What makes a person a true Minnesotan?
Some may say it’s rooting for the Vikings or the Twins.
Others might say it’s having a special taste for tator-tot hotdish, lefse or a Jucy Lucy.
It could be owning or using a boat, a hockey stick or a snowmobile.
Or is it a propensity to utter phrases like uff-da and you-betcha in regular conversation?
Many would say it’s as simple as having a Minnesota address or paying higher taxes.
While I agree with some of the above, I think there might be an even better single indicator of true Minnesotan status.
Attending — at least once in one’s life — the Great Minnesota Get-Together, the Minnesota State Fair.
I know ... it’s not for everyone.
Some people genuinely don’t do well in crowds. And, yes, that is one heck of a crowd.
This year, 2,126,511 people attended the 12-day event in St. Paul.
For perspective, the entire population of Minnesota is about 5.6 million.
Clearly the State Fair is a very popular event.
If you’re one of us “official Minnesotans” who have attended our state’s largest event, you probably know why it’s so popular.
And, no, I’m not just thinking of Sweet Martha’s cookies.
I believe I attended my first Minnesota State Fair in 1992 and have missed only one year since. I think this was my 25th year in a row attending the fair.
So I’m not exactly unbiased in my opinion here.
But I do stand by my belief that every Minnesotan should attend our State Fair at least once.
So, what is the big deal anyway?
Many people say the food, the beer, the music, the rides, the free samples or the animals.
I can agree with all of those things, but none of them are the main reason I go every year.
The fair is one big showcase of all that is important in my favorite state and I just love taking it all in.
But even that isn’t the best part of the fair, in my opinion.
For me, the best reason to go to the State Fair is the people.
I observe people of all different ages, races, incomes, religions and interests celebrating the great state we live in.
Retired farmers mingle with big city youth on the crowded streets.
African immigrants stand in line with kids wearing cowboy boots.
Democrats and Republicans even share seats on shuttle buses.
Sure, it’s not all a perfect Norman Rockwell painting, but you get the idea.
Everyone’s equal at the State Fair.
There are no VIP suites in the food building and no first-class seats on the Ferris wheel.
For one day a year, I share great food and fun with not only the friends or family I’m at the fair with.
I’m also sharing the fair with hundreds of thousands of other strangers who, for at least one day, are just like me … truly Minnesotan.