Ah, the end of August… the time for many of my favorite things:

• The September issue of Vogue (yes, this is at the top my list intentionally)
• The arrival of acceptable “boot weather” (full disclosure, I wore boots last Saturday)
• The back to school rush (I am long since out of school, but I cling to that feeling of renewal, reinvention, fresh starts and the excuse to shop)
• The approach of football season (more specifically lazy Sunday afternoons on the couch with a beer)
• And, of course, the Minnesota State Fair

mnstatefair.blogspot.com

Tomorrow, and every day for the next twelve days, 100,000 to 200,000-plus people per day will storm the State Fairgrounds.
I admit I’m a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to the Fair and I stick to the old-standbys (vs. the latest iterations on a stick): Corn dogs, corn on the cob, cheese curds, mini donuts, a bucket of chocolate chip cookies and all the milk I can drink, saltwater taffy, and beer at the Leinie Lodge. Not necessarily in that order.

Sidenote: Speaking of the Leinie Lodge, I mastered the art of the perfect pour working one summer at the Lodge in college. If you are ever out with me and can get someone to let me behind the bar, I will show you.

This year, however, I will be adding a new item to my go-to list: The Deep Fried Nut Goodie. And really, when you think about it, this fits right in with my traditionalist list. The beloved MN candy bar is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and has been enjoyed by Midwestern families for generations. Is it on a stick? You’ll just have to go try one and find out!

EDITOR’S NOTE: Fast Horse is helping Pearson Candy Company celebrate 100 years of Nut Goodie-ness in a big way during the month of August, including the deep fried version of the original Nut Goodie at the Minnesota State Fair, the first ever permanent new flavor Sea Salt Caramel Nut Goodie, and a chance for fans to win an exclusive peek inside the “House of Pearson’s”.