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Article: MINNESOTA STATE FAIR; CHAMPION OR CHEAT? Livestock shows are the home-grown heart of the State Fair. But this folksy tradition is being marred by fraud.(NEWS)
- Article from:
- Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)
- Article date:
- August 21, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Star Tribune Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Jill Burcum; Staff Writer
If your beast brings home a blue ribbon from the Minnesota State Fair this year, its victory had better be won fair and square. The fair's resident watchdog on livestock-show cheating is watching more closely than ever.
"I've got eyes and ears out there in all kinds of places," said Steve Pooch, the State Fair's livestock sleuth. "Everybody knows that I don't take any of this stuff. I'm not going to be lenient."
With animals' gentle lowing and the fresh-scrubbed faces of their youthful handlers, the show rings of America's state fairs have few rivals for epitomizing the wholesomeness of farm life. That ...