For the children, it is story book characters coming to life. They actually get to pet a baby piglet that could grow to be a Wilbur or a Babe.
The idea of milk coming from a cow is mind boggling until they see it happen. There is a little child in all of us too. I stood by the team of draft horses waiting to go into the show arena overwhelmed by their sheer bulk and majesty.
The fair also celebrates the state from high school band day to the antique tractor parade. Each county sends their own 4-H princess to compete for the coveted State Fair Queen crown. Before you consider this as a sexist contest, consider that the girls have to only be a 4-h member of a certain age to compete. There's no bathing suit competition. It is one of the few chances a girl has to be a princess. They need a whole lot of help presenting ribbons at the fair, so several of the princesses get that honor. For a few days, they get to wear a banner and a crown. They're the envy of little girls everywhere.
The fair also brings people in contact with other people they might never meet, except at the fair, from participants, to carnies, farmers, and the occasional state trooper.
In the end, it's fun. You never know who you might end up getting a photo with either.
( The pictures were taken at the Indiana State Fair 2014.)