Every year at the Minnesota State Fair, the Governor’s Fire Prevention Day is marked with a competition. Fire explorers, made up of youth ages 15 to 21, come from all over the state to compete in five different events. They are timed and scored on their performances. This year, Zack Anderson and small group of Maple Grove Fire Explorers strapped on their fire gear at the state fair and were given a mission: search and rescue a mannequin inside a maze.  “We’re in full gear and are faces are covered so we can’t see anything,” Anderson described. “Then we have to work as a team to find the …

The Minnesota State Fair may have changed in the last 152 years, but the animal barns typically remain the same. The popular barns and farm animals provided a clean family destination at the fair in 2011 due to Doody Calls - which offers comprehensive, pooper-scooper service for dogs, cats, geese or whatever type of animal waste needs cleaning. This year, that included the animal barns at the Minnesota State Fair. Mike Kuehn-Hajder, of Maple Grove, is the owner of the Maple Grove location of Doody Calls which has been servicing the west and central Twin Cities area for more than last three …

To know: For the final day of the fair, many merchandise and food vendors are offering Last Chance bargains; flyers with deals listings are available at all information booths. It’s also Kids Day, and children age 5 to 12 pay only $7. The rides at Mighty Midway and Kidway have a one ticket discount all day. Barns close for the day at 3 p.m. Check out the fair’s website for a full schedule of the day’s activities and events.To visit: All day in Carousel Park, Cub Foods is sponsoring giveaways, appearances by local celebrities, prize drawings and live performances. The Mud Dogs will play a set…

Liz Talley is a vendor at the Maple Grove Farmers Market and a state fair winner. She won a blue ribbon for her homemade honey granola bar. Maple Grove Patch caught up with the award winning vendor to learn more about her products and her business. Maple Grove Patch: Is this your first year participating in the state fair? Why did you decide to enter? Liz Talley: Yes! I have always wanted to enter something in the fair, it's one of those things that’s been on my “bucket list.” Last summer I meant to enter, but got so busy that I forgot. This year, I put the deadline on my calendar. Maple …

To know: It’s Minnesota History Day at the fair and the last day in the marching band competition. Check out the fair’s website for a full schedule of the day’s activities and events.To see: Come to Carousel Park between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to celebrate Minnesota history with live entertainment, trivia contests and kids’ crafts.To stroll through history: Learn about the state fair’s past during the History Walking Tour. If you hit all 13 tour stops, you’ll be eligible to receive a free 2011 State Fair Commemorative Art Poster at the J.V. Bailey House.To mock moo: During the 15th annual Great …

Painter Bob Munson has honed his skill of rosemaling for years. He enjoys this kind of folk art painting and considers it his way of preserving history. Maple Grove Patch interviewed the painter to learn more about the passion that has earned him recognition at the Minnesota State Fair. Maple Grove Patch: What is rosemaling and how did you get started in it? Bob Munson: Rosemaling is a folk art type of painting that is usually done on wooded pieces. It originated in Norway and dates back to the 1700s. I got started years ago. When my son was three years old I wanted to make him a toy box with…

To know: It’s FFA Day at the fair, and swine, sheep and market goats will be judged in the Swine Barn. The weather is expected to be a high of 79 degrees with a 30 percent chance of rain. Check out the fair’s website for a full schedule of the day’s activities and events.To represent: Participants and winners of the “Minnesota Community Pride Showcase” competition will be at Carousel Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. An awards ceremony will take place at 12:30 p.m. to honor the 30 winners who most successfully moved “beyond current economic challenges with creative and proactive community and …

To know: The rides at Mighty Midway and Kidway have a one ticket discount until 1 p.m. Check out the fair’s website for a full schedule of the day’s activities and events.To hear: It’s MPR Day at the fair, and the public radio station will be broadcasting from the Carousel Park stage. At 4 p.m., MPR’s The Current will host a live concert with 4onthefloorhttp://www.4otf.com/ To carve: Butter. Everyone’s welcome to enter the Butter Carve-O-Rama. Prizes will be awarded to carvers in each of three age groups. Sign-in is at 4 p.m. and the competition begins at 4:30 p.m at the Land O’Lakes Stage.To…

For the last few months, four Maple Grove siblings have been preparing for a moment that will finally come this Saturday, Sept. 3 at the Minnesota State Fair. Sals Sisters, a pre-teen rocker band made up of four sisters, will take the stage at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell and perform in the State Fair Amateur Talent Contest. If they win, they’ll get a chance to jam under the lights on the Grandstand stage this Sunday night. It comes as no surprise that Paul Strangis shaped his four daughters—Kristine, Sabrina, Cassandra and Angelina—into band members. After all, he spent the better half of his …

Summer vacation wasn’t all relaxation for one Basswood Elementary fourth grader. A week before school started, Maple Grove resident Kaylyn Busch was asked to appear on KSTP's Twin Cities LIVE at the Minnesota State Fair. The reason? Pickles. Kaylyn took to the airwaves with the show’s hosts John Hanson and Elizabeth Reis on Aug. 30 to make a crunchy pickle orzo salad. It is her second time appearing on the local show, first appearing May 2010 to make a picklicious mac 'n cheese pizza. The fourth grader says she likes working with pickles “because they are nummy and crunchy." Before her second…

To know: It’s Seniors Day at the fair, and those 65 and over get in for $7. Cattle, goats, sheep and swine leave the fair at 2 p.m., and barns will be closed for the rest of the day. The rides at Mighty Midway and Kidway have a one ticket discount until 1 p.m. The weather is expected to be a high of 92 degrees with a 10 percent chance of rain. Check out the fair’s website for a full schedule of the day’s activities and events.To be fit: More than 1,000 fair-goers are expected to participate in the Senior Stretch & Stroll. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. and the program at 10 a.m. in Carousel…

Minnesota Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove) appeared at the Minnesota State Fair Wednesday, Aug. 31 as part of legislative meet and greet at the fair. Zellers talked to Maple Grove Patch about a variety of issues from Highway 610, the shutdown and fun at the fair.   The Minnesota State Fair House booth is located in the northeast corner of the Education Building on Cosgrove Street, just north of Dan Patch Avenue. Other Minnesota legislators scheduled to appear at the State Fair for a meet and greet with the public include: Thursday, Sept. 110 a.m. to noon: Rep. Leon Lillie (…

To know: The rides at Mighty Midway and Kidway have a one ticket discount all day. Equine fun will have to wait as the horse barn is closed for the day. The weather is expected to be a high of 82 degrees with a 20 percent chance of rain. Check out the fair’s website for a full schedule of the day’s activities and events.To bookmark on your calendar: It’s Read & Ride day at the fair, and public library cardholders of all ages receive a $2 or $3 discount on admission. Children can write a “story-on-a-stick” and participate in a Minnesota Library Scavenger Hunt. Activities are held all day at …

Fairgoers can get reduced admission to the Minnesota State Fair simply by showing their Hennepin County Library card Wednesday, Aug. 31 as part of Read ‘n Ride Day at the fair. In addition to the reduced admission, there will be activities and stage performances in Carousel Park by the Grandstand from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. New this year, show your Hennepin County library card at the library tent in Carousel Park to get your “I Got Carded” button. Don’t have a library card? You can signup onsite. Activities for the day, according to MELSA, include:    On the stage: 10 a.m. Super Why and Princess …

Ken and Sandy Tschannen have lived in Maple Grove since 1977. The couple started a farm on their 15 acre lot in the city raising sheep and horses, but their true passion is bee keeping. They make honey from their hives and sell it at the Maple Grove Farmers Market. They also entered some of their products at the state fair and this year they brought home 10 winners.  Maple Grove Patch caught up with the bee keeping couple at the market.Maple Grove Patch: How did you get started in the bee business?Ken Tschannen: About four years ago my wife, Sandy, wanted to give it a try so I said why not. …

To know: It’s the first ever Military Appreciation Day at the fair, and active and retired members of the military and their immediate families can get in for $7. The rides at Mighty Midway and Kidway have a one ticket discount until 1 p.m. The weather is expected to be a high of 80 degrees with a 40 percent chance of rain. Check out the fair’s website for a full schedule of the day’s activities and events. To march: The Army’s 34th Infantry Division Band plays at 10:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. at the Leinenkugel Free Stage. Military equipment will also be on display, and there will be various …

Handmade clocks brought in several award winning ribbons for Maple Grove Junior High students at the 2011 Minnesota State Fair in the Technology Education – Clocks categories. Here’s a list of the students that placed in the annual state competition, specifically for their clock creation: Clocks, various metals - Technology Education, Grade 8 First Place - Sarah Sarell Second Place - Emily Ferm Third Place - Andrew Matheson Fourth Place - Ashley Tobias Fifth Place - Brenner Hohenstein Sixth Place Brad Osatiuk   Clocks, wood frame - Technology Education, Grade 8 First Place - Sun Hyun Choi …

To know: It’s Seniors and Kids Day at the fair, and ticket prices are discounted by $3 for those over 64 and under 13. The rides at Mighty Midway and Kidway have a one ticket discount all day. The weather is expected to be 81 degrees with a 30 percent chance of rain. Check out the fair’s website for a full schedule of the day’s activities and events.To see: Drug-sniffing K-9 dogs, rollover simulations, airbag deployments and the specialty vehicles and units of the Minnesota State Patrol. Events will be hosted all day on West Dan Patch Avenue and in Carousel Park.To herd sheep: Stock dogs will…

Alya Shafik is a vendor at the Maple Grove Farmers Market.  She sells her homemade jams, salsa and olive tapenade to customers that stroll through the market every Thursday evening. She also entered 20 different jams in the state fair and took home a second place ribbon for her plum jam. Maple Grove Patch caught up with the award winning jam maker at the Farmers Market to learn more about her.   Maple Grove Patch: Why do you enter the state fair each year?Alya Shafik: I enter for the fun of it and because I enjoy the competition. I never thought I would win against a large group of people, …

To know:  Barns close at 3 p.m. and cattle, goats, rabbits, pigeons, sheep and swine will be replaced by new animals. The weather is expected to be 81 degrees with a 30 percent chance of rain. Check out the fair’s website for a full schedule of the day’s activities and events.To race: The 27th annual 5k Milk Run begins at 7:45 a.m. at the Blue Ribbon Picnic Area. The course winds through St. Paul before returning to the fairgrounds for the finish.To watch: The Minnesota State Fiddle Contest comes to its conclusion at 2 p.m. in Heritage Square with trick fiddling and twin fiddling contests, …