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FAir Fyi The Eastern Idaho State Fair has show- cased agriculture throughout its history. Exhibitors from throughout Idaho and the country display the fruits of their labors from their gardens, their farms and their ranches during the fall fair. The fair houses over 2,000 animals including dairy and beef cattle, light and draft horses, sheep, pigs, goats, chickens, rabbits, pigeons, and occasionally ostriches, llamas, and emus. Hundreds of entries in the Flowers, Baking, Canning, Needlecraft, Antiques, Fine Arts, Hobbies & Craft, Photography, Native American, FFA, and 4-H are entered in the fair every year. For the out-of-towner Persons who travel to Idaho for the Eastern Idaho State Fair may find that camping in area campgrounds will allow the best way to enjoy this natural setting. Mountains and hot springs are just a few of the natural features that sooth the weary traveler. Outdoor activities abound for the nature lover who wants to get away from it all. The area offers some motel accommo- dations. Travelers to Blackfoot can also tour the Idaho Potato Expo devoted to exhibits featuring the area’s most famous crop. The area’s main attraction is the untouched wilderness which still remains in virtually pristine condition. Bears and trout are among common sights. Woodlands and valley alike display indigenous flora and fauna. Travelers to this region should be prepared for a rugged adventure especially if leaving inhabited areas. Careful planning and proper equipment will help reduce the potential disasters that can be inherent in back country exploration. Those unused to rigorous hiking, rafting and other activities would be advised to seek well organized activities. —Gail Leino ezinearticles.com GreAt Gourds! You’ve seen ’em. They are nothing short of monstrous. Just how do growers in our short- seasoned eastern Idaho climate produce such mammoth pumpkins? Just ask Don Langevin, author of the book How-to-Grow World Class Giant Pumpkins. He lists it out in 10 easy steps. Here is an abbreviated version: 1. prepAre the soil with a pH test in the previous fall and adjust it to between 6.5 and 6.8. 2. soW seeds indoors in 6-inch peat pots about four weeks before your last spring frost date. 3. trAnsplAnt seedlinGs into the garden once the first true leaves appear. 4. protect seedlinGs under a “mini-greenhouse” for six weeks. 5. pollinAte FloWers 8 to 10 weeks after seed starting, when the first female flowers will appear. 6. reposition set pumpkins to have the stems perpendicular to the vines. 7. select the most promisinG pumpkin and remove most of the rest. Young pumpkins that are round and especially tall grow the largest. 8. prune Vines early in the season to discourage random growth, then prune each main vine when it has reached 10 to 12 feet beyond a set fruit. 9. FertiliZe by applying water-soluble plant foods once or twice a week over the entire plant area. 10. keep trAck at least weekly. By the end of the season, you might just have a blue-ribbon whopper! Source: www.backyardgardener.com 44 East idaho statE fair GuidE | 2010 thursdAy, septemBer 9