Kevin Doran & 5 at the Fair: Day 8

Kevin Doran is back at the fair on Thursday. He got a behind-the-scenes look at how french fries are made from scratch, checked out some antique tractors and farm equipment at the ‘Old Iron Show,’ and spoke with the artist behind the new mural at KSTP’s building at the great Minnesota get-together.

KSTP’s complete Minnesota State Fair coverage

Here’s a look at what he explored on Day 8 of the fair:

Fair Insider: Day 8

Kevin Doran started the day out by speaking with Mike Marcotte, executive producer of Minnesota Live, with tips on avoiding long lines, as well as deals, drawings, and giveaways around the fair.

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Fresh French Fries

Kevin Doran interviewed Dan Wozniak, the co-owner of Fresh French Fries. He got a behind-the-scenes look at how they take sacks of potatoes, cut them up, and turn them into a favorite of many fair visitors!

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Christmas Tree judging at Minnesota State Fair

Doran spoke with Ken Olson of Happy Land Tree Farm in Sandstone, which grows Christmas Trees for the holiday season. They talked about how to pick out a good Christmas Tree and Happy Land Tree Farm’s participation in the annual Christmas Tree competition at the great Minnesota get-together.

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Breeding show pigeons

Kevin was joined by Amy Nicolai, she is one of four people in Minnesota to own Exhibition Pigeons. It’s a rare breed of pigeon that Nicolai is trying to help preserve by working on getting some birds from other breeders. Nicolai also showed off a couple of King Pigeons, which can grow almost as large as Chickens!

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Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the ‘Old Iron Show’ at the State Fair

The ‘Old Iron Show’ is celebrating its 25th year at the fair, visitors can see old, restored antique farm equipment up close, and watch demos of the equipment in action. Doran spoke with Don Fricke, who restored his father’s OLD Howard’s 1937 Farmer’s Union Co-Op Orchard Tractor.

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Purrniture cat furniture

Daryl Michaelson owns Purrniture, a store that creates cat furniture in St. Paul. He’s been at the State Fair since 1991, and all of the cat furniture he designs is made of recycled material. Purrniture has a very devoted following in the Twin Cities!

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KSTP-TV Building Mural

Kevin Doran interviewed Minnesota artist Adam Turman, who painted a brand new mural on the KSTP-TV Building at the great Minnesota get-together! Turman created the sketch last year for the new mural and then started painting the 24-foot-by-12-foot artwork in July. You can find the KSTP-TV building on the east side of Chambers Street between West Dan Patch and Carnes avenues.

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