Book Notes | ‘Blue Ribbon’
Do you love the Minnesota State Fair and want to know more about its history? Then Blue Ribbon: A Social and Pictorial History of the Minnesota State Fair by Karal Ann Marling, professor emerita of American art and culture, is your chance. Prior to her retirement from the U of M, Marling was affiliated with the departments of art history and American studies.
Published in 1990 by the Minnesota Historical Society, the book does an excellent job of chronicling the fair from its inception in the 1850s. It is a fun, fact-filled history with loads of black and white photos.
Blue Ribbon is divided into 20 chapters covering various aspects of the fair’s traditions and attractions, from Machinery Hill, the animals, and 4H exhibits, to food on a stick and the fine arts.
The book discusses how, in the early days, promoters used various strategies to get people to attend. Many of the exhibits were naturally attractive to male farmers. So, early organizers went out of their way to attract women, with exhibits and competitions just for them. Still, the fruits of the women's labors were often relegated to the fringes, while displays to attract men were featured center stage.
The UMRA Book Club laughed about how the weight of the book did not make it a good choice for reading in bed. It is a 328-page paperback filled with photographs, and physically quite heavy. Many in the group were disappointed Blue Ribbon did not cover the last 35 years, and said they would have enjoyed reading about the state fair’s recent history, too.
—Laura Ericksen, UMRA Book Club
Book Club I in August
Fri, Aug 15, 2025, 2pm
The UMRA Book Club will discuss Blue Ribbon by Karal Ann Marling when it meets via Zoom on August 15.
Upcoming Events
UMRA’s Living Well Workshop on May 12 will feature Megan Walsh from the University of Minnesota Law School for a presentation on efforts to prevent gun violence through lawsuits designed to address unlawful practices in selling, manufacturing, or advertising firearms.
Craig Moody’s Swedish ancestors were among the 60,000 Swedes who chose to emigrate to the U.S. between 1868 and 1871, because of the poor economic conditions in their homeland. He has spent the last nine years investigating their history.
Back problems as we age and how we can treat them will be the discussion topic for the UMRA Breakfast meeting on Thursday, May 14. Paul Schanfield, MD, will be our expert resource person. He is a retired neurologist, a member of UMRA, and has personal experience with back surgery.
UMRA’s Book Club I will discuss The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another by Ainissa Ramirez when it meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 15.
Peter Moe, retired University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Director and UMRA member, will lead this hike.
Executive Vice President and Provost Gretchen Ritter will discuss her role and offer reflections on her first year at the University of Minnesota as the featured speaker for the UMRA Luncheon Forum on May 19 at Midland Hills Country Club in Roseville. The forum will be preceded by UMRA’s 2026 Annual Meeting.
"Third Wednesdays in the West Wing" is a pilot program for spring 2026.
A 1987 classic, cited as the gold standard of modern legal thrillers.
Bev leads at Hyland Lake Park Reserve.
Connect, explore new ideas for what it means to live and age well, and celebrate a community of continuous learning at the fifth annual Age-Friendly University Day to be held on the U of M Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis on Monday, June 8.
Abandoned and discarded is the theme for the UMRA Photo Club meeting in June. Newcomers are welcome.
Michael leads this hike at Afton State Park.
We will gather in the Waterfall Room for an in-person, summer social and luncheon for UMRA members and guests on June 24th. Our event will include social time; a plated, seated lunch; and the always popular Summer Social Trivia Game with quizmasters Dave Dorman and Mark Jenson.
Kayaking at Lake Bde Maka Ska.
Bev leads the Nokomis walk to Minnehaha Falls.