“It’s the ultimate experience, the pinnacle of what it means to be a dairy farmer’s daughter.”

— Christina Schlooser, Former Minnesota State Fair Dairy Princess

Minnesota may not have the biggest or oldest State Fair in the country. But it definitely has the quirkiest. THE FAIR captures this celebration of Midwestern eccentricity in all its deep-fried glory. You’ll witness "The Last Supper" or Prince rendered in dried corn and peas; gawk at the "Biggest Hog in the World;" eat 28 different kinds of food-on-a-stick; and the pièce de résistance — the Butterheads. Each day of the fair, one of twelve "princesses" representing the State's dairy industry sits in a 38-degree revolving refrigerated booth while her head is carved in a 90-pound block of Grade A butter. It is a uniquely wonderful American experience.

Originally featured in the short-lived PBS series "LIFE 360," the film was produced by Steven Okazaki and journalist/Native Minnesotan Peggy Orenstein. During their twelve days at the fair, they subsisted solely on food-on-a-stick. THE FAIR is an affectionate portrait of Midwestern life so often either ignored or mocked in the media. It's good, high-cholesterol Minnesota-style fun!

Produced by Peggy Orenstein and Steven Okazaki for LIFE 360

2002 / Documentary / 8 Minutes