EVERYBODY.

>> Cathy: KEVIN KLING, ONE OF OUR FAVORITES.

>> THANKS, CATHY, THANKS, TANE.

SO THE PHILOSOPHER MICHELLE NICO SAID NOTHING PLEASES A MAN MORE THAN HEARING SOMETHING HE ALREADY KNOWS.

NOTHING SIMPLIFIES THIS MORE THAN THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR.

'CUZ, LOOK, WE DON'T COME HERE TO BE SURPRISED OR ENLIGHTENED, WE COME FOR WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW.

AND WHETHER YOUR COLOR IS BLUE, WHITE, FLANNEL, CREW NECK OR CLERICAL, I BRING WHO I AM TO WHO YOU ARE, THIS BEAUTIFUL HERD, THIS FLOCK, THIS PACK.

IT DOESN'T MEAN WE AGREE BUT OUR DIFFERENCES ARE CHANNELED INTO MINI DOUGHNUTS VERSUS MARTHA'S COOKIES, PRONTO PUPS VERSUS CORN DOGS.

FINE ART OR SPIN ART.

BIRTHING BARN OR BARBECUE.

HUMMM.. [Laughter] CHEESE CURDS OR MORE CHEESE CURDS.

THE FAIR IS A HAVEN, A REFUGE, A RESPITE FROM THE TECHNO BARRAGE FROM THE WORLD AND ANYTHING EXPANDING HAPPENS BETWEEN THE BELT LOOPS AND NOT BETWEEN THE EARS.

AND IF YOU NEED TO SLAM DOWN A BOTTLE OF PEPTO BISMAL AT THE CORNER OF JUDSON AND NELSON, THEN HAVE AT IT, NO JUDGMENT.

AND IF YOUR ART MEDIUM IS SEEDS AND BEANS, THAT'S FINE, TOO, BUT I GOT TO WARN YOU, IF THAT ROOM EVER FLOODS, GET OUT OF THERE BECAUSE IT'S GONNA SWELL UP TO THREE TIMES ITS NORMAL SIZE.

[Laughter] NOW, ROBERT BLY SAID THAT OUR COUNTRY DEVELOPED A NEUROSIS WHEN WE STOPPED WORKING WITH LARGE ANIMALS.

AND IT'S TRUE.

THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO RECONNECT WITH OUR ANCESTORS, WITH FOODS BEFORE REFRIGERATION.

WE CAN TAKE THE SAME RIDE THAT THRILLED TEDDIE ROOSEVELT AND WIN THE GRATEFUL DEAD CIGARETTE LIGHTER THAT EVADED YOUR GRANDFATHER.

RESILIENCY IS DEFINED AS MAINTAINING ONE'S SHAPE AND HOW DO WE MAINTAIN A SHAPE THAT'S BEEN COMPROMISED THROUGH LOSS, ACCIDENT, PANDEMIC?

WE DO IT THROUGH FAMILY, FAITH AND COMMUNITY.

WE DO IT THROUGH EVENTS LIKE THE FAIR, AND WHEN OUR SHAPE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED, IT'S OUR PEOPLE AND TRADITIONS THAT HOLD US TOGETHER WHILE WE GROW INTO THOSE NEW SELVES.

AND SPEAKING OF A NEW SHAPE, AFTER THE FAIR, THERE WILL BE MORE OF YOU TO LOVE!

[Cheers & Applause] SO LET'S HANG TIGHT TO THE FAIR AND WITH LUCK IN A HUNDRED YEARS, IT WILL BE THE NEW RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL.