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Thousands of visitors to the Minnesota State Fair are filtering through, gobbling up fried foods and scoring souvenirs and, of course, making their way to the Mighty Midway where they can win prizes and ride roller coasters. But who makes sure the Midway stays mighty?

“Every time you say, ‘I’m an amusement ride inspector,’ they look at you like, ‘That’s a real job?’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, that’s a real job,’” said Rob Gavel, President of 

 a company maintains and inspect attractions at fairs and carnivals. 

Gavel said he’s attended the Minnesota State Fair plenty of times as a visitor, but this is the first time he’s been hired to make sure the attractions are all in working order. From fire safety in haunted houses to scaling the coasters themselves, Gavel and his team look at every angle to reduce danger, preserve functionality and of course, allow fun. 

“It’s a lot of work. And you're out in heat, you know, but you get to have fun,” Gavel said.

This conversation is a part of our Job Interview series, where we talk to everyday Minnesotans about the rewards and challenges of their work. This interview has been lightly edited for style and clarity. Click on the audio player for the original version.

What I actually do during the Minnesota State Fair: 

I’m an amusement ride inspector here at the State Fair.

You see the kids laughing, running around having a good time. You see the parents smiling, because the kids are happy. And and that really is what this is about. It's a business, but the business is having fun. And when you walk around here, as the people start coming in, it’s going to be worth it, because you think, “OK, everything’s — we’re going to be OK here.”

You know, some of the things people do that I probably would never think of doing on a ride, like standing up on a ride that’s spinning. And science will tell you what happens when you do that. You don’t stay in the ride very long. It’s shocking.

 You never stop learning. Ever. I’ve learned things on this lot about rides, how to maintain them, or what should or shouldn’t be. It never ends. And then you have to learn all the standards from the industry. So you never stop learning. Ever.

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Lukas Levin

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Although amusement rides are all about fun, they require a lot upkeep. Rob Gavel is one of the few amusement park inspectors in the world and it’s his job to make sure roller coaster safety manuals become reality. 

MPR News - Job Interview: Amusement ride inspector keeps the State Fair's Midway mighty

Lukas Levin | MPR News

A massive crowd moves through the State Fair.

Job Interview: Amusement ride inspector keeps the Minnesota State Fair’s Midway mighty

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