Thursday, August 17, 2017

The 2nd Thursday of the fair... the day the drafts start arriving!

I really wanted to see the Ragtime piano player scheduled for the Ditzfield stage, so Marvin and I got moving and over there.  I was not disappointed.  This fellow was highly entertaining and talented.  I wish he had been scheduled to perform more than just 1 day.

Here is a little video so you can enjoy him, too!  :)




For lunch, we went to eat at the Missouri Bistro (which is the old youth building).  It was very good!  I had a smoked turkey panini with goat cheese, Marvin had a big salad, and Jonathan said his burger was terrific.  Everything they serve is Missouri grown.  We all appreciated being in the youth building - like the good old days when they had the best cafeteria (and food!) on the fairgrounds.  We had to get a picture at the kids bench.  :)

this bench has all the grandkids names on that nameplate

Later we met the boys at Gerken Dairy Center.  Then we walked around a bit and finally went to Mathewson Center to watch the gypsy horses.  While there I received word from Carla M that they were approaching the fairgrounds, so I headed back to the camper to get the truck and go meet Frank and Kate to bring them in to the fair.  (Carla would meet us after her work appointment.)

this years butter cow

can't get enough of my Mocha Cappuccino!

draft horse hitch teams are arriving!

Marvin with our favorite hitch wagon -
the Messenger team from Wyoming

gypsy horses in the Mathewson Center

We had 2 pages of carnival ride tickets for Kate to use.  She and Frank tried the little roller coaster first, but it was too scary (I agree!) so we looked for other options. She settled on the hot air balloon and seemed to really enjoy that one.

Then we walked over to see the trampoline show - en route Kate interacted with a talking fire hydrant roaming the grounds.  :)  Carla arrived shortly after the trampoline show and we all made our way back to the carnival to use up more ride tickets.  I think the big slide ended up being her favorite.  Although she sure had fun on the bumper cars!  :)

Kate wanted Frank to go with her... the first time.

but she quickly got the hang of it herself!  :)

After she had used all but 2 tickets (saving those for the ferris wheel later on) we got on the tram and rode around the fair, ending up at Jacksons BBQ where we met the rest of our crew for supper.  (Zack was actually backstage with Jordan Feliz and For King & Country at this point, but we caught up to him at the concert.  Jonathan just didn't care to go backstage.)

Zack backstage with Jordan Feliz

Zack backstage with For King & Country

After supper we made our way to the grandstand.  I wanted to say something to the wonderful couple who have watched over the Governors Box seats all these many years.  I should have mustered the courage to do it years ago.  I told them this was our last concert in the Governors Box and thanked them for always being so gracious to us, our kids, and our friends over all the years.  Turns out they used to work at the cafeteria in the youth building years ago!  That is why they seemed overly familiar to me, I am sure!  I sure enjoyed my conversation with them.  They are great folks.

Frank, Kate, and Carla with us for our last concert in the Gov. Box

Jonathan and Zack

Jordan Feliz

The concert was fantastic and I think Frank, Carla, and Kate enjoyed it.  For King and Country came out and played a few songs directly up in front of the grandstands.  And then one of the lead singers climbed up into the Governors Box!  He walked right to Kate and shook her hand.  Very cool!  :)

For King & Country

For King & Country playing right in front of the grandstand.

Here comes the lead singer into the box.

He shook Kate's hand!

After the concert we took Kate to ride the ferris wheel; very pretty all lit up at night.  I hope she had a good day at the fair.  I know I had a great day showing her (and her parents) around!

Frank, Carla, and Kate