Family State Fair Experiences=Memories For A Lifetime

It's the time of year that I can't help but think of my dad, Roger Toren, a lot. This time of year, we would have already been up to Glacier National Park, at least, once. Now with the fair here, Daddy is always in the back of my mind.

Don't get me wrong, my mom loves the fair too, but not like my dad. Growing up we'd go EVERY YEAR for a minimum of 2 days. We'd get a hotel room and then head to the fairgrounds. Mom and Dad would hand my brother and me $20 (in the 70's that was a pretty good chunk of change) and we'd hit the midway. Mom and Dad would people watch from the beer gardens. We'd go sleep like champs, wake up and repeat.

I have so many great memories of the fair.

My first concert was Weird Al at the fair with my brother.

Then there was this time that my brother nearly fell off of this one ride that went in circles and made these jumps like on a bike. My brother slipped out of the seats and was holding on to the bar for dear life while my mom is screaming at the guy to stop the ride (he refused) and I'm trying really hard to keep my brother holding on. Good times. You're asking yourself, why wasn't he strapped in? To that I have 2 words for you: The 70's.

Best memory of the fair overall, going on rides that made my brother puke.

Now, as an adult, I still have so many new and great memories of the fair. (Even bad memories become great memories when the hurt wears off, lol) Most of them have to do with my job and my coworkers, but they're great none the less.

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Little did 16 year old me know, but I'd be one of the people introducing concerts at the fair someday.

Check out the view from back stage 🔽🔽🔽