Every year in August, Alaskans come together to celebrate one of the State's most long loved tradition: The Alaska State Fair. Vendors from all over feature their wares and goods in a purely Alaskan venue. The smells and sounds that come from the fair: Carmel Popcorn, Turkey Legs, Screams from Carnival Rides, and Livestock, seem to be a familiar security blanket for many as they look to spend their money on this years "Fair Purchase". Let's take a look at what is at the Fair this year!

Finding your way around the fair is not as easy as it would seem. Often times one can end up missing areas of the fair, meanwhile repeatedly seeing the same areas. It can help even seasoned Fair goers to use a current map. Many vendors are new, and some of the more seasoned vendors are retiring.

Just in case you need a Map, here's one!

Kyle Nix & the 38’s

Turnpike Troubadours

presented by Country Legends 100.9, KBEAR 104.1

Noah Kahan

presented by K-HITZ 107.1 Your Valley. Your Music. Your Station

FOR KING + COUNTRY

presented by KAFC 93.7

Blues Traveler

presented by Coors,102.1 KTMB, Valley Radio Q99.7, the voice of the Valley, Image Home Furnishings

Flogging Molly

presented by KZND 94.7, Sierra Nevada

Nate Bargatze

presented by KASH 107.5 Country, KGOT 101.3

Home Free

presented by Country Legends 100.9

Yung Gravy

presented by Alaska's Hottest Hits 92.9 KFAT

J. Boog

presented by Alaska's Hottest Hits 92.9 KFAT

Killswitch Engage

presented by Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman,106.5 Alaska's Rock!

The String Cheese Incident

presented by 95.5 The Pass - Hatcher Pass Radio

Little River Band

presented by Bud Light, KOOL 97.3

Noah Cyrus

presented by Mix 103-1

The one unique feature of the Alaska State Fair is the vegetable exhibit. The combination of the rich, fertile soil combined with Alaska's midnight sun results in extremely large vegetables. The most coveted is the pumpkin. The current record for the largest pumpkin is 2147 lbs. Contest rules and guidelines will follow those set forth by Alaska State Fair, Great Pumpkin Commonwealth and Guinness World Records. Many different factors such as the amount of rainfall or sun during the summer months contribute to the overall health and size of the pumpkin. Transportation and lifting is also a factor, due to the fact that the pumpkin must not be cracked or split. This years contest will be August 28th at 2:00 PM.

If this is your first year of homeschooling you may be wondering how you are going to proceed with teaching your child. Rest easy with the fact that you already have been teaching them their whole life. However here are a few tips from our teacher/advisors:

1. What does the school do? The school is a guide for you. The school helps to make sure that the courses your student is taking will lead them to graduation. The school will also cover costs for curriculum, supplies, and tutoring required for said courses. In other words, the school does not provide instruction for your student, that is provided by you - the parent! But don't worry, you have been teaching them for their whole lives!
2. What does the parent do? When homeschooling, the parent is in charge and control of the day for the student. The biggest responsibility and challenge is creating a schedule that both the student and parent can successfully keep. It has been said that, "Practice makes perfect, but planning makes practice easy!" The parent also is the best judge of what is working for a curriculum in regards to what will interest the student and if they are able to understand the material. It is here that good communication with the Advisor/Teacher is essential, as the Advisor/Teacher is familiar with different curriculum and can help choose the right one for the student's needs. Use the expertise and knowledge of your Advisor/Teacher to gain insight on different avenues to foster your students inspiration. Remember: Inspiration creates motivation.
3. What does the student do? When enrolled full time in a homeschool program, all core subjects should be covered (Math, ELA, Social Studies/History, Science), as well as electives such as art, music, and PE. Some students will do well taking a sample of each course every day, while others might just do certain subjects on certain days of the week. Students should keep their work together and organized, with help from parents, and be ready to turn in for work samples when needed. Most importantly, students should incorporate their school in their everyday lives. Sometimes it helps to attach a subject to something that is already happening during the day. For example, "When I finish lunch, I am going to do math," or "When Dad goes to work, I start doing school work." Keeping things in routine helps create balance and a positive countenance.

"The easiest way to walk a mile is to step every day with a smile!"

Here are some tips from our Teacher/Advisors:

• Be sure to communicate well with your Advisor/Teacher
• If you hit a roadblock, ask for help!
• Be patient, it will get easier.
• Classroom is anywhere, however make sure that they have everything they need to succeed.
• Keep to a schedule.

Here is wishing you a fun and successful school year!

Of the many weeds that grow here in Alaska, the one that is by far the most famous is the Fireweed. It is thusly named due to its ability to grow after a wild fire or areas burned severely by fire. But for Alaskans, the growth of the Fireweed shows how much of the summer is left. As the summer progresses, the blooms will start at the base and go to the top. Once all of the blooms have opened and closed, the flowers will turn to a cotton seed, and show that fall has commenced.

Fireweed is actually quite a fascinating plant. According to the U.S. Forest Service:

"Fireweed is a tall showy wildflower that grows from sea level to the subalpine zone. A colorful sight in many parts of the country, fireweed thrives in open meadows, along streams, roadsides, and forest edges. In some places, this species is so abundant that it can carpet entire meadows with brilliant pink flowers.

The name fireweed stems from its ability to colonize areas burned by fire rapidly. It was one of the first plants to appear after the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1980. Known as rosebay willowherb in Great Britain, fireweed quickly colonized burned ground after the bombing of London in World War II, bringing color to an otherwise grim landscape. Fireweed is the official floral emblem of the Yukon Territory in Canada.

A member of the Evening Primrose family (Onagraceae), taxonomists previously included fireweed in the Epilobium (willowherb) genus, but it is now placed in the Chamerion (fireweed) group. The Evening Primrose family contains about 200 species worldwide.

A hardy perennial, fireweed stems grow from 4 to 6 feet high but can reach a towering 9 feet. The numerous long narrow leaves scattered along the stems are the origin of the species name "angustifolium" (Latin for narrow leaved). The leaves are unique; leaf veins are circular and do not terminate at the leaf edges. A spike of up to 50 or more pink to rose-purple flowers adorns the top of the stems from June to September. The four petals alternate with four narrow sepals, and the four cleft stigma curls back with age. Each flower is perched at the end of a long cylindrical capsule bearing numerous seeds. Seeds have a tuft of silky hairs at the end. A single fireweed plant can produce 80,000 seeds! The delicate fluffy parachutes can transport seeds far from the parent plant. The fluff was used by native peoples as fiber for weaving and for padding.

Fireweed was important to native people around the world. Choice patches of fireweed were even owned by high-ranking families in British Columbia. Tea was made from the leaves. High in vitamins A and C, fireweed shoots provided a tasty spring vegetable. Flowers yield copious nectar that yield a rich, spicy honey. Today, fireweed honey, jelly, and syrup are popular in Alaska where this species grows in abundance.

Fireweed can be a beautiful addition to the home garden. Since it reproduces readily from rhizomes as well as from seed, fireweed can quickly take over a garden if left unattended. You will be rewarded for your efforts however, since the colorful flowers are sure to attract lots of pollinators."