State Fair

The Frake family readies for the Iowa State Fair as they plan a carefree day. Abel bets his neighbor, Dave Miller, five dollars that Blue Boy will win first prize and that the whole family will have a perfect day with no bad experiences. He speaks with confident optimism about the fair's outcome.

Melissa works on her mincemeat for the food competition, including brandy in the recipe. She tells Abel she dislikes cooking with alcohol, but later unknowingly uses brandy anyway. Abel secretly adds a liberal amount, though Melissa remains unaware.

Margy, the melancholic daughter, welcomes the fair as a temporary escape from farm life. Her fiancé Harry plans a modern farm after marriage, but Margy is not enthusiastic and perhaps wary of him. The fair promises change, but uncertainty lingers.

Wayne is disappointed that his girlfriend Eleanor cannot attend the fair. The disappointment fuels his desire to find some happiness at the fair's events.

At the ring-toss booth, Wayne has been practicing and keeps winning despite the angry barker's threats to call the police. A pretty girl intervenes and the barker refunds the money after the girl's claim about her father being the chief of police. Wayne tries to arrange a date with her, but the girl reiterates she has another appointment and will be on the midway that evening.

Margy meets Pat Gilbert, the Des Moines newspaper reporter covering the fair. He suggests spending time together and leaving room for an amicable breakup if needed. They plan to meet later, with Pat noting he won't be around if it ends.

When Blue Boy seems sick, Abel's friend Frank brings his prize sow, Esmeralda, for the competition. Blue Boy recovers quickly, and the contest inched closer to the competition. The swap underscores the competitive atmosphere of the fair.

That evening on the midway, Pat finds Margy while Wayne looks for the ring-toss girl. Wayne learns she is Emily Edwards, the singer with the dance band performing at the fair. Wayne goes to the show and waits for Emily to finish her song.

Pat and Margy reconnect, and it becomes clear that Margy is genuinely taken with him. Wayne, meanwhile, grows fond of Emily, setting the stage for competing affections as the fair unfolds. The emotional currents begin to pull the couples apart and together.

Abel remains hopeful about Blue Boy's chances in the grand champion boar competition, while Melissa worries about her main rival who has dominated the contest in past years. The stakes and tensions rise as the judging day progresses.

During the pickles and mincemeat judging, Melissa triumphs with first prize for her sour pickles and earns a special award for her brandy-infused mincemeat. In the boar competition, Blue Boy stands and delivers a late surge to win the grand prize as well.

Emily hosts a birthday party for Marty, and McGee pushes for Emily to sing a new song. Wayne is asked to deliver the song, but after Marty mocks him, Wayne punches him and leaves with Emily. The two spend the rest of the evening together, closing the night on a tense yet romantic note.

Pat receives a job offer to write a syndicated column, and the editor insists they meet in Chicago that night. Pat hesitates because Margy is waiting for him, understanding he might lose the opportunity if he leaves. He ultimately lands the job and contemplates a future with Margy, proposing the idea of Chicago together.

Back home, Abel tries to collect his five dollars as the mood shifts with news of Pat's job offer. Margy agrees to consider going to Chicago with Pat, signaling a shift away from the fair's romance toward a new life. The moment tensions the relationships on the farm as future plans take shape.

The fair ends with Margy heading off to Chicago with Pat, while Wayne reunites with Eleanor as they drive away. Abel finally collects his five dollars, and the evening closes with both couples stepping into new chapters. The road carries the Frakes toward future adventures beyond the fair.