Alaska State Fair ranked 2nd in U.S.

Frontiersman.com

PALMER — Folks outside of Alaska have taken notice of the big goings on at the Mat-Su Valley’s biggest annual celebration — the Alaska State Fair.

Country Living Magazine recently picked the Palmer fair as No. 2 in the nation for state fairs.

Alaska’s fair came in behind first-place Iowa State Fair, which was notable for its standout food, judges said.

“You have to see it yourself to believe,” said Jim Kopel, who completed the research to find the top five fairs, said in the Country Living article.

Alaska State Fair Marketing Director Dean Phipps said the award came before Palmer grower Scott Robb set a new World Record at the fair Aug. 24, tipping the scales at 138.25 pounds in the Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off. The previous world record was held by Wasilla’s Steve Hubacek, who entered a 127-pound cabbage in the competition at the 2009 Fair.

Jim Kopel, a retired Illinois teacher, has spent the better part of a decade visiting every state fair in the country, evaluating them against more than 100 criteria, and taking notes on what was unique about each event. He started his project in Iowa in 1999 and wrapped it up four years ago in Washington.

“It became something of an obsession,” Kopel says in the Country Living article. “These five top are my short list, each for very different reasons.”

At the top of his list of favorites are:

1. Iowa State Fair — Standout food

2. Alaska State Fair — Most jaw-dropping produce

3. New York State Fair — Top-notch wine

4. Minnesota State Fair — Best educational exhibits

5. State Fair of Texas — Biggest rides