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Show American West Festival by Eric Epperson The menu is expanded for a tasty feast whether for the palate or the eye at the Great West Fair this year. New crafts and performance programs and an array of 22 different items of western cuisine are planned for the fair, scheduled July 27 to August 4 as part of the 12th Annual Festival of the American West at Utah State University. This year's production of the fair promises to be bigger and better then ever, according to Ronald Jones, co-director of the festival. "People will really notice the difference," Jones said. Food items available to fair goers will be expanded to include over 22 varieties of dishes, many of them will be introduced for the first time at the fair. Dutch Oven potatoes, corn on the cob (cooked in the husks), baked apples, as well as other delicious items will.make this year's offerings the tastiest ever, according to Jones. Arts and crafts are a major part of the fair, with a variety of skills demonstrated by craftsmen who come from all over the nation. According to Jones, "The fair is unique in that emphasis is placed on educating the public through demonstrations provided by skilled craftsmen." For example, Jones noted that a wheelwright from Idaho and a knife maker from Indiana will attend again this year. The idea of such skills being brought to the fair is to demonstrate the techniques to the public. A new attraction will be Indian Aztec Dancers from Mexico. The popular Burch Mann Grassroots America Dance Company will provide ah afternoon matinee entitled "A History of Dance in America." The company also performs during the historical pageant, "The West, America's Odyssey," which is the other major fixture of the Festival of the American West. There will be a fiddle, banjo, and guitar contest, as well as clogging, singing, and various art exhibits. A traditional feature of the fair is the Utah State quilt show finals and the display of quilts from every county in Utah. The finest quilting talents in the state will be on exhibit. Festival tickets will be sold at all ZCMI stores, Datatlx outlets, and the USU Ticket Office. Ticket prices vary with a number of options available to the public. For further information, write to Festival of the American West, UMC 01, Logan, Utah 84322, or caU (801) 750-1657 or 750-1143. |