Wander Minnesota: A Different Kind of Wrestling

One of the things I love about Minnesota is the vast number, and variety, of festivals that take place every year. I profile a few every month on my other blog, but it's only a drop in the proverbial bucket of what's available out there, from serious arts events to homages of historic events to harvest festivals to tributes to all sorts of Minnesota flora, fauna, and food. One event that I've wanted to witness for years takes place each August in Barnesville at the Potato Days festival: mashed potato wrestling.

You gotta love a community that will pay tribute to its major farming products in such a manner. Sure, there are plenty of other ways to honor potatoes, and those happen at Potato Days too: spud car racing, potato peeling contests, potato sculpting contests, and of course a French fry feed and plenty of lefse. But this takes the (potato) cake. Look how much fun these kids are having!

There's a referee of sorts (you have to be a really good sport to sign up for that job), but mostly he just watches the mashed potatoes fly.

If you're worried that rolling around in a vat of mashed potatoes will leave you sticky and overly attractive to flies, never fear -- the local fire department was on hand to help out. Fortunately, it was a toasty warm day.

Want to see it in action? Check out the video to the right (courtesy of Mike Rea).

What else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding Minnesota.