The fair is always a time that is very exciting for the Big Blue Crew, but along with this excitement we also have moments that we can only describe as crazy. So today we decided to share the top 5 crazy mishaps that have happened at the 2017 Knox County Fair so far.

#5 We started off fair week with a bang and a bruise, as Marcy was struck by a nearby patron playing the ball toss game located right next to Big Blue. The boy had quite the arm but did not have the aim and Mary’s ankle turned shades of black and blue. Luckily, Marcy was able to walk for the rest of fair week.

#4 Number 4 is part 1 of the mishaps the occurred during the raging storm that fell on the Knox County Fair Sunday evening. While the clouds were brewing in the skies above, Joe had somehow managed the misplace the golf cart keys with a very noticeable bright orange tag on them. Joe did eventually come upon a new pair of keys thanks to the Fair Board, but not after getting a little bit wet. And by a little we mean a lot.

#3 All while Joe was on a scavenger hunt for keys, Lilly ended up playing in the mud by the pig barn. Not by choice mind you, but lets just say the rain caused the fairgrounds to become a great location for a slip slide. Lilly ended up with a brown streak on her backside, which we hope was only composed of mud. Luckily once Joe obtained some golf cart keys, he came to her rescue. Joe employed the technique of using an umbrella while driving, as the golf cart did not have a hood.

#2 On Wednesday the trusty golf cart that rescued Lilly died, causing quite a commotion. Luckily there were other golf carts available so the Big Blue Crew was able to acquire another one. The crew still does not know to this day what the issue with the golf cart was.

#1 To finish our list, lets just say things at the Knox County Fair got a little bit saucy. On Tuesday a war of the sauces occurred, as a young boy, we will call him “Table Diver”, tried to take shelter from another boy who for some odd reason wanted to reek havoc with a container of ketchup. The boy, who was give the name “Ketchup Kid” by the crew, hid under the WNZR table, but he could not escape his fate and was covered in ketchup. Another splash of sauce hit the WNZR team when a fair-goer was very excited about their recently acquired pulled pork nachos. This person was a rebel who elected to recklessly hold their nachos with only one hand, and as a result ended up slinging barbecue sauce everywhere. There was sauce everywhere, on the tent post, on the kids registration bucket, on the table cover (which luckily the stains came out of), and of course all over Eddie’s pants.

This morning we continue to highlight the Knox County Fair! Today, its sale day!

There are 983 youth participating in shows and exhibits at this year’s Knox County Fair with 1,578 total projects. Of that total there are 676 kids are showing 1,271 animal projects this week. Today, is their big day!

It’s sale day at the Knox County Fair and you have a chance to win a hog!

WNZR has partnered with the Mount Vernon Nazarene University Admissions Office, Kokosing Construction Company and A+ (plus) Autobrokers to purchase 4 Hogs at the Knox County Junior Fair Sales. Each hog will be processed by Smithhisler Meats and the meat will be given to one of our FOUR ADULT prize winners! PLUS our four winners will receive a $100 dollar Kroger gift card courtesy of Cosby Heating and Cooling!

Each adult prize is valued at approximately $800 dollars (includes sale price, processing, gift card and the 2017 On The Road with Big Blue t-shirt)!

*Employees and immediate family members of Kokosing Construction, A+ Autobrokers, Smithhisler Meats, Cosby Heating and Cooling, WNZR and MVNU Admissions are NOT permitted to participate in this giveaway. Immediate family members are mother, father, spouse, child, brother or sister.

*A complete list of rules for On The Road with Big Blue can be found online at wnzr.fm or at our tent.

Here’s how the giveaway works:

You can register at the Knox County Fair by visiting Big Blue next to the Fair Board Office or you can register online HERE!

At 6 p.m. THIS Saturday, (July 29^th), we begin drawing names. If your name is announced, you have 9 minutes and 9 seconds to call (740) 392-9090 or come to the WNZR Tent located near the Fair Board Office at the Knox County Fair to claim your prizes.

Names will be drawn until four (4) winners are secured. Each time WNZR draws a name, 9 minutes and 9 seconds will be given to claim the prize. Winners must be present or listening to WNZR, 90.9 FM to win.  Winners must provide proof of identification when claiming the grand prize. Only the registered winner may claim the grand prize.

Registration deadline is THIS Saturday, (July 29^th) at 4 p.m.

WNZR is “On The Road with Big Blue” this week at the Knox County Fair and we had the chance to talk with students involved in 4H and FFA animal projects.

We learned all about what it takes to show an animal at the Knox County Fair and how students prepare for the week. We talked about raising chickens, rabbits, turkeys, hogs, dairy feeders, lambs and more!

Click HERE to hear these fun conversations.

If you or a friend is involved in a 4H or FFA project at the Knox County Fair, stop by Big Blue, located by the fair board office. We would love to learn about your animal or project too!

On Monday, we highlighted the Junior Fair Board, to hear the full conversation, click HERE!

For today’s Meet the Team Feature, we highlight the Knox County Fair’s Junior Fair Board. Rachel Rinehart had the change to talk with President Clayton Noggle and Reporter Renee Kinser about their experience.

Clayton gave us an inside look at his responsibilities and how he has prepared for this year’s fair. He also talked about how 4H has impacted him and why it is a great experience for the Youth of Knox County.

Listen to our conversation with Clayton, HERE!

Renee also told us about her projects and responsibilities and why students should get involved in the Junior Fair Board. She explained why she got involved and what she hopes they can do for the community this year.

Listen to our conversation with Rennee, HERE!

For the Knox County Fair’s complete schedule of events and shows, click HERE!

And, for more information about how you can win a fully processed hog at the Knox County Fair this year head over to our website, wnzr.fm!

Today is junk food day! A day when it is totally okay to splurge on whatever your heart desires! Who doesn’t love fried food, chocolate, salty potato chips, or and surgery drinks every once in a while? But, what about tomorrow or the next day? What do we do when we get the munchies and want a quick snack? This morning we dug into an article from Liz Vaccariello on Reader’s Digest about ways to train your brain to hate junk food. These tips will help you outsmart your junk food cravings and turn toward a healthier option!

Check out her full article, HERE!

1. Practice the five-ingredient rule

If there are more than five ingredients on a food label—a red flag for food processing—don’t buy it. (Or if you do, consider it a treat instead of an everyday purchase). This is an easy way to avoid impulse buys like flavor-blasted chips or pre-made cookies when food shopping.

2. Aim for three colors

A 2012 Cornell study found that people prefer three food items and three different colors on their plates, compared with more or less of either category. So instead of reaching for a candy bar, snack on nuts (loaded with healthy fats), fruit slices, and a small square of dark chocolate to get a healthy variety of colors, textures, and nutrients.

3. Break your routine

It only takes a few weeks to form a habit. So if you always associate 3 p.m. with a trip to the vending machine, start a tradition to walk around the block for five minutes instead. This may kick your craving altogether.

4. Make healthy food your treat

One of the best, easiest desserts? Stash red grapes in the freezer, and cap off dinner with something sweet without kick-starting sugar cravings.

5. Keep the healthy stuff handy

Store healthy foods you want to eat more front and center in your fridge and out on your countertops. Snack foods are so easy to dig into—you just rip open a bag. If you had, say, red peppers all sliced and ready to go, they’re all the more tempting to dip into hummus.

6. Know your trigger foods

Whether you’ve got a sweet tooth for chocolate and red velvet anything or love salty treats like pretzels, know the foods that send you down the spiral of junk food binging. You’ve already accomplished half of the battle by identifying them. Keep them out of the house.

7. Gross yourself out

One surefire way to consume less processed food is to learn more about what you’re really eating. Here are a few that make us cringe: Those frozen “grilled chicken” breasts get their marks from a machine infused with vegetable oil. The preservative BHA is added to processed food like Tang, Kool Aid, and breakfast sausage even though Health and Human Services consider it a likely carcinogen. The vitamin D3 added to many yogurt brands is manufactured from sheeps’s grease. And the “natural flavor” in BBQ Baked Lays is made with milk and chicken powder. Yuck!

8. Chew more than you need

Adam Melonas, renowned chef and  founder of UNREAL candy (along with Nicky Bronner, a 15-year-old determined to “unjunk candy”) shared this smart tip: “If you can make people chew more, they’ll eat less.” Next time you sneak in a treat, chew slowly and consciously. Wait until you finish one bite to take the next.

Even though we love junk food and fully plan on celebrating the sugary, salty, and friend foods today, we hope these tips help you beat those cravings tomorrow, next week and next month!

Check out our Morning Thing Fave 5 for our favorite healthy snacks, HERE!

The internet is often perceived as a negative space. Between news and social media, it is easy to fall into negative habits. So for today’s show, we decided to try to find positive and encouraging messages online.

www.thelife.com shares a list of 19 ways to encourage others. We hope you adopt some of these ideas into your life. Choose today to encourage others!

Click HERE to read the entire article from STACY WIEBE.

The word encouragement comes from a combination of the prefix en which means “to put into” and the Latin root cor which means “heart”.

1. Learn individuals’ “love languages,” the special ways in which they feel most valued. In his book, The Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman explains that not everyone’s emotional needs are met in the same way, and that it’s important to learn to speak others’ love languages. The five love languages are: words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch.

2. If an encouraging thought comes to mind, share it! It may not have the same effect if you wait. Don’t let shyness hold you back. Instead, form a new habit: “Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today…” Hebrews 3:13

3. When you introduce someone, add a few words of praise for the person’s abilities, accomplishments, about how they’ve helped you or about the nature of your relationship. It’s encouraging to be praised in front of others.*

4. Send flowers. A surprise delivery makes any occasion or accomplishment feel more momentous, and is a tangible sign that you are thinking of someone even when they’re not around.

5. When someone is discouraged or hurting, offer specific, practical help. If you ask, “How can I help?” the person might be at a loss to answer. It’s better to ask, “Would it help if I…” or say, “I would like to…”

6. Update your address book. In a digital world, there’s nothing like receiving a hand-written note in the mail.

7. Remind fellow Christians of the specific promises of God and characteristics of God. We may know something with our mind, but need to be reminded in our heart. The Apostle Peter wrote, “I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.” 2 Peter 1:12

8. Write someone a note to tell them that you’re praying for them. Tell them what you’re praying. You can pray specific Scriptures for individuals such as Romans 15:13, “[I pray that] the God of hope [will] fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

9. Make celebration a more regular part of your relationships. Celebrate others’ victories, large and small with a note, coffee together, a special meal, a congratulatory phone call, or just a high-five!

10. Be specific when you offer words of praise; it makes your encouragement more credible and concrete: “You did a great job at…”, “I really appreciate that you…”, “I was really impressed that you…”

11. Encourage other believers with a reminder of Christ’s coming. It redirects our thinking to an eternal perspective and ultimate deliverance from the sin and death. “We who are still alive and are left will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17b-18

12. Realize the power of presence. Just being there can be encouraging! When you’re with others, you’re telling them that they’re important. The Apostle Paul closed his letter to the church at Colossae promising to send his friend Tychius “that he may encourage your hearts.” Colossians 4:8b

13. If you’re part of a church, Bible study or fellowship, be committed to showing up. Your presence encourages others that they are part of a community of faith and that they are not alone. That’s why the writer of Hebrews says, “Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as we see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25

14. If someone you know is working on a large project, send her a single flower to encourage her at the beginning of the project, and a full bouquet when it’s done.*

15. Use encouragement as an outreach. If anyone should be known for being an encourager, it should be the Christian. Write a letter of appreciation to people at work, your apartment manager, your child’s teacher, or your doctor. Often when we interact with these people, we are asking for their services. Take time just to say thank you!*

16. If you really want to encourage someone who gives you excellent service, write a letter of commendation to the person’s boss.*

17. We could learn something from the way team athletes freely pat, touch and high-five each other in competition. Touch is a powerful encouragement. Be sure to be sensitive in this area, though. Ask someone if you can hug her first. And be careful to be above reproach with persons of the opposite sex.*

18. When you see someone making positive changes in their lives, affirm them. “You seem to have a really great attitude about…”, “It may be that I’m just starting to take notice, but I see that you’re…”, “Do you think that you are becoming more…?”

19. Tell people how they’ve encouraged you!

Choose one or two items on this list to encourage someone in your life today!

Tips adapted from the book, 52 Simple Ways to Encourage Others, by C.E. Rollins, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN, 1995.