Alaska State Fair starts on Friday!

There are many exciting events on Friday including the hot dog eating contest and scarecrow dressing contest. The Director’s Reception is Friday. And the Future Farmers of America take over the entire barn this weekend with their animals, displays and classes. The Timed Event Challenge Rodeo, Jr. Rodeo, 4 H Horse Show, and Motocross are this weekend. (And if that isn’t enough excitement, it is possible that you might see two Presidents peacefully sharing a funnel cake on the midway.)

Entry Days have changed to NEXT Tuesday and Wednesday—This is an urgent reminder that Alaska State Fair Exhibit Entry for perishables is next Tuesday and Wednesday (August 19 and 20.) This is a big shift from traditional entry days. All the details are fully explained on the State Fair website.

Here’s How You Do It—Fair entry is easy and free. Do not be scared of the process; I will walk you through it right here: There are dozens of categories and all the information is on the website alaskastatefair.org. Go to the Competitive Exhibits General Information and Guide and select your specific division, within each category. Pay attention to the guidelines. Now, package up your entry, put it in your vehicle, and travel very carefully to the Alaska State Fair Grounds. (I always put a seatbelt around my exhibit because I don’t want it flying off the seat, if I have to stop quickly.) There will be many friendly volunteers or staff to accept your entry. If this is a first time, you will receive a lifetime number for all your entries. You will fill out a small bit of paperwork. Your personal entry will be cared for, handled carefully and judged appropriately. It will be placed on display for you and a few hundred thousand people to see and admire.

This is really one of the best memories and events of Palmer’s Alaska State Fair. Give it a whirl this year. Let’s see what you’ve grown or foraged and share it with everyone. There are adult and junior and child categories along with very professional categories; all are judged separately so you don’t have to worry about competing with an expert.

Zucchini-ed in Palmer—Now is the time to “zucchini” your neighbor. Leave some of that wonderful produce on their porch. Share some with non-gardeners. Give away the extra flowers and the vegetables. Poke a few in someone’s back seat! Munch on a carrot. Chomp down on a yellow beet. Walk around with raw veggies to offer.

School Starts—It begins this week and it starts slow, at the end of the week, to allow all to move into the school schedule after a long and lovely summer vacation. There is excitement and foreboding mixed up and always a bittersweet feeling of loss of summer. Football is on now, along with track, in part to get the engines rolling for school sports and school activities. Let’s be kind to teachers this year. And lets be gently strong with our children too.

Berry Brain—Berry brain has consumed many. Once a picker, always a picker and Palmer berry pickers can’t stop. It’s nearly an obsession. But there still is that remarkable and ethical “berry code.” Always leave the lowest ones for the children. Always share your bounty. Never, ever pick all the berries. Let the elders get the easiest ones. Always lick your fingers.Favorite spots are recognizable but are often referred to as “secret spots.” Hatcher Pass and Sheep Mountain are the top elusive destinations.

The first berries in are Haskaps. The Blueberry and Raspberry are big now. The list of wild berries is long. Cloud berries, Golden Raspberries, Salmonberries, teeny tiny moss-berries, unripe sour bog cranberries, lingonberries, big blueberries, red currants, watermelon berries, and black currants. The berries are made into jellies and jams and scones and pie. Some are just frozen in wait for the cold times. Watermelon berries. Raspberries. Strawberries. It’s important to know what you’re picking. Consider buying a berry book as the most informative guide; Berry books are available at Fireside Book Store on Main Street. There are also three good apps—plantsnap, inaturalist and picturethis. Never, never eat berries you don’t know. And be grateful that real food is a generous part of our landscape.

Hello Stars in Palmer—About midnight you can now see some stars in the southern sky. I missed them and I am actually happy to welcome them back onto the Alaska night-sky theater. Say hello and welcome back! Tuesday night is supposed to offer a look at the Perseid meteor Shower!. And try to catch some of those Northern Lights which were darting about in the night skies this past week!

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. She shares the good stuff on the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group. Email bhunt@mtaonline.net or text at 907.315.3222