Aaron Lavinsky

DULUTH, Minn. - Two words of advice if you want to keep pace with social media influencer Mason Branstrator: Buckle up.

After devouring a salmon salad that spilled over the plate on a late July afternoon at Northern Waters, the young Duluthian moved toward Canal Park's Lakewalk for one of his day's main courses.

Mason Branstrator carries his walker while using a stair lift to go upstairs for dinner with his parents Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Duluth, Minn. (Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune/TNS)

Mason Branstrator eats dinner with his parents Stacy Crawford and Donn Branstrator Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Duluth, Minn. (Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune/TNS)

Social media influencer Mason Branstrator, left, and his girlfriend Victoria Duenes navigate 2.4 sailboats, made for adaptive sailing, on Lake Superior off of Park Point Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in

Mason Branstrator and his trainer, Blake Peters, use a yoga ball to release tension through Branstrator’s lower back at the end of a session Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Duluth,

Mason Branstrator is embraced by his mother, Stacy Crawford, after Branstrator arrived home from getting a car repair Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Duluth, Minn. (Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune/TNS)

Mason Branstrator embraces his girlfriend, Victoria Duenes, as he arrives at OMC Smokehouse for dinner before a sailing outing Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Duluth, Minn. (Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star

Time once again for Minnesota State Fair llama drama: The llama and alpaca costume contest.

The Gophers cruised past Eastern Illinois in their opener. Mississippi State did the same against Louisiana-Monroe. Now both teams get a chance to show what their Week 1 blowouts meant.