Alaska #12: Alaska State Fair

Photo: Scott Stevens

We had a brief time in Anchorage between our trip to Utqiaġvik and our next trip, to Nome. So, we indulged one of Scott's desires. We went to the Alaska State Fair in Palmer. Scott likes state fairs, but so often they are hot and crazy crowded. That makes the Alaska State Fair perfect. The weather was cool and the crowd small. 

The Alaska State Fair is much like a typical fair, but its famous for its record-setting giant vegetables, especially cabbages and pumpkins. We managed to show up in time for cabbage judging in the junior division -- basically children who have grown cabbages much larger than themselves. 

Children with their cabbages -- note one is named "Huge Jackman"

It's a big deal -- with uniformed judges ...

Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off

... and whatever this is ...

The Cabbage Fairies

The giant cabbage contest tradition began in 1941, when a $25 prize was offered for the largest cabbage and the prize cabbage weighed 23 lbs. The official Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off was established in 1995. In 2012, grower Scott Robb entered a 138.25 lb. cabbage, which not only took first place, but also set a new world record. This year the top cabbage weighed 94 lbs.

Reminds me of the Little Shop of Horrors

And, the top pumpkin weighed 1,471 lbs.

Scott and me with giant pumpkins

The Fair is also known for its location at the foot of the Chugach Mountains in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. Like most fairs, the event features amusement rides, food concessions, competitive exhibits, carnival games and live performances, including a lumberjack show that we saw the very end of.

Photo: Scott Stevens

The first Alaska State Fair was held September 4-7, 1936. It is interesting that it was called a "state" fair even though Alaska didn't become a state until 1959. I guess you have to call it something. Maybe "territory" was too hard to spell.

It was organized by members of the Northland Pioneer Grange No. 1, an agricultural fraternal organization formed in the Matanuska Valley in 1933. 

Planning for the Fair began in 1935, at the same time the Matanuska Colony, a New Deal resettlement community for out-of-work Midwestern families, was formed. The Colony was designed to decrease Alaska's reliance on imported food, increase the Territory's population (I suspect that means increase the white population) and give Midwestern families on public assistance a new start.

Fair Caribou

During World War II, the Fair took a five-year hiatus from 1942 to 1946. The first carnival rides were introduced in 1950 and, in 1967, the Fair moved from a smaller location to its current site. 

More than 300,000 people attend each year. That may seem small, but Alaska's population is less than 750,000!

We wandered around a bit, visiting the agriculture and livestock exhibits.

 Compared to other fairs I have attended -- such as the Iowa State Fair -- the displays are very small. The vegetables and flowers don't take up much space and there are very few animals. Rabbits seem to be the most popular animal in competition. But, it was the first time I have seen a Caribou at a State Fair. It's way different than the endless corn and pigs in Iowa.

Photo: Scott Stevens

I was a bit surprised that there was no Muskox division!

And, of course we ate! Because that's the main reason to go to a state fair.

We shared some fried halibut (because you can never have too much halibut), Scott had some Fair oysters and I had a salted caramel "Denali Cream Puff." All were delicious.

There was a display with animatronic dinosaurs that was pretty cool and we listened briefly to a local band before heading back to our car. 

The Fair has big name entertainment, as well, but the night we were there, it was a new age, indie singer we hadn't heard of.  We missed Jonny Lang by a day. Darn!

We didn't stay long, but it was a lovely evening -- probably the most pleasant state fair I have ever attended.

Alaska State Fair Entrance; Photo: Scott Stevens

Trip date: August 17-September 4, 2018