Our State Fair

Last week at this time, Big Sissy, Bubby, and I were having a blast at the  Indiana State Fair thanks to the Indiana Soybean Alliance and the Year of the Soybeans, Indiana Pork, Indiana's Family of Farmers and the American Dairy Association of Indiana.

Bubby and Big Sissy with Bennie the Bean

Bubby and Big Sissy trying some mozzarella sticks fried in Plenish

Looks like it is a hit

Bubby wishes this was a real steer but this will work for now

Bubby and Big Sissy with Pork Chop

Bubby and Big Sissy with Buttercup

Big Sissy and Bubby with Miss Indiana State Fair 2011

Miss Amy from a Latte' with Ott, A teaching the kids about wool

Enjoying our snow cones with our buddies from Beyer Beware

Even though he is a pig farmer, Bubby loves him some cows

One week later the State Fair is recovering from an absolutely, unbelievable tragedy that happened Saturday night.  As I watch the news coverage of the stage rigging collapse at the grandstand, it just seems so surreal.

I have so many memories of watching great concerts there with my mom.  It used to be one of our traditions after we were done showing our livestock at the fair.  It just seems unbelievable that something like that could happen at a place I know like the back of my hand.  There truly are no words to describe it.

The only thing we know to do at this pigpen is to continue to pray for all of those impacted and to head back to the Indiana State Fair to show our support because we truly are lucky to have such a great State Fair.

The Indiana State Fair runs through this Sunday and I hope those of you within driving distance will be able to visit. I know we will be there.

So from the words of Rodgers and Hammerstein just remember, "Our state fair is a great state fair.  Don't miss it.  Don't even be late."

Wordless Wednesday - Yummy, yummy in our tummies

October is National Pork Month or Porktober.

We always eat a  lot of pork at our house, but we have been trying new recipes this month to broaden our pork recipe collection.

Thanks to some yummy recipes from Amy's Dinner and GOODeness Gracious, we have found too keeper recipes.  Be sure to check them out...



The Best Porkchops from GOODEness Gracious

Beer Braised Baby Backs

I hope your family enjoys these recipes as much as mine!

Linked to Wordless Wednesday at The Snyder 5 and A Beautiful Mess. 

Somebody is going to the Indiana State Fair

Somebody is going to the Indiana State Fair thanks to the Indiana Soybean Alliance just like I did yesterday with GOODEness Gracious 'N Friends.  With the use of Random. org, Holly will be receiving 4 tickets for the 2010 Indiana State Fair.  (Holly, please email me at proudporkmom (at) gmail (dot) com with your full name and address and your tickets will be on their way.)

Yesterday, thanks to the Indiana Soybean Alliance, Big Sissy, Bubby, and I spent the day at the Indiana State Fair and when I say the day, I mean the entire day.  We arrived at the fairgrounds around 9:30am and pulled out of our parking space at 9:00pm last night.  I think Bubby was asleep within 5 minutes. 

We had a blast and got to do a lot of different things so you will have to check back in with the pig pen to see what all we did..  We also were fed quite well thanks to the American Dairy Association of Indiana and Indiana Pork. 

So if you haven't been to the Indiana State Fair yet, don't worry.  The State Fair runs until the 22nd so there is still plenty of time to enjoy The Year of Pigs at the Indiana State Fair.

Farmer Fridays - The Year of Pigs

Well I have failed again...  I didn't get my Farmer Fridays post done yesterday.  Believe it or not, it wasn't from lack of effort, but The Farmer and I are actually on a mini, mini vacation to celebrate our 10 year anniversary and our Internet connection at the hotel was a little less than desirable last night.  Any way, it is working much better this morning so I thought I go ahead an post this week's Farmer Fridays.

The 2010 Indiana State Fair starts this coming Friday, August 6th.  I have always loved the State Fair.  I have great memories of showing my pigs and sheep there as a 4-Her and can only wait for when my children will be able to show at the State Fair.  In fact, even though we didn't know each other then, The Farmer and I both showed pigs at the State Fair at the same time. 

This year's State Fair is even more exciting to me than most as the theme for the 2010 Indiana State Fair is The Year of Pigs presented by Indiana Pork Farmers.  As one of those Indiana pork farmers, who could be more excited about The Year of Pigs than me. 

In honor of The Year of Pigs, I thought I would share some interesting pork facts with you courtesy of Indiana Pork. 

• Indiana has over 3,000 pork farmers around the state
• 94% of Indiana's pork farms are family owned and operated
• Indiana is the fifth largest producer of pork in the United States
• Indiana's pork industry employs more than 13,000 people
• 
  
  Indiana's pork industry spends more than $600 million in local rural communities
• 
  
  Indiana's pork industry contributes more than $3 billion annually to Indiana’s economy
• 
  
  Indiana's pork industry is the leading consumer of Indiana grain—more than $300 million worth
• 
  
  Indiana marketed 8 million pigs last year
• 
  
  Indiana's pork farmers deliver the annual pork needs of every man, woman, and child in Indiana… plus 15 million more people in the U.S., plus 5 million more people around the world!

So if you happen to be in the Indianapolis area August 6th - 22nd, don't forget to check out the Indiana State Fair, The Year of Pigs, and the Garbage Burger. 

P.S.  In the coming days, I will be having my first give-a-way which will have something to do with the Indiana State Fair so stay tuned.

P.P.S.  Don't forget to check out the video my Goode friend and her family made for the special Year of Pigs YouTube contest.