As sad as it is, the time has come once again to say farewell to the festivities, food, exhibits and livestock as the North Dakota State Fair comes to a close, making today your last chance to head out to fairgrounds if you haven’t had a chance to visit.

Despite the inauspicious start to the fair with the doomed Kid Rock concert, the State Fair and its attendees brushed themselves off and moved on. The Daily Mail and other publications may have focused on sensationalizing a singular moment, but the thousands that gathered at the fairgrounds in Minot over the last 10 days had more important things to worry about.

With the size of the crowds and the near absence of masks, it’s a stark contrast to the 2020 fair that was canceled due to the pandemic. Other concerts and entertainment were on offer the rest of the week, hundreds of heads of livestock needed to be judged, and Olley’s crab fritters and those foot-long corndogs weren’t going to eat themselves. With the exception of that small hiccup last Friday night, State Fair General Manager Renae Korslein has found Mother Nature most cooperative.

“We dusted ourselves off and kept going. I am so thankful that everyone was able to get home safely. Otherwise, it’s been wonderful. Every day the weather has been wonderful with the sun shining.” Korslien said.

Korslien said that each edition of the State Fair is a little different from the year before, but that they still feel the same. She relishes even the little things about organizing the event every year, in particular the view of watching youngsters in FFA and 4-H getting their animals ready outside her office window. Given how economic conditions and fuel prices have put the squeeze on producers in this state and around the country, Korslien appreciates the contributions and presence of farmers and ranchers a great deal.

“The livestock and ranchers that stay here 10 days with us, I’m sure they’re feeling it. Our carnival rides come from Texas, and they definitely feel it. You forget all of the things that need fuel to run.” Korslien said.

After a dip in gas prices and a loosened border policy, there has been an uptick in Canadian visitors to the fair, something that was missed when the State Fair returned last summer.

“We have noticed we are getting more Canadian dollars in. We definitely missed them.” Korslien said.

Korslien herself was very proud of the addition of the MHA Horse Relay to the fair’s calendar, an idea that came from brainstorming sessions held at the close of the fair.

“One duty of our full-time employees is to meet and make lists of things that need to be fixed or ideas for adding improvement. We meet and bounce ideas around. I’m so glad it was a success and that it went well.” Korslien said.

Some may have gotten their fill of what the Midway has to offer, but crowds still lingered into Friday, taking in the sights, sounds and smells, some of them for the first time. One group of friends arrived on the fairgrounds on Friday sporting matching shirts, Richard, and Sandra Spore of Minnesota, Lynn Mooney and Paula Noel from Arizona, and Judy and Wayne Bredberg. Their shirts were emblazoned with the words “Our Fair Tour,” mapping their planned journey from Minot to Great Falls, Montana, and Idaho.

Seasoned from attending 32 other fairs across the nation over the years, the group was quite taken with the authenticity of the producers and exhibitors in the commercial buildings.

“If you look back in history, the fairs were just big gatherings of farmers.” said Mooney, “We’re impressed that North Dakota has got three commercial buildings and they’re pretty substantial in size, and air conditioned unlike Minnesota.”

Another of the group, Wayne Bredberg from Alaska had high praise for the machinery.

“I think it has got the nicest machinery row of any of the state fairs we’ve been at okay, including Minnesota,” he said.

The gang moseyed off to check out another of the commercial buildings, joining the throng soaking up the last days of summer. Luckily, the fun isn’t quite over yet, and there’s still time to take in a show, throw the kids on a carousel, and to indulge in a slice of chocolate-dipped cheesecake.

After all, the fair comes but once a year.