Info Booth Ladies

Dave Johnston is retiring after working 50 years at the Minnesota State Fair - he's sold Shammy towels for 44 years! If you've stopped and listened to a Shammy Towels sales pitch in the Merch Market, then you've heard Dave's work! Nancy Gossell is the liason for The Weavers Guild at the Minnesota State Fair. The Weavers Guild of Minnesota has been demonstrating every year since 1952 at the Minneso...

Andy's Grille is celebrating 40 years at the Minnesota State Fair! Michelle Hickey, one of four siblings that own Andy's, shares the story of this iconic brand at the fair. From Philly Cheesesteaks to Caramel Apple Seltzers to the hourly staff dance to Greased Lightning, Andy's is a fan favorite for generations of fairgoers! Plus, a surprising story about "Andy" himself! Season 6 of Info Booth Lad...

Behind the scenes stories with three different MN State Fair competitors! 16-year-old Charley Kietzman participates in both 4H and FFA, and will be at the fair all 12 days with dairy cattle! Maggie Engel has a cottage bakery and is entering cookies and bread in professional baking categories in Creative Activities, and also in Bee & Honey. Shayna Rutledge enters crochet items in Creative Activitie...

Info Booth Ladies Kristen & Margie traveled to the garden of 2025 Minnesota State Fair Giant Pumpkin Contest winner Alex Bogie, to see his 2026 crop and learn what to takes to grow GIANT pumpkins! Season 6 of Info Booth Ladies is dedicated to the memory of our friend and co-host Kathy Riewe. You can find us on Instagram at: @infoboothladies And Facebook at: @infoboothladies Looking for Info Booth...

The Abdos, a self-described entrepreneurial family, own and operate two businesses at the Minnesota State Fair. Gopher State Ice is the one and only ice supplier to vendors on the fairgrounds, and Big Fat Bacon is a truly iconic food-on-a-stick! Larry and Caryl join us to tell us about the three generations of their family who make it happen, and their favorite stories from more than 50 years doin...

Miss Shannon's Sock Hop show at the MN State Fair is a review of 20th century social dances as they would have been performed in Minnesota, from ragtime to the rock & roll stroll! To learn more about Vintage Dance With Shannon & Bill (they do weddings - how fun is that?!) visit their website at shannonandbill.com . Season 6 of Info Booth Ladies is dedicated to the memory of our friend and co-host...

A staple at the Minnesota State Fair since the 1950's, Playland Arcade has provided fun to generations of families! Tim Zahn, Chief Operating Officer of American Amusement Arcades (a division of Lieberman Companies), joins us to talk about operating an arcade at the fair. Season 6 of Info Booth Ladies is dedicated to the memory of our friend and co-host Kathy Riewe. You can find us on Instagram at...

Jean & Tim own a home near the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, and run a parking lot in their yard every year during the fair. These two are a hoot! As the Info Booth Ladies found out, the spirit of the fair family extends off the fairgrounds. Season 6 of Info Booth Ladies is dedicated to the memory of our friend and co-host Kathy Riewe. You can find us on Instagram at: @infoboothladies And Facebook...

The North Central Designer of the Year Competition takes place in the Ag-Hort Building September 2-3, 2026! Sandy Schroeck coordinates the competition - including the live "iron chef" style competition that takes place on the only Wednesday of the fair. The theme for the overall competition this year is Garden Party Glam! Season 6 of Info Booth Ladies is dedicated to the memory of our friend and c...

The Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) conducts live spay/neuter surgeries at the fair, and Shelley Cravens is the certified veterinary technician on-site all 12 days of the fair! Season 6 of Info Booth Ladies is dedicated to the memory of our friend and co-host Kathy Riewe. You can find us on Instagram at: @infoboothladies And Facebook at: @infoboothladies Looking for Info Booth Ladi...

FOCI Minnesota Center for Glass Arts has a glass blowing demonstration area and booth for shopping in the West End Market. Lead Technician and instructor Isaac Theobald joins us to share how it all works! If you've never sat and watched a demonstration, put it on your to-do list for the Minnesota State Fair this year! Season 6 of Info Booth Ladies is dedicated to the memory of our friend and co-ho...

Located in the West End Market at the Minnesota State Fair, Hagen & Oats features handmade wood art - everything from cribbage boards to custom pet portraits! Sisters Nikki and Anna own and operate the business, and share their fair story with the Info Booth Ladies. Be forewarned: after listening to this episode, you might want to become best friends with Nikki and Anna! Season 6 of Info Booth Lad...

Our Season 6 live show was recorded on 3/19/2026, with Minnesota State Fair CEO Renee Alexander and a live studio audience. It was Kathy's last podcast recording before she passed away suddenly just a few days later. She is greatly missed, but her love for the fair lives on. Season 6 of Info Booth Ladies is dedicated to the memory of our friend and co-host Kathy Riewe. You can find us on Instagram...

Season Six of Info Booth Ladies will begin on June 23rd, 2026. Season 6 of Info Booth Ladies is dedicated to the memory of our friend and co-host Kathy Riewe. You can find us on Instagram at: @infoboothladies And Facebook at: @infoboothladies   Looking for Info Booth Ladies merch? Click here! If you'd like to support the show & help us make more episodes of the Info Booth Ladies podcast, please cl...

Kristen and Margie share heartbreaking news. Please take care while listening. Season 6 of Info Booth Ladies is dedicated to the memory of our friend and co-host Kathy Riewe. You can find us on Instagram at: @infoboothladies And Facebook at: @infoboothladies   Looking for Info Booth Ladies merch? Click here! If you'd like to support the show & help us make more episodes of the Info Booth...

Surprise! One more bonus episode for Season 5 - play along with the Info Booth Ladies as we play an "I Spy" inspired game: Where on the Fairgrounds is Mary?! Season 6 of Info Booth Ladies is dedicated to the memory of our friend and co-host Kathy Riewe. You can find us on Instagram at: @infoboothladies And Facebook at: @infoboothladies   Looking for Info Booth Ladies merch? Click here! If you...

The 2025 Minnesota State Fair and Season 5 of Info Booth Ladies is in the books! The ladies recap the year, including Kristen's niece Kelsey's State Fair wedding shower! Season 6 of Info Booth Ladies is dedicated to the memory of our friend and co-host Kathy Riewe. You can find us on Instagram at: @infoboothladies And Facebook at: @infoboothladies   Looking for Info Booth Ladies merch? Click...

Pitchfork Sausage & Butcher Boys London Broil are mainstays at the fair, and Melissa Szala tells about the history of this partnership + all about their tasty food options at the Minnesota State Fair! If you're not hungry now, you will be after listening to this episode! Season 6 of Info Booth Ladies is dedicated to the memory of our friend and co-host Kathy Riewe. You can find us on Instagram at:...

Annie & Molly join the Info Booth Ladies to share their stories of entering in Creative Activities and Crop Art - including our absolute new favorite category we didn't know existed: "Fruit or vegetable doll (not made from produce), must have head, arms and legs." In the second part of the episode, Kristen & Mary interview Anne just moments after she dropped her baked goods in the Creative Activit...

The Brewed in MN exhibit in the Agriculture Horticulture Building features 200 beers from 85+ craft breweries and brewpubs in Minnesota, with 7 flights of 4 beers on tap! They also feature an NA flight, and new this year: the Award Winners Flight featuring winning MN Brewers Cup craft beers! Jess Talley, Executive Director of the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild joins us to chat about this uniquely M...

There's only one deep fried pickle game at the Minnesota State Fair -- but there are two locations of The Perfect Pickle on the fairgrounds! Mother-daughter duo Jen and Vivian are representatives of the three family ownership team, and share the story of the booth plus their own love of the fair! Season 6 of Info Booth Ladies is dedicated to the memory of our friend and co-host Kathy Riewe. You ca...

Sara Hayden and Dan O'Brien of Sara's Tipsy Pies share their story of bringing hand pies to the MN State Fair! Sara's Tipsy Pies, brought to you by Sara Hayden and Sara's Bake Shop, can be found in the Food Building at the Minnesota State Fair! Don't miss out on their new food this year: Cinna-sugar Crust Tidbits ! Season 6 of Info Booth Ladies is dedicated to the memory of our friend and co-host...

Have you ever wanted to know more about Princess Kay of the Milky Way? Well, you're in luck! Rachel Visser was crowned Princess Kay of the Milky Way the evening before the 2024 Minnesota State Fair, and before she passes the crown to the next princess, she sat down with us to talk about this legendary role at the fair, what it's like to have your head carved in butter, and being a goodwill ambassa...

Jenny Warner is a beekeer, researcher and educator at University of Minnesota Bee Lab - and has the distinction of being the very first person to demonstrate a bee beard at the Minnesota State Fair! You can watch the bee beard demonstration during the only Wednesday of the fair at 1:00pm in the Agriculture Horticulture building! Season 6 of Info Booth Ladies is dedicated to the memory of our frien...

The CHS Miracle of Birth Center is celebrating 25 years at the Minnesota State Fair, and veterinarian Dr. Mary Olson was instrumental in the creation of this ultra popular exhibit featuring birthing and newborn barn animals! Calves and piglets and lambs - oh my! Season 6 of Info Booth Ladies is dedicated to the memory of our friend and co-host Kathy Riewe. You can find us on Instagram at: @infoboo...