Tagged: kentucky state fair

New calculations show that Kentucky State Fair attendance dropped slightly this year, but state officials say the event was still a success.

Attendance was just under 600,000 for the 11-day event. That's about 5,000 fewer people than the year before and the first time since 2008 that attendance was below 600,000.

Attendance has varied for the last decade, fluctuating by several thousand year to year.

The Kentucky State Fair grand champion country ham fetched $300,000 at a charity auction today.

Since 1964, the top ham has been auctioned at the close of the Kentucky Farm Bureau country ham breakfast.

This year’s top bidder was Louisville optometrist Dr. Mark Lynn.

"Louisville has been very, very good to us, we’ve been very lucky in life. We feel very fortunate. I’ve got four great kids, seven great-grandkids and a wonderful wife and it’s time to give back," Lynn said.

This is the opening weekend of the Kentucky State Fair, and what better time to revisit Devin Katayama's radio portrait of the fair from last year? 

For anyone anticipating an afternoon on the midway, let this get you even more excited. For those of you who would rather skip the whole thing, this is your vicarious visit.