Every year, I treat myself to a couple of items from the Wisconsin State Fair. It's one of my Happy Places, and I enjoy supporting the Fair and the hundreds of vendors from near and far. 

There are numerous shopping areas at the Fair, including the Exposition Center, the Wisconsin Products Pavilion, under the grandstand of the Milwaukee Mile, and scattered throughout the grounds.

Here are items that caught my attention during my shopping spree on day one of the 2025 Wisconsin State Fair.

Say "howdy" to Cowboy hats 

Buying a cowboy or cowgirl hat at the Wisconsin State Fair is practically a rite of passage. It's definitely on the Wisconsinite's Bingo Card of Must-Buy Retail Items. I almost bought one today from Leon Leather. It had a vintage look with black leather and rhinestones. But, alas, my Wisconsin "thrifty" gene kicked in and I passed. 

Goat cheese everything

During the past year, I have become obsessed with goat cheese. It has become a staple item on my grocery list. So this year I was smitten with the Wisconsin Goat products booth in the Wisconsin Products Pavilion. I sampled two different kinds of goat cheese and a delicious goat cheese curd, and bought a box of goat mac and cheese. I didn't know such a thing existed!

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A place for secrets and bad poetry

The journals from "Timeless & Handcrafted" inside the Exposition Center were handmade in India. I put a moratorium on journal buying about a decade ago, because I have so many that are waiting patiently for my pen to notice them. I just don't journal as much as I used to, but I am forever attracted to a beautiful book of blank pages.

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That cream puff is lit

I burn candles just about every night I am chilling at home, so buying candles is a necessity for me. I especially love buying candles from local  chandlers. When I saw the cream puff candle from "Scents and Such," I knew I had to have it. I am participating in the Celerbity Cream Puff Eating Contest next week at the Fair, and I plan to burn this one with the intention to bury my competitors and once again win the contest!

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Animals who love a party

I am a proud owner of many Wisconsin State Fair shirts created by The Specialized Marketing Group Inc. (TSMGI). They come up with clever and fun apparel year after year. This year, the "Party Animals" shirt was my favorite, because, obviously, the play on words with "animals," but also because "Party Animals" is an expression from my teen years and it made me smile. I did not buy it, but I thought about it. 

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Saying yes to the dress

I'm not into "hippie clothes" like the name of this booth in the Expo Center suggests, but I liked a dress so much on the rack I had to buy it. It's not the one that's face-fronting in the photo, rather the white and black one behind it. I already know where I'm going to wear it.

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A dog bandana I wanted for myself 

I am forever drawn to dog clothing. My Chihuahuas have their own dresser and closet. While perusing bandanas at "Dog Goods For Good Dogs" under the grandstand, I came across a bandana I wanted more for myself than my pups. "Fries before guys"? Oh, every time.

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Labubu I see you

I saw Labubus for sale in a few spots at the Fair today, and it was my first time seeing the popular plush toy in the wild. I don't really get the hype.

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Trendy chocolate

I finally tried Dubai chocolate a couple of weekends ago. I bought a few Dubai dark chocolate bites from Indulgence Chocolatiers, and I thought they were delicious, but extremely rich, as they are filled with pistachio cream, shredded phyllo dough and tahini. I passed on the bars at Ultimate Confections in the Expo Center, but I had a really sweet convo with one of the workers there who recognized me from being on TV. 

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Musical birds and frogs

We already own a bird whistle and a guiro frog, but I always have to stop by this booth and think if there's anyone in my life who needs a bird whistle or a guiro frog. 

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"Stick it!" to pet hair

There aren't as many miked vendors demonstrating how to use their wonder gadgets these days, but I still love to pause and watch the ones who remain. Today, I enjoyed witnessing a man sprinkle dog and cat hair on pieces of light-colored material and then whisk up every last strand with his super-duper roller thing called "Stick It!" I didn't buy one because I surrendered to Chihuahua hair long ago and now wear it like an accessory, but it was fun to watch the demo. 

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The Wisconsin State Fair runs from Thursday, July 31, through Sunday, Aug. 10. Go here for all the Fair info.