Spoken Word Scene

NEARLY 1 MILLION PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO FLOCK TO THE WISCONSIN STATE FAIR PART OVER THE NEXT 11 DAYS. THE FAIR KICKED OFF ITS 151ST YEAR ON THURSDAY AND FEATURES EVERYTHING FROM LIVE MUSIC TO LIVESTOCK.

NEXT GENERATION RADIO'S MIKHAILA RICHARDS ATTENDED THE FAIR AND FILED THIS REPORT.

THIS ISN'T YOUR AVERAGE FAIR. WHAT SETS THE WISCONSIN STATE FAIR APART FROM ITS COUNTERPARTS IS LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. THE NORTH END OF THE FAIRGROUNDS SITS IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY. MOST STATE FAIRS TAKE PLACE IN RURAL AREAS AND TYPICALLY DON'T TOUCH CITY LIMITS.

FADE IN NAT SOUND OF MOOING AT "MOST STATE FAIRS."

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KATHLEEN O'LEERY SAYS THE STATE FAIR HAS EVOLVED OVER THE PAST CENTURY BUT HAS MANAGED TO REMAIN STEEPED IN AGRICULTURAL HISTORY.

TAPE:

IN: AGRICULTURE IS THE FIRST AND FOREMOST ASPECT OF THE WISCONSIN STATE FAIR.
OUT: THIS IS LA CRÈME DE LA CRÈME
23 SEC

ABOUT A YEAR'S WORTH OF WORK AND 50 STAFF MEMBERS GO INTO ORGANIZING THE "OLYMPICS OF LIVESTOCK SHOWING."

THE FIRST STEP IN GETTING THE COWS READY FOR SHOWING…IS SHEARING.

NAT SOUND OF COWS GETTING SHEARED FROM "THE FIRST STEP" TO THE END OF TAPE.

TAPE:
IN: WE'RE TRIMMING…JUST GETTING THE OLD HAIR OFF.
OC: ALL SPIFFED UP AND PRETTY.
IN: YOU TAKE A WILD COW.
OC: TURNS INTO A PET.
20 SEC.

O'LEERY SAYS THE EVENT EMBODIES WISCONSIN'S VALUES AND TRADITIONS.

IN: FROM AN AGRICULTURAL STANDPOINT…
OC: BUT THE TRADITON AND AGRICULTURAL FOCAL POINT HAS NOT CHANGED. 12 SEC.

AT 7 SECONDS BRING UP NAT SOUND OF PITCHMAN.

BUT, IF LIVESTOCK DOESN'T PIQUE YOUR INTEREST…WALK OVER TO THE NEW 300-THOUSAND SQUARE FEET EXHIBITION CENTER…SHOWCASING HUNDREDS OF PITCHMEN HAWKING HOME GROWN PRODUCTS AND THOSE GADGETS SOLD ON LATE NIGHT INFOMERICALS.

IN: VENDORS ARE SET UP…
OC: PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO SHOP 'TIL THEY DROP
32 SEC

IN: THIS PRODUCT, GUTTER DRAINER
OC: FLOW THROUGH
IN: UV PROTECTED FOR THE SUMMER
OC: ON SALE FOR $20

THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF EVENTS GOIN ON AT THIS 11 DAY FAIR. AFTER YOU FINISH SHOPPING --AND EATING--ONE OF THOSE FAMOUS WISCONSIN CREAM PUFFS...

FADE IN MUSIC-SOUL

YOU MAY WANT TO REST A BIT AND TAKE IN SOME GOOD MUSIC. FOR NEXT GENERATION RADIO VOICES, I'M MIKHAILA RICHARDS.