Great Get-Together parts ways again

Renee Jones Schneider, Star Tribune

Children rode the Tilt-A-Whirl at the Midway at the Minnesota State Fair.

On the last day of the State Fair, the sights are especially delightful, the food especially delicious.

By EMILY JOHNS, Star Tribune

Last update: September 7, 2009 - 10:10 PM

It's over for another year. Those who flocked to the Minnesota State Fair on Monday lingered a little longer than usual, reluctant to let go of the fun -- and carefree summer days. Total attendance figures won't be available until today, but with two record attendance days -- the first Thursday and Tuesday -- a record is possible. Some vignettes from the last day: Crowing over good manners

Ian Ulvin thinks he has the secret to getting a reluctant rooster to crow. It just takes a little begging, said the 12-year-old from North Branch, Minn.

"When I cross my hands, and get on my knees and say. 'Please, please, please,' it works. It's worked every time."

Ian should know. On the final day of the Great Minnesota Get-Together, Ian and his mother, Michelle, were in the Poultry Barn for the final round of the fair's rooster crowing contest. Ian's rooster, a Red Pyle Old English rooster named Billy Bob, won when he crowed 95 times in one hour. The next closest rooster crowed 83 times.

"It's pretty exciting," said Ian, who won $100. He plans to spend the money on feed.

Michelle isn't so convinced it was Ian's process that got Billy Bob to crow. "Usually, we can't keep him quiet," she said. "I think it's mostly luck."

Sad that it's over

Kimberly and Scott Moe have a family tradition: going to the fair every year on its first and last days.

Kimberly is a teacher in Osseo, so the last day of the fair gives her one last blast before the school year.

Their must-sees? The animal barns, the Education building and mini-doughnuts.

Daughter Makayla, 5, loves the giant slide. On Monday, she also built a toy helicopter at the Home Depot tent.

"The end of the fair is always sad for me," Kimberly said. "It's done, it's over, and you have to wait a whole 'nother year [before you can] come back."

'All we do is eat'

Michael Williams and his wife, Sherrie, of Columbia Heights, were taking a break on a bench outside the Merchandise Mart.

"We have it down; we have a routine," Michael said of their trips to the fair.

"All we do is eat," added Sherrie.

What's on the menu? Fries, pork chops and a "Seville sandwich," which Sherrie said is kind of like a burrito.

While they don't make it to the fair on Labor Day every year, "we just waited until the last minute this time," Sherrie said. "The end of the fair means the end of the summer," Michael said.

Until next year ...

Cheryl and Paul Bequette have a confession to make about their 30 years of trips to the Minnesota State Fair, one of the "best in the country," according to Cheryl.

"We're not even from Minnesota," she said.

The couple, who live in LaCrosse, Wis., love the fair because "there is so much to see, and the people-watching is great," said Cheryl. "We have a ball."

"We're looking forward to next year," said Paul, who was snacking on Cajun shrimp-on-a-stick. "Delicious," he said.

Emily Johns • 612-673-7460

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