This is the 120th year of the Kentucky State Fair.

But Jonathan Schell's first as Kentucky's ad commissioner, we spoke to him about efforts to make sure all 120 counties felt represented at this year's Fair and why he thinks one of the state's oldest events is a lot like a family reunion.

You know, I think it's a legacy and tradition that people have from all 120 counties.

And whenever you've got good weather and good food to see the sights and the smells and and to be a part of something, it's really special.

It's the 120th state fair.

And we have 120 counties represented here.

We're unveiling a lot of things in that coordination, trying to focus on all 120 counties with 120th Kentucky State Fair.

I'm so proud of the employees that we have here.

And all the effort that they've put into making sure that we've got a great state fair.

We've had a great marketing program from the state Fair board.

All the folks that work here at this at the fairgrounds and the board really put out marketing across the state of Kentucky to try and involve multiple media outlets to get the information out everywhere.

And then also, as we were promoting our county fairs across the state, we were also promoting the state fair as well.

We've got a lot of great exhibitions that are out there, a lot of great exhibitors that are here, and there's something for everybody at this at the state fair.

If you come up this year, we also are doing some educational things with the AG, and I asked them and the employees to think of how we could create an on farm experience at the state fair.

And so it will look a little bit different than what it has in the past.

You can go in and there's an obstacle course to kind of feel like you've been on the farm and then we've got a makeshift petting zoo there so that people can read some information about animals.

And then we've got a farmer's market that you can go in and look at.

And we're also promoting the commodity tent that's outside, giving a little bit of a discount with Katy, eight bucks for kids that go through there.

Last year, I think was the first year that the commissioner of agriculture candidate at the time put in a large pumpkin for the giant pumpkin contest and most proud eighth place that I ever got.

So this year I can't participate.

But we grew a pumpkin at the Department of Agriculture and we're going to have a commissioner's challenge.

So if you brought a giant pumpkin and you're participating in that contest, if you beat me in my weight, we're going to get you a little extra prize money and maybe a t shirt that says, I weigh more than the commissioner and try to make it fun.

Yeah, my favorite thing that I've been coming to for over a decade now is the Kentucky Ham Breakfast.

That's always a really great event where you get people from all over the state of Kentucky.

It's kind of like a family reunion for Kentucky Agriculture and it's a showcase of some of the best things that we have.

A little more magic this morning as well.