Moment: Kat Schleicher

Bear 2022 © Kat Schleicher

By Kat Schleicher

The fair is filled with so many fun and weird things that I knew I would regret not having my camera with me. So, even in the heat, chasing my kids around, I bring my camera. My kids were really wanting to win one of the big stuffed animals from the carnival games, so I was on high alert looking for them. A few other big winners had already been pointed out in the crowd. I noticed this guy lugging the giant bear through an iconic Wisconsin State Fair scene: “Puffs” (Wisconsin cream puffs), lemonade stand, and the sky glider above. I loved how the bear was bigger than him, mostly covering him up, so the only thing you notice are the human legs under the giant bear. With his back to us, it added a little mystery: “Where is he going with it?” I hoped to a few kids who would be crazy happy to have a stuffie that big—or maybe to his sweetheart—as I snapped this photo.

You can view more of Kats work on her website and Instagram.