DiscoverThis American Life839: Meet Me at the Fair
839: Meet Me at the Fair

839: Meet Me at the Fair

Update: 2024-09-0811
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Iowa has three million people and a million come to their State Fair, each with their own goals and dreams for the fair. We hang out with some of them, to see if they get what they hoped for.

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  • Prologue: A big bull, a giant slide, and cowboys on horseback shooting balloons are just a few sights you can take in at the Iowa State Fair. Some people come for the spectacle, and some are the spectacle. (8 minutes)
  • Act One: Bailey Leavitt comes from a family of carnies. For her, one of the most thrilling things she looks for at the fair is someone who is really good at luring people into spending money at their stand. She takes Ira on an insider’s search for “an agent.” (16 minutes)
  • Act 2: Motley Crue pledged never to play the fairgrounds. Then they did. We wondered what that had been like for them. They agreed to an interview, but then they flinched. (1 minute)
  • Act Two: What life lessons can kids learn at the 4-H rabbit competition? A lot. (11 minutes)
  • Act Three: The Iowa State Fair awarded coveted slots to just nine new food vendors this year. All of them are run by people who already own restaurants or who’ve done other big fairs. All except for an unlikely newcomer: Biscuit Bar. (19 minutes)
  • Act Four: As the ferris wheel goes dark and the fair is closing down, one game is racing to meet their quota. Ira watches until the end.

Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org

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Comments (35)

OMG! What Happened??

Joe Biden put on a MAGA hat today. I shit you not.

Sep 12th
Reply (5)

OMG! What Happened??

Good Evening. Kamala Harris has never done one press conference nor one solo interview. Have a nice day.

Sep 9th
Reply (3)

OMG! What Happened??

Kamala now supports a border wall, fracking, funding the police, and is now against taxing service workers tips and medicare for all. Don't let these demons gaslight you, folks. These Marxists will say anything to stay in power.

Sep 9th
Reply (24)
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839: Meet Me at the Fair

839: Meet Me at the Fair

This American Life