Oakdale at the Fair: Resident's Handiwork on Display

Oakdale resident Lorraine Schire has a crocheted afghan, a baby afghan and shawl on display at the Minnesota State Fair. Oakdale Patch editor Patty Busse talked with Schire about what it’s like to be part of the fair.

Oakdale Patch: Have you entered items in the Minnesota State Fair before?

Lorraine Schire: I’ve entered the last three years. I had entered one 20 years ago, and I just got back into entering—especially for my aunt. She’s 92 and still crocheting.

Oakdale Patch: Why did you decide to start entering items in the state fair again?

Schire: I entered probably the last 10 years at the Washington County Fair and I’ve always enjoyed that. It’s in my neighborhood and it’s easy to do, and then I thought, you know, why don’t I go to the fair, because I can. So I just made the time and made the effort to do it.

Oakdale Patch: How much time do you devote to your state fair projects?

Schire: The projects are always ongoing. I work at Xcel Energy and a group of us get together and we are crocheting or knitting scarves for the troops.  We’re also putting afghan blocks together for The Salvation Army or Ronald McDonald House. I crochet while I’m watching the Twins games, so it’s a great pastime. When it comes to entering in the state fair and even the Washington County Fair, you always want to make that project a little more special, because the competition is great.

Oakdale Patch: How has the fair experience been for you?

Schire: It has been really great. My husband teases me that every year all they do is close that garage door and they open it up with the same stuff, so its kind of a running joke. The last time when I did it, like 20 years ago, I was pretty nervous about bringing something—was I ever going to get it back? The last three years, bringing something was very systematic. You come in, they’re really prepared, they’re very gracious to take care of your items. It’s returned to you in great condition, and you can tell the extra care that’s taken there. They make it very easy for the drop off and the pickup.

Oakdale Patch: What’s your favorite thing to do at the fair?

Schire: Going to the Creative Activities building, of course!

Oakdale Patch: What’s your second favorite thing?

Schire: We always do have our favorites. I love going to the dairy building to get that ice cream cone. It’s always walking around, seeing the new things and taking in all your favorites at the same time. Last year we were waiting for the Roseanne Cash show and we were waiting through the talent contest, and we ended up so enjoying the talent contest that we’re going to spend some time out there too.