The great Minnesota Gathering began last night and there is nothing like starting the festivities off with a griddled bacon-wrapped hot dog from the legendary Kramarczuk's Sausage Company served on a Nordic waffle alongside cheddar cheese, pickle slices and crispy onions, then drizzled with burger sauce. Yup that was right out of the gate and it was delicious. I played it cool the rest of the evening as this State Fair is a marathon not a sprint. Some roasted corn on the cob, bacon on a stick, TomThumb mini donuts, you know, light staples.