SALT LAKE CITY -- The presence of Grammy winners, a half-ton horse and pack goats are being overshadowed by five women and a state inmate at this year"s Utah State Fair.
Hoping to get people to sign a petition to release polygamist Tom Green from prison, Green"s five wives along with Ken Larsen from the Coalition for Religious Freedom and Tolerance have sponsored a booth.
"It"s an opportunity to meet people and preach our doctrine," Larsen said. "Polygamy is just another issue the government is stepping on because the people say it"s OK. It"s not just about polygamy, it"s about everybody and everybody who has been stepped on by the government . . . Some people believe a man should have multiple wives."
The fair began Thursday and will run through Sept. 16.
Green"s wives will be on hand Saturday and Sunday. Larsen said they will allow people to take a picture with them "to show everyone what it"s like to be a polygamist."
Not only is his booth advocating the release of Green, he also has petitions to remove Utah"s anti-polygamy ordinance, legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes and put a new political party on the ballot called Personal Choice.
"This is as grass roots as it gets," Larsen said.
A short walk from Larsen"s booth and you will find yourself standing in front of a booth that houses a giant steer, a giant horse and a giant Florida alligator.
"It"s a big horse," said American Fork resident Garold Springer after seeing the half-ton animal, "but I"m not too impressed by it."
After seeing the alligator, Salt Lake"s Chelsea Green felt bad.
"I thought he was dead. People were throwing pennies on him. His eyes didn"t even blink."
Chances to meet former Utah Jazz star Antoine Carr, feel like John Travolta after riding a mechanical bull and get a fake piercing are also available at this year"s fair.
Perhaps one of the more interesting things is in the goat barn. Tooele"s Clay Zimmerman offers people a chance to rent one of his 10 pack goats for backpacking trips.
Zimmerman said his offer is unique.
"You don"t see it very much. It"s something new, it"s just starting up. It"s a growing fad."