Although it was discontinued in 2015, one of the most popular and well-known features in The Lost Ogle's 10-year history is our infamous Oklahoma State Fair Photo Contest. It was, to put it mildly, an extremely popular feature. We would receive hundreds of entries each year, and the final edition in 2014 drew-in nearly 200,000 total pageviews. In Internet terms, that's a lot.
Considering that we're well-known for poking fun at our State Fair culture and the people who participate in it, I was amused, surprised and somewhat worried when we received the following message in the TLO in-box:
When I first read the email, my Admiral Ackbar instinct clicked-in and I assumed the whole thing was a trap.
"The Oklahoma State Fair wants me to judge a food competition??? Yeah right. That would be like Arby's asking Jon Stewart to review their new bourbon BBQ sandwiches. There has to be a catch."
After doing some due diligence and determining the whole thing wasn't a ruse orchestrated by a vagabond band of rebel-rousing carnies (or this lady), I agreed. Turning down something like this would be the most Unoklahoman thing ever. I had to do it. At the very least, it would make The Pioneer Woman jealous.