One of the joys of living in flyover country is the annual state fair. It is a mix of traveling circus, amusement park, unbelievable food, live entertainment and serious competitions.

You see children (and adults) vying for prizes for raising livestock; you can watch everything from barrel racing to sheep shearing; and you can not only see the biggest watermelon but also participate in watermelon seed-spitting contests, not to mention other contests and games. And don’t forget the famous butter cow — that is, a life-size cow carved out of butter — if you’re fortunate enough to attend the Iowa State Fair.

One of my favorite stops at a state fair is the animal barn. Go there, and I promise you’ll see a crowd around one pen in particular: the prize-winning “largest hog.” Winning the largest

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