Living at the Fairgrounds - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Living at the Fairgrounds

If you've been to every concert, gone through each commercial building, felt the thrills of the Midway and taste-tested until you could taste-test no more --- we salute you.
But you can't claim the 'eat, sleep and breathe' title here at the North Dakota State Fair, until you've added the 'sleep' part --- in the back of a horse trailer.
Jennifer Thorgramson reports.

The North Dakota State Fair is a highlight for many --- nine days to pack in a summer's worth of fun.
Of those 'many,' there's a smaller group who PACK in for the real emersion experience.
(Kay Poland, South Heart Resident) "I have three 4-H kids up here showing hogs so we brought them up here, power washed the horse trailer, put some carpet down and we're living in there. The facilities are brand new and right behind us so it's been great."
That's right, inside the horse trailer.
(Kay Poland, South Heart Resident) "Sometimes we use tents but we feel that the horse trailer was a step up because it's cooler and if we get rain it doesn't leak."
Once inside, you hardly know the difference between that, and the pricey rig next door.
DVDs, a refrigerator, cots --- the kids have their own 'room' in the front, mom and dad can stretch out in the back.
(Sam Poland, South Heart Resident) "They use the mats, they lay them out diagonal and they just sleep. This is the kids room. This is where my sister sleeps. She has the air mattress and her stuff. This is where I sleep on the cot with my blankets and cards and stuff."
Shower, bathroom and laundry facilities are right behind the Poland's campsite, and scattered throughout the fairgrounds.
(Sam Poland, South Heart Resident) "(So if you had your choice would you rather be in a camper or in here?) It doesn't matter to me."
(Kay Poland, South Heart Resident) "For the most part it's just family time and relaxation."
The kids do a lot of running, keeping their hogs comfortable in the barns.
They have four blue ribbons to bring home so far, and a couple shows left to pack into their summer of fun.
In Minot, Jennifer Thorgramson, KX News.