It’s time for Page Two: news that might not make the front page on Wednesday Sept. 24th, 2025.
The 2025 Alaska State Fair didn’t just break records — it smashed them. This year’s fair drew an all-time high of 388,798 people, topping last year’s 370,485.
Fair CEO Jeff Curtis said in the State Fair press release that he’s grateful for the community support. He called this fair “an overwhelming success that celebrates Alaska and the people who call it home.” The fair also landed at No. 7 on USA TODAY’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards for state fairs across the country.
The fair’s theme this year was “Reach for the Stars.” And fairgoers did just that. The ConocoPhillips Alaska Concert Series sold out five shows, including Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Billy Currington, Foreigner, and both performances by Weird Al Yankovic. The MTA Grandstand also saw a boost. Expanded seating drove a 34% jump in attendance for the Demolition Derby, All Star Monster Trucks, and the Rodeo Alaska Champions Tour.
The 4-H/FFA Jr. Market Livestock Auction netted $742,000 from the sale of 136 animals raised by local youth. Exhibits also jumped to 8,831 entries this year. That’s over 1000 more than last year.
In the giant produce competitions, Dale Marshall held onto his pumpkin crown with a 1,820-pound entry. The Cabbage Fairies took delight with Scott Robb’s 84.2 pound cabbage. Six new state crop records were set in eggplants, cucumbers, spinach, mustard greens, leeks, and quinoa.
And there’s more good news. Fairgoers donated 5,000 pounds of food to the Mat-Su Food Bank. Volunteers recycle nearly 50,000 pounds of material. Since 2002, the fair’s recycling program has kept more than 962,000 pounds out of the landfill.
This year’s Alaska Farm Family of the Year honor went to the Mosesian (moe-ZESS-ee-an) family of Mosesian Farms of Alaska and Bell’s Nursery in Anchorage. The family was recognized for nearly 50 years of contributions across four generations.
It’s never too early to plan ahead. The 90th Alaska State Fair begins on Aug. 21st and runs through Sept. 7th.
Here are some tidbits for you:
Today is the last day of the Matanuska Community Farmers Market in the parking lot of the log church from 4 to 7pm. Don’t despair, there will be four indoor markets in the basement of the church on October 1st, 15th, and 29th and on November 19 from 4 to 7pm.
Tomorrow from 530 to 8pm there’s a community celebration at the Palmer Train Depot. This free event is sponsored by the Palmer Community Foundation. Celebrate their 2025 grantees, learn about their projects, enjoy free food, and listen to live music by The Robotz.
Also tomorrow at 5:30pm there is a recovery discussion, and book reading and signing with Brad Alexander at Black Birch Books.
Tomorrow is First Amendment Day. Organizations and institutions around the country are celebrating it. The first amendment reads “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
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Thank you for your continued support for Big Cabbage Radio. It’s never too late to donate and be a part of your community radio. Donate today at bigcabbageradio.org.
That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Wednesday Sept. 24th, 2025.