While I'm still writing about the Humboldt County Fair, I wanted to mention one of the most mind-boggling things I encountered (apart from the sheep dog trials, which were mesmerizing). I'm talking about their yearly DECORATED POTATO contest! The whole county comes together to do starchy battle in the form of potatoes in dioramas decorated with googly eyes and costumes!
Here are a couple of entries that I loved..... a bizarre Brillo-haired lady walking her pet slug and some skating potato anarchists that are bloody but unfazed. I just put up a Flickr Gallery of some other entries, including a CEO potato, pirates and a protester (an AgiTATER, I gather). I'm thinking next summer will be the summer that I start my career as a potato dioramist. If you're wondering about the divsions and requirements, I've got them for you below. As you can see, the stakes are high!
Do you suppose the local restaurants buy up the winning entries and serve them up after the fair just like local restaurants do with the prize-winning beef?
