For many years, my father’s side of the family have been farming the same piece of land, and finally this year we attained the 100 year mark, earning us a “Century Farm” distinction. To accept the award, the entire family of Pralles trucked down to the Iowa State Fair and went up on stage with our grandfather, decked out in matching “Pralle Century Farm” blue t-shirts. I think my grandpa was pretty happy to get the award, but even happier to have his entire family there for the event.

Being a very nice day (cool and only slightly rainy), we opted to stay for awhile and walk around the fair to enjoy it a bit.

My cousin’s daughter, Kennedy, is either trying to get my son to laugh or is amazed by how much he had grown. Either one may be applicable here.

We went to see a bunch of animals, including the pregnant-and-giving-birth-live display, which featured a cow complete with afterbirth still hanging out of her back end. Keston found the pen gates to be the most fascinating part of the entire experience, and quickly ‘climbed’ up one as I was holding him near. Monkey genes!

I don’t think Keston’s grandpa minded having him around, either.

Yours truly and Keston take a break from watching our relatives go on giant slings to smile at the camera.

The Pralles all lined up at the top of the Giant Slide and the girl at the top was nice enough to line us all up and let us go down like a Smurfs convention. Wheeeeeee!

All in all, a good day at the fair, and not bad for being 100 years old!