ERIC ESKOLA WHO HAS A SPECIAL GUEST ON STAGE.

>> IT'S ONE OF OUR FINEST "ALMANAC" STATE FAIR TRADITIONS, KEVIN KLING SHARING OUR COLLECTIVE CONNECTIONS TO THE GREAT MINNESOTA GET-TOGETHER.

LET'S HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY THIS YEAR.

LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR STORY-TELLER EXTRAORDINAIRE, KEVIN KLING.

[Cheers & Applause] >> HI, EVERYBODY.

[CHUCKLING] >> HEY.

IT'S REALLY GOOD TO BE HERE.

HUNTER S. THOMPSON SAID, "THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT KNOW WHERE THE EDGE REALLY IS ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE GONE OVER IT."

NEVER WILL YOU SEE MORE MINNESOTANS WHO KNOW THE EDGE MORE THAN AT THE STATE FAIR, LUTEFISK ON A BUN?

OKAY.

BECAUSE THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE WE'RE AT OUR BEST ND SOMETIMES AT OUR WORST, SO THIS IS MY ODE TO THE STATE FAIR.

I'D RATHER TO GO TO THE FAIR IF I HAD MY DRUTHERS AND KINDLY RELY ON THE STRANGENESS OF OTHERS.

FOR THE FAIR IS OUR FAIR AND EVERYONE SWEARS IT'S THE FAIREST OF ALL THE STATE FAIRS.

WHERE ELSE CAN YOU HAVE CHEESE CURDS AND BEER BY MID MORN THEN HUSTLE ON OVER TO WATCH A CALF BEING BORN?

OR THE PEOPLE IN THEIR MUSCLE SHIRTS, ZUBAZ, SEQUINS, A FASHION PLATE FROM SURVIVORS OF THE DISCO FEVER OF '78.

RIDES AND GAMES, FEATS OF PRESTIDIGITATIONS, DESCOUPAGES AND HOMAGES TO PRE-REFRIGERATION JUST BATTER IT, DEEP FAT FRY IT AND THROW IT ON STICKS, BASICALLY WHAT WE DID IN THE 1300S TO HERETICS.

THERE IS ART THAT WINS.

AND ART THAT SPINS.

ART IN CANS.

ART IN JARS.

ART IN PIES AND CAKES AND BARS.

ART FROM BUTTER.

ART FROM SEEDS.

ART THAT CROWS AND BLEATS AND BREEDS.

A HALL OF PRESIDENTS MADE ENTIRELY OF CROP IF YOU NEED TO CLEAN UP WE'LL SELL YOU A MOP A PILLOW THAT HELPS YOU SLUMBER AND A KNIFE THAT CUTS THROUGH A NAIL AND THEN A CUCUMBER.

IF OVER TIME THE FOODS BRING BODILY DISTORTIONS, THERE'S A FUN HOUSE MIRROR THAT PUTS THINGS BACK IN PROPORTION.

THE FAIR IS AN ANNUAL CHECK-UP, A WAY TO KEEP SCORE.

BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S A LOVE LETTER TO MINNESOTA, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE.

IT'S A VISCERAL CONNECTION WE HAVE, A GENTLE REMINDER THAT WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, AND BE SURE TO BE KIND.

WHERE BUTTER IS QUEEN AND THE CORN DOG IS KING, AND WE ARE THE PEOPLE LIVIN' THIS DREAM.

BECAUSE IT'S OUR STATE FAIR, AS EVERYONE DECLARES, MINNESOTA, IT'S THE FAIREST OF