FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn — Food. Rides. Animals. Games.
Ask anyone what brings them to the Minnesota State Fair each year and you’ll get more responses than there are food vendors. OK, maybe not that many, but there are plenty of reasons to attend each year.
And for some, it’s simple – it’s tradition.
It’s been 165 years since the first State Fair, and in that time, it’s adopted hundreds – if not thousands – of traditions along the way. The Giant Slide has been a staple for more than five decades, while the Skyride has been soaring for 60 years.
Also among those State Fair symbols… Fairchild and Fairborne.
The gleeful gophers have been wandering the fairgrounds for decades, and have since become one of the main attractions for fair-goers of all ages.
"From infants to over 90 years old," said Keri Huber, the Minnesota State Fair's archivist. "We just came across a man who had to have his picture taken with Fairchild, and I believe he said he was 92 years old – never missed a fair."
It was back in 1966 when Fairchild became the official mascot for the State Fair, but its likeness goes back even further. According to Huber, the gopher image was used in illustrations dating back to 1914.
"We're known as the Gopher State, even though it's not official," Huber said. "Even in the 1960s there were some illustrations of gophers, again, but it wasn't until 1966 when they brought the Fairchild large sculpture."
After the sculpture was introduced, fair officials held a statewide naming contest where multiple people suggested Fairchild in honor of Henry S. Fairchild, the man who suggested the Ramsey County Poor Farm become the permanent site of the State Fair.
"And, of course, Fairchild is also just a great name for a fair mascot," Huber said.
Fairchild began roaming the fairgrounds in 1967 and quickly became one of the more prominent fair figures by capturing the joy of countless children and adults.
With the State Fair being such a family friendly event, it was only natural that Fairchild would soon invite a relative to ramble around the fairgrounds with him. So in 1983, Fairchild's nephew, Fairborne, joined the celebration.
Huber says Fairborne was much smaller than Fairchild when he was introduced so he could more easily interact face-to-furry face with some of the children.
"Fairborne is over 40 now, so he has grown taller," Huber said, "but they are very fun and people really enjoy seeing them and interacting with them."
Whether it's posing for pictures or dancing in the streets, fair-goers of all ages continue to gravitate to the dynamic duo that is Fairchild and Fairborne.
