50 people in attendance, I could easily make it to the other side and setup for the shot I wanted the first time on the second race.
100 Things to see at the fair outtake: Waterfowl I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take over 100 images to get it all in. These outtakes are pictures that capture aspects of the fair not shown in the set of 100, but also generally had something that didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted. There was a tent with ducks and geese behind the Poultry barn
100 Things to see at the fair outtake: Goat pen I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take over 100 images to get it all in. These outtakes are pictures that capture aspects of the fair not shown in the set of 100, but also generally had something minor that didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted.
100 Things to see at the fair outtake: Volunteer Village I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take over 100 images to get it all in. These outtakes are pictures that capture aspects of the fair not shown in the set of 100, but also generally had something minor that didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted. These carved logs were in front of the Volunteer Village on the first day when it was cloudy, then during the rest of the fair, a van was parked in front of it, and most people didn't see it.
100 Things to see at the fair outtake: Paintings I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take over 100 images to get it all in. These outtakes are pictures that capture aspects of the fair not shown in the set of 100, but also generally had something minor that didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted.
100 Things to see at the fair outtake: FFA I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take over 100 images to get it all in. These outtakes are pictures that capture aspects of the fair not shown in the set of 100, but also generally had something minor that didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted. The Future Farmers of America sponsired several contests, such as a youth public speaking contest. Shown here is the winner of some kind of paint-the-FFA-logo-on-a-wood-carving-contest
100 Things to see at the fair outtake: Gourds I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take over 100 images to get it all in. These outtakes are pictures that capture aspects of the fair not shown in the set of 100, but also generally had something minor that didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted. This was an entry in the "Collection of Ornamental Gourds" contest
100 Things to see at the fair outtake: Sorghum I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take over 100 images to get it all in. These outtakes are pictures that capture aspects of the fair not shown in the set of 100, but also generally had something minor that didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted. Demonstation on how to make sorghum
100 Things to see at the fair outtake: Hot Beef Sundae I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take over 100 images to get it all in. These outtakes are pictures that capture aspects of the fair not shown in the set of 100, but also generally had something minor that didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted. It's weird, but maybe it would taste pretty good. However, there might be too much gravy for my tastes. All of this can be yours for $6: "Golden Mashed Potatoes Covered with a Generous Portion of our Roasted and Seasoned to Perfection Top Round Beef, Then Aged Cheddar Cheese, more Golden Mashed Potatoes Smothered with our Special Beef Gravy, more Aged Cheddar Cheese, a slice of Buttered Toast and a Cherry Tomato on top. A delightfully satisfying meal that you will crave time after time, year after year. ENJOY ONE RIGHT NOW!" Hello to anyone who found this photo here: suburbanturmoil.com/what-to-do-with-your-kids-in-nashvill... What to Do with Your Kids in Nashville This Fall
100 Things to see at the fair outtake: Contortioning I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take over 100 images to get it all in. These outtakes are pictures that capture aspects of the fair not shown in the set of 100, but also generally had something minor that didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted. Another amazing feat from the African Acrobats.
100 Things to see at the fair outtake: Wool contest I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take over 100 images to get it all in. These outtakes are pictures that capture aspects of the fair not shown in the set of 100, but also generally had something minor that didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted. I'm not sure what the contest here is exactly, but the Ram Fleece here won two best of show ribbons and a plate!
100 Things to see at the fair outtake: Sleeping calf I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take over 100 images to get it all in. These outtakes are pictures that capture aspects of the fair not shown in the set of 100, but also generally had something minor that didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted.
100 Things to see at the fair outtake: Randall I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take over 100 images to get it all in. These outtakes are pictures that capture aspects of the fair not shown in the set of 100, but also generally had something minor that didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted. As a lead-in to the racing pigs, Randall has a ventriloquist act while the crown files in to the bleachers
100 Things to see at the fair outtake: Children's art I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take over 100 images to get it all in. These outtakes are pictures that capture aspects of the fair not shown in the set of 100, but also generally had something minor that didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted. In the creative arts building, there were contests for Children of all ages.
100 Things to see at the fair outtake: 3000 I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take over 100 images to get it all in. These outtakes are pictures that capture aspects of the fair not shown in the set of 100, but also generally had something minor that didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted. Since I couldn't see what this ride did on the inside, I guess it's like a centrifuge.
100 Things to see at the fair outtake: Donkey Hurdles I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take over 100 images to get it all in. These outtakes are pictures that capture aspects of the fair not shown in the set of 100, but also generally had something minor that didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted.
100 Things to see at the fair outtake: Dr. Bigtime I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take over 100 images to get it all in. These outtakes are pictures that capture aspects of the fair not shown in the set of 100, but also generally had something minor that didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted. Apparently, the Krystal Square-off has a bunch of big personalities to correspond to the ability to eat big quantities of food. Among the "professional" major league eaters, Juris "Dr. Bigtime" Shibayama was a local favorite. He should know better than to eat 60+ Krystals in 8 minutes since he is an actual Doctor, an orthopedic surgeon in Murfreesboro. He was one of three to participate in the run-off, along with eventual winner Juliet Lee and Badlands Booker. Hello to anyone who found this on EatFeats.com eatfeats.com/link-buffet-november-11-2008.html
100 Things to see at the fair outtake: Free water I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take over 100 images to get it all in. These outtakes are pictures that capture aspects of the fair not shown in the set of 100, but also generally had something minor that didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted. For the cheapskates who don't want to pay $3 for a beverage, have no fear. Nashville metro water gave out free water.
100 Things to see at the fair outtake: Poultry I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take over 100 images to get it all in. These outtakes are pictures that capture aspects of the fair not shown in the set of 100, but also generally had something minor that didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted.
100 Things to see at the fair outtake: Jay Taylor Band I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take over 100 images to get it all in. These outtakes are pictures that capture aspects of the fair not shown in the set of 100, but also generally had something minor that didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted.
100 Things to see at the fair outtake: Food vendors I had a unique opportunity to spend several days at the 2008 Tennessee State Fair. There was so much to see, it will take over 100 images to get it all in. These outtakes are pictures that capture aspects of the fair not shown in the set of 100, but also generally had something minor that didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted. Food vendors at night after a good rain.
09 TN State Fair #73: Horses They must like to nibble on fences.
09 TN State Fair #74: Weightlifting
09 TN State Fair #75: Stamps! In the creative arts building was this interesting stamp display. If you look closely, each state is made out of stamps representing that state. For instance, in Tennessee, West Tennessee is the elvis Stamp and East Tennessee is the 150th anniversary of Statehood stamp with Andrew Jackson and John Sevier.
09 TN State Fair #105: cats quilt Blue ribbon winning! Hello to anyone who found this here: cybergata.blogspot.com/2010/10/cat-quilts-part-i.html
09 TN State Fair #110: The Redneck Bath Cake Yes, this is a cake. It's one of the most unusual subjects I have seen on a cake. :) You never know what you are going to find at the fair, even in the Creative Arts.
2010 Tennessee State Fair photos I took photos for the Tennessee State Fair in 2008-09. I attended in 2010, but not as an official fair worker (since they didn't have the budget for it.) On the front page of their website over this year, they used seven of my photos at different times. 1) Ferriw Wheel www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/2922428722/ 2) African Acrobat fiery limbo www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/4611056096/ 3) Lumberjack log rolling Not on flickr. 4) baby goat www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/2965858851/ 5) fair opening parade www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/4452949565/ 6) Stamp Art www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/4452795907/ 7) Cuckoo Haus www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/4284747068/
2017 TN State Fair: Ventriloquist David Turner and Tad Short Ventriloquist David Turner and Friends performed at the 2017 Tennessee State Fair www.davidturnerandfriends.com/
2017 TN State Fair: Ventriloquist David Turner and Johnny Cash Ventriloquist David Turner and Friends performed at the 2017 Tennessee State Fair www.davidturnerandfriends.com/
2017 TN State Fair: Hungry Goat
2017 TN State Fair: World's Largest Frozen Beverage Fast food chain Krystals is no stranger to the Tennessee State Fair. Back when they ran the Krystal Square-off hamburger eating competition, they had one of their qualifier rounds at previous TN State Fairs. This year, Krystal brought along observers from the Guinness Book of World Records. They made an official attempt the create the world's largest frozen beverage as multiple employees worked to create a gigantic Kool-aid green apple slushie, just like they sell at their restaurants. The official attempt was made at 10AM on a Saturday morning. Since Saturday is my only day to sleep in, plus I was bringing a toddler, I didn't arrive until they were about to pack up and go home. To find out if they were successful, I had to google the story and only came up with one result, which surprisingly was a TV station in North Dakota. The good news is their 255 gallon slushie set the record! www.kvrr.com/2017/09/11/have-a-drink-krystal-company-sets...
2017 TN State Fair: Pumpkin/Watermelon weigh-off The largest pumpkin at the 2017 Tennessee State Fair is 446 lbs and the largest watermelon is 289 lbs.
2017 TN State Fair: FFA Christmas Booth At the 2017 Tennessee State Fair, the Mt. Juliet Future Farmers of America presented this Christmas booth. There are a lot of interesting details here, but my favorite is the deer tree-topper.
2017 TN State Fair: Model Railroad Bates Motel At the 2017 Tennessee State Fair, the Model Railroaders from the Tennessee Central setup their railroad display. They have a similar setup every year, but this was something I'd never noticed before: a replica Bates Motel with the creepy mansion on the hill. Look closely and Norman Bates is coming down the stairs.
2017 TN State Fair: Nashville Predators Balloon art One of the highlights of the 2017 Tennessee State Fair is Sam the Balloon Man. His featured balloon art was this 8 foot tall Nashville Predator. He is even able to get inside this and bounce around. Sam Cremeens recently made headlines with a similar balloon for the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs: www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nhl/predators/2017/06/05/...
