"Everything Wisconsin! You just gotta love it!" State Fair kicks off its 11-day run on Thursday

WEST ALLIS (WITI) -- It is time to celebrate the Dairy State! The Wisconsin State Fair kicked off its 11-day run on Thursday, July 31st. On a beautiful Thursday, State Fair Park was filled with thousands of folks looking to have some fun, and fill their bellies with delicious food on a stick!

The 163rd Wisconsin State Fair is an opportunity to show and share the best the Badger State has to offer.

"Everything Wisconsin! You just gotta love it!" one fair-goer said Thursday.

For the Fox family, Opening Day of the Wisconsin State Fair marks the annual family reunion -- a tradition spanning more than five decades.

"This is where Grandma and Grandpa actually met. When we were little, our parents brought us, and now, we bring our kids and they bring their kids," a member of the Fox family said.

This year, the Fox's will find the old favorites -- such as the giant slide -- but they'll also see new attractions, like the Aussie Kingdom.

"Kangaroos are so different from any other animal in the United States," a fair-goer said.

Speaking of different...

"If one of their kangaroos goes missing, it's not my fault!" Jessica Ellenbecker "All Things Jerky" Exotic Meats Grill said.

Located on South Grandstand Avenue, the "All Things Jerky" owners say they're watching the area continue to grow and develop.

"They`re building this whole street up. We started when there was really nothing here and now, look at it. It`s very busy down here, so the fair`s doing a great job of bringing people this way," Ellenbecker said.

Sandra Barble says she comes to the Wisconsin State Fair every day, for 11 days!

"I come every day. Every day! I love it. My kids know -- don't plan anything during 'fair week,' because Mom won't come!" Barble said.

Barble says she actually cries when State Fair is over! And she may not be alone -- with many saying State Fair is their favorite event of the year.

The Lacinas were another family enjoying Opening Day of the Wisconsin State Fair...together.

"We got 39 or 40. I lost count," Stanley Lacina said.

Stanley Lacina led the group through State Fair Park.

"I've been coming here since I was 18," Stanley Lacina said.

This year was Stanley Lacina's 56th year at the fair!

"Food's fresh, the people are fresh -- they joke a lot," Stanley Lacina said.

For Stanley, it was a chance to spend precious time with his 11 grandchildren.

"Gosh, there's like four generations here today. It's terrific. It would bring him to tears talking about everything," Stanley's son, Chris Lacina said. "I gotta carry on the tradition. I gotta be the cowboy and corral all the people together."

The Lacinas come to Wisconsin for the State Fair from Illinois.

"We love it. We won't go to any other fair but this one," Chris Lacina said.

The group included folks ages four to 74. The group booked 13 hotel rooms for their annual trip to the fair!

CLICK HERE to visit the Wisconsin State Fair website.