Indiana Gov. Mike Pence was on hand to mark the start of the 2016 Indiana State Fair - and security was tight.

INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - Governor Mike Pence and First Lady Karen could have been any Hoosier couple visiting the State Fair on Opening Day Friday.

But they are not any couple. The bitter battle for the White House changed all that.

state fair opening has probably never been more secure. Preparing for arrival of Gov,/VP candidate Mike Pence #wthr pic.twitter.com/ixUP2AJGBf — Rich Van Wyk (@VanwykWTHR) August 5, 2016

As they made their way through the fair, Secret Service and other police had them surrounded. A caravan of golf carts loaded with national and local news photographers recorded every moment. Other fair visitors walked up for handshakes and photos. Security kept the media at a distance.

"What better place to kick off a fall celebration of our bicentennial than at the Indiana State Fair?" he said to the crowd.



Inside the Family Arts Building, the governor showed off the first lady’s exhibition of paintings. "You can see there is some talent in the family," he said to reporters.



Karen Pence followed up, sounding humbled.

"It is such a honor," she said. "I’ve been doing this for years, winning one ribbon at a time."



Pence left the vice presidential campaign trail to be governor and cheerleader for the fair.

"The 160th installment of the best state fair in Indiana," he proclaimed during the opening ceremony.



The governor didn't mention a single word about the state or national politics, except when he joked with Fair Queen Tate Fritchley.



"I know what it is to be tapped unexpectedly and find yourself out in front of a lot of public events," Pence said.

The crowd laughed.



A trip to the cattle barn was a media melee. So was the Dairy Barn, where with the camera's recording, the first couple apparently negotiated a cool deal.



"Got free milkshakes for kids," the governor announced.



But before long, the governor was back doing what politicians do. He talked, joked, shook hands and posed for pictures while the first lady Karen served a crowd of hot and hungry kids.

She looked happy.

Pence thanked Sen. Joe Donnelly, Rep. Todd Young and Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb, who is running for Pence's gubernatorial seat. Pence referred to Holcomb as a man "who's shot a basket at a hoop in virtually every county in the state of Indiana."

Gov Mike Pence unveiling the traveling the Indiana bicentennial experience #wthr pic.twitter.com/iIZcQh94yj — Rich Van Wyk (@VanwykWTHR) August 5, 2016

What to do at the Indiana State Fair:



Check out WTHR's booth Friday. You can meet some of our reporters and anchors, get their autographs, plus take a selfie at our gigantic Rio sand sculpture! (Hint: Use #Rio2016 and tweet it out!)









Friday begins with humid heat in the 70s. It will be dangerously hot Friday afternoon in the lower 90s and heat indices possibly in the 100-105 range.

Friday highlights:

Check out the Bicentennial Lego Display at the Visit Indiana Bicentennial Pavilion.

The Youth Talent Contest takes place at the Farm Bureau Building from noon to 5:00 pm.

At 4:30 pm, there's the Take Flight Live Raptor Show in the DNR Building.

circle City Sidewalk Stompers perform along the State Fair Boulevard from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

The Indiana State Fair runs August 5th through the 21st.