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From Cream Puffs to Concerts: The Magic of the Wisconsin State Fair
158 Plays3 months ago
Welcome back to another exciting episode of States of Discovery by Only In Your State! In this episode, Sara and Marisa will be heading to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to attend for the very first time the Wisconsin State Fair. Our podcast hosts spent a handful of days immersing themselves in fair culture from enjoying famous Wisconsin cream puffs, trying the very first Purple Pickle Lemonade, and talking with locals. Join us to explore the vibrant atmosphere, rich traditions, and unforgettable experiences that make this fair a beloved annual event for locals and visitors alike.
What to Expect in This Episode:
- Rich Wisconsin Culture: Known as America's Dairyland, Wisconsin's agricultural roots run deep, with cheese and dairy products playing a central role in the state's identity.
- Culinary Delights: Discover the mouthwatering treats that make the Wisconsin State Fair a food lover's paradise. From the iconic cream puffs to a variety of deep-fried delights, we'll tantalize your taste buds and share some must-try dishes.
- Entertainment Extravaganza: The fair isn't just about food! We'll highlight the diverse range of entertainment options, including live music performances, thrilling rides, and unique exhibits that showcase Wisconsin's agricultural and cultural heritage.
- Local Voices: Hear from fairgoers, vendors, and even the Wisconsin State Fair Spokesperson as they share their personal stories and favorite memories. These interviews provide a unique insight into what makes the Wisconsin State Fair a special place for so many.
- Tips and Tricks: Planning to visit the fair? We've got you covered with insider tips on navigating the fairgrounds, finding the best deals, and making the most of your visit.
Whether you're a Wisconsin native or a curious traveler, this episode is packed with fun facts, heartwarming stories, and practical advice that will leave you eager to experience the magic of the Wisconsin State Fair for yourself. So grab a cream puff, sit back, and join us on this delightful journey!
Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review States of Discovery on your favorite podcast platform. We love hearing from our listeners, so share your own fair memories and suggestions for future episodes with us!
Connect With Us:
- Phone Number: 805-298-1420 - Leave us a message! We’d love to hear from you.
- Email: [email protected]
Tune in next week as we continue to uncover the hidden gems and unique stories from across the United States. Until then, happy discovering!
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Transcript
Introduction to 'States of Discovery'
00:00:06
Speaker
embark on an adventure with states of discovery where education and curiosity about the world collide.
00:00:23
Speaker
Welcome to States of Discovery, a podcast dedicated to taking its listeners on an educational journey as we unravel the mysteries and marvels of the states around us. My name is Marissa. I'm here with my co-host, Sarah. Hello, Sarah. Hey, Marissa. How are you?
00:00:41
Speaker
I'm doing great. I am pumped to launch this States of Discovery podcast with our initial first episode. We are in the heart of the Midwest for this episode. We are exploring all things Wisconsin.
00:00:56
Speaker
In this episode, we're actually here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where we will be first-time attendees at the ever-popular Wisconsin State Fair. We're going to be talking to locals, fair spokespeople, and Wisconsin residents to learn about what America's Dairyland is all about.
00:01:13
Speaker
So let's start off first before we dive into this, uh, Wisconsin state fair. Let's talk about Wisconsin as a whole, uh, because to me, Wisconsin's a very fascinating state.
Exploring Wisconsin's Culture and Charm
00:01:24
Speaker
When you think of Midwest and Wisconsin in particular for you, Sarah, what immediately comes to mind?
00:01:31
Speaker
Well, ah just because I am who I am, I'm going to say cheese. That's that's the first thing. ah Bread cheese, cheese curds. um Really, and also that aspect of just being in the Midwest. I'm you know born and raised in Ohio, so I'm not that far. But I do feel like I'm just, I'm the cusp of Midwest. I'm not full Midwest-ness, you know what I mean? um So that the dark edge to you? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm a real, ah I'm a real chaotic neutral kind of person. yeah So yeah, that's, that's what I think about. What what about you? Yeah, for me, it's it's definitely dairy comes to mind. um
00:02:13
Speaker
You know, it I always heard that ah Wisconsin has the most bars per capita. It is like a huge drinking state. Love their beer. And it wasn't until being in Milwaukee that people really, it's a hobby. Drinking beer craft beer, you know, yeah going to a bar, breweries galore. It's like that that's a hobby. It's just like congregating around, ah you know, a couple of cocktails and talking with friends.
00:02:46
Speaker
I kid you not, I feel so silly. I did not realize it was like a big brewing state and city. yeah like To me, I'm like, oh, this is strange. Why do all the T-shirts at the airport have beer on them? Right. Now I know. Now I know. Right.
00:03:02
Speaker
And it's like the beer cap capital of the world. Also, I heard that little fact. so That's wild. Yeah, i was I was honestly really surprised. But dairy, of course, cheese curds. I've had cheese curds before in my life, many, many moons ago. And it was who was the most fun cheese I've ever eaten, just because it comes with its own soundtrack, you know like a little squeaky squeaks.
00:03:30
Speaker
um So for me, yeah, it it was ah dairy dairy galore throughout Wisconsin and the state fair. And just in general, like Wisconsin is known for its dairy farms. You can't really talk about the state without talking about cheese or agriculture, farm life.
Wisconsin Supper Clubs and Sports
00:03:47
Speaker
Because essentially, Wisconsin produces over 600 different varieties, types, and styles of cheese, which is more than any other state in the country.
00:03:56
Speaker
That's wild. I mean, um is it my homeland? question um Is that where I need to be? And we shouldn't forget about as another part of the food culture, are these iconic Wisconsin supper clubs? And I know that only in your state.com has written about these before, but I didn't realize just what kind of presence they had until I was in Wisconsin. So it's more than just a place to eat and grab dinner. There are community hubs where people come together and they congregate and they share stories, they share drinks, of course, and ah you know, classic cocktails as well. I do think that the supper club culture is something we could do an entire deep dive on and not just as an aside for this episode because it's really fascinating.
00:04:47
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. i For me, I've never been to a supper club before. And ah you know I saw a lot on Top Chef this past season. I'm a huge Top Chef nerd. And this past season was set in Wisconsin, which I thought was really cool. I was very intrigued by all of this ah you know supper club fandom. And I really can see why. Because for me, you know and I know you and I have talked about this before, how sharing a meal with somebody you know, friends, family, a partner, like that's that's really like one of the best experiences you can have is just sharing food, congregating, talking, you know, having a drink, a beer, a glass of wine, whatever, ah you know, that that in and of itself, those are some core memories, you know? Absolutely. And I feel like they take it so seriously in Wisconsin and for good reason, you know, I but like you said, I think it's a core part of our culture is this sharing of experiences and
00:05:46
Speaker
It, you know, it's more important. I mean, I love the food, but it's more important than the food. It's, it's the culture. Um, but not only that, but Wisconsin is also a big sports culture state. So not only do we have the cheese heads and the passionate fans of the Green Bay Packers, but there's also, uh, the bucks, the Badgers, um, I'm missing. Oh, the, uh, brewers, like there are so many iconic sports fandoms in Wisconsin and Milwaukee. It's it's wild. And you know, going to Lambeau Field is essentially a pilgrimage for a lot of these football lovers.
00:06:29
Speaker
Right. Yeah. And I think what was so cool, like Sarah and I driving to and from the Wisconsin State Fair, we were passing Brewer Stadium ah every single time and comment. Every time we drove by it, we were commenting on the architecture, how stunning it is. What a unique stadium, you know, like.
00:06:47
Speaker
And even talking to locals, a lot of people said that that that stadium or the Milwaukee Brewers in general were their favorite part about living in Wisconsin, which I thought that just speaks volumes to the to the fandom. Yeah. Also, whenever I first saw that stadium, I had no idea. I was like, is that a blimp hanger? I was so ginormous. What is this? I did love that. I think I thought it was a bridge at first, too. like what right hanger would be That would be cool, honestly. I mean, I've never seen a baseball field with a retractable um roof, I guess, ceiling roof. And yeah, it's just not only that, but as we were driving, as you said, we also passed in front of a lot of really beautiful landscapes. And shame on me for not realiz just realizing just how much coastline is in Wisconsin. And the fact that it's America's third coast, that blew me away. That that is what it's known as in Iowa. I had no idea.
00:07:53
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely.
Wisconsin's Natural Beauty and Friendly Locals
00:07:54
Speaker
Yeah, beautiful landscapes. um I mean, you really have everything in Wisconsin. If you're talking about greenery and nature, you have the Great Lakes, you have forests, you have rolling hills. you have it Wisconsin just offers this picturesque backdrop that really is perfect for outdoor activities year round. It doesn't matter if it's sunny, it doesn't matter if it's snowing, people just get out and explore.
00:08:18
Speaker
And let me tell you, if I had a penny for every person that told us to either go to what, Wisconsin Gales or Door County. Oh, my goodness. I would be but be a rich man.
00:08:36
Speaker
ah it true yeah um and And on that note, I will say that Wisconsin encapsulates the spirit of the Midwest and that Midwest nice, speaking of the people that we spoke to, because, you know, people are hardworking, they're friendly, they're deeply connected to their roots, and they love food, festival, sports, their families that, you know, just really everything about Wisconsin is just wholesome. And I was really struck by that. And I am struck by that. and
00:09:11
Speaker
you pick up whatever as you welcome the very first but travel or want
The Wisconsin State Fair: An Overview
00:09:25
Speaker
Speaking of gatherings, the state fair, it's a huge deal here. I don't think I realized how big the state fair was in terms of like size, but also how much it mattered to people until us being in it really ah kind of opened my eyes. And this is an annual celebration that showcases everything from livestock competitions to deep fried cheese curds. There's live music. There's ah the sporkies, the drinkies. I mean, everything for in ah an 11 day ah shebang. It's like yeah ah the whole of the Wisconsin state fair. And it wasn't until attending and being an attendee that I'm like,
00:10:11
Speaker
Holy moly, no wonder, no wonder, you know, talking to this gentleman that he said he's been there ah every year for decades, ever since there was a wooden roller coaster, and he still is coming every year. Yeah. First of all, props on using shebang. I haven't heard that in so long. It delights to me. um But also, I agree. It wasn't until I, you know, am setting foot into this village, this semi permanent village that houses the Wisconsin State Fair that I realized how big of a deal it actually was. um It's one of the most anticipated events of the year, and I can really understand why. It's held annually in West Alice, which is just outside Milwaukee. But I did hear, I feel from various snippets that we just had, that um it's actually partially in Milwaukee because the state fairgrounds is so large.
00:11:06
Speaker
Maybe I'm talking out of my butt here, but it is giant. So I would ah I would absolutely believe that. And um it's one of these things where I know this is going to sound cheesy, but it really is fun, guaranteed for all ages.
00:11:21
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. And so before we dive into our personal experiences at the State Fair so far, Sarah and I had the opportunity to sit down with the Wisconsin State Fair spokesperson, Christy Chuckle, and this is what she had to say about this year's fair offerings.
00:11:39
Speaker
but there are a lot of great local businesses that come to the fair. I mean, in terms of the community, the economic impact is huge. I mean, we're talking like hundreds of millions of dollars in these 11 days. We bring a million people in in 11 days. A lot of them are local, but a lot of them aren't. Definitely from all over Wisconsin, a lot of Northern Illinois. The Illinois State Fair is weighed on in Springfield, so Northern Illinois tends to come up here, which is great. That's cool.
00:12:07
Speaker
And our Northern Illinois friends love Wisconsin all the time. They like to come up here to the lakes and all of that. But it's I mean, the the impact, obviously, these people are coming in from all over the state. Some of a lot of them are staying overnight. All the hotels are full. You know, they're coming to stay with friends and family in the area. They're eating not only at the fair, but they're eating at restaurants outside of the fair. People are going to restaurants in the area and taking shuttles to the fair. So we're not only, you know,
00:12:38
Speaker
making money here, but we're also supporting the surrounding community of West Dallas and Milwaukee and Wauwatosa and beyond with just bringing people to the area just like any other big event, and we think that's really important. yes West Dallas, so the Fair Park is primarily in West Dallas, but it's partially in Milwaukee. People don't realize that sometimes, but we're state property, so that's why it works out that way.
00:13:03
Speaker
But both communities are so supportive of us and you know help us with traffic control and policing and all of that. We have our own police force too. That's actually very unique. No kidding. Yeah, I should have said that. There's not a lot of fairs that have their, I mean we literally have our own state fair park police force. Wow, very cool. And they're great. They really,
00:13:24
Speaker
help keep this place safe. Also just curious we were talking about this earlier because this doesn't seem like the type of bear you can do in one day. How many people do you really have coming in and like back-to-back days or you know because it's a two-week run. Yeah it's 11 days the average is about three days. Three days so in three days do you think they can see everything or even not that?
00:13:47
Speaker
I think you can do it in three days, but you've got to be strategic about it. yeah yes um Can you tell us a little bit about the variety of food here, options? Are there any must-try dishes, restaurants that you're like, yes, you have to?
00:14:02
Speaker
I think it's whatever you're fancy. You know, we have so much food here. Yeah. And people just think it's about the food like we just like to eat, which we do. But um the whole concept of fairs was to showcase agriculture, right? And that's where your food comes from. So that's why there's so much food. I mean, obviously it's gone to the next level here and at a lot of fairs.
00:14:26
Speaker
But we have, I don't really know what you can't find. Like, if you want a salad, we have salads. If you want fruit. Salad on a stick, right there. Thank you. I mean, people don't really come to the fair to eat salads in Wisconsin, but some people do. We have vegan options, we have food free options, we do have dairy free options, even though we are the dairy state, but we really want to make sure we have something for everyone. As far as must tries, I mean, the Sworkies,
00:14:55
Speaker
is our food competition. That's where our vendors come up with all the new crazy stuff. I think you have to at least try some of them because they're really crazy and they're really good. I mean, and there are things that you're like. Yeah, the pickle lemonade is already blowing my mind. Is it going to be good? Also, we're just like discussing the science behind deep fried lemonade because how does that even happen? How can you do that? I don't know, but it's delicious.
00:15:17
Speaker
Yeah, well and it's just like a lemony, custardy, creaminess that I wouldn't normally think you would like, but then you try it and you're like, this is delicious. Right, and they won first place already, right? They won first place, yeah. Very interesting. And I love that it's, you know, it's deep-fried, so they've got that, but lemonade is a fair staple too, so it's just like kind of tying all these things together. Yeah. As is who wanted, I mean a great vendor of ours they've gone around and like,
00:15:45
Speaker
I don't even know how many years, but like I said they're one of those that has, I mean they own restaurants in town and they do catering all over the global area so very well known.
00:16:02
Speaker
And in case you didn't notice, we recorded that interview live from the fair so all of the music and the fun around us was actually happening. The fairgrounds were buzzing with energy from thrilling rides and carnival games to live entertainment on multiple stages. And when I say multiple stages. I don't mean three. I mean, you could be standing on any corner of the fairgrounds, which by the way, the fairgrounds have street names. All the roads through the fair have street names. So we were in Central Park on, you know, Fifth Avenue or whatever it was. And um
00:16:38
Speaker
And so if you're standing on a street corner within the fairgrounds, you will see three stages and then you'll see another three stages as you keep walking. It is almost unreasonable the amount of entertainment acts they book for this fair. it's It's wild. So you can catch everything from big name musical acts, and TLC, to local talent showcasing their skills.
Agricultural Highlights and Cream Puff Delights
00:17:03
Speaker
And for those who love a bit of competition, there are plenty of contests. So from pie eating to livestock judging to hopping bunnies, ah ah yeah which, you know, I didn't get to see this year, but next year.
00:17:17
Speaker
Next year it'll happen. um But also then all all of the events highlighting the state's agricultural prowess. Yeah, and ah really the Wisconsin State Fair is sensory overload in the best possible way. you're You can't walk around anywhere without smelling delicious deep fried foods. Sarah and I were stationed by an Italian sausage place. We were stationed by a French fry place. ah you know And then we were right across from the Cream Puff Pavilion, which imagine just like sitting there breathing in the scent of freshly baked cream puffs. ah Wow. So of course, yes, Sarah had to try one because it's disabled since 1924. We're celebrating a centennial for cream puffs, which
00:18:02
Speaker
you know, who would have thunk it? Yeah, I was amazed by the fandom that the cream, the original cream puff has every morning that we were there and just sitting in front of the station or the ah the pavilion lines, lines around the building, lines in the building. And it's it's just roost really a testament to how important the cream puff and the fair food culture is to Wisconsin and the people within it. So it's you know it's a reflection of the state's rich agricultural traditions. So take the squeaky cheese curds, for example. um they're They're not just a snack, they're a very iconic nod to Wisconsin's status as the dairy state.
00:18:51
Speaker
Yeah, and so, you know, just the fact that you mentioned people lining up for hours to get their hands on a cream puff. One, singular sometimes. They're just there to get one cream puff. Some people get these boxes of three to take home, or a box of six to take home, which is so cool. But, you know, these cream puffs have essentially become a symbol for the fair itself.
00:19:14
Speaker
Yes, and I think don't misquote. I don't know if I'm was quoting myself. Anyway, this year they had specialty cream puffs. I'm not sure if you caught up on the special flavors that were limited editions. But I was hearing tell whenever I was standing in line that the specialty cream profs. So when the first week of the fair or the first few days of the fair, it was root beer. The next few days it was going to be a raspberry cheesecake, I believe, and then that they just the fill up the flavors rotate. And I think this was the first time that they were doing it like instead of just having the traditional
00:19:50
Speaker
And i I want to, I'm going to say plain, but it was not plain cream puffs. They were having specialty ones, which I think is absolutely just so fun. Also, they might also have cow print hats that I may or may not have acquired.
00:20:06
Speaker
Seriously, as soon as I walked out to the fairgrounds, I'm like, who has those hats? Who? Who and where can I get one? I need it. Okay, we're at the Wisconsin State Fair. I am trying my first ever cream puff, capital C, capital P, also with my amazing cow hat. So excited. And this is what, the centennial celebration of the cream puff. So, all right.
00:20:35
Speaker
It is. Okay, so the cream is incredibly light and refreshing and the pastry around it, I thought it was gonna be hard. It's actually really soft and nice. It's refreshing but um it's a lot. What a good way. Is it reminiscent of like other desserts? Would it be like, would you think soft like a croissant? Is it more donut-y? No.
00:20:57
Speaker
almost like it's like a little loaf like it's crusty um but soft on the inside so imagine like a little um like a brioche bun but sweet kind of okay yeah and the cream inside so sweet it's not like anything i've ever had before honestly It is just part of the fair experience. And that's what makes it so fun because you're partaking in this iconic piece of culture. It's been around for 100 years. People line up for hours. There are stations throughout the entire fair to pick up cream puffs. So if you don't want to go to the pavilion, you can go to like these like little to-go huts, basically. And it kind of dovetails into the other parts of the food culture at the fair, which I only learned about.
00:21:44
Speaker
while at the fair was the sporkies and drinkies. And let me just tell you, this is probably the summer's greatest food competition. And there are winners crowned in each category, and there are runners up, and you get these little placards all over the state fair if you competed and you were a finalist or a winner in these sporkies and drinkies. And let me just, in case that isn't obvious of what it is. So it's a food competition for iconic or new foods, the sporkies, and then iconic or new drinks, the drinkies.
00:22:17
Speaker
And out of 57 total entries, eight incredible foods and four refreshing beverages made it to the finals. And, you know, they named the winners before the start of the fair. And let me just say, yeah, it's worth checking out. Are you ready for the list? Yeah, I'm ready. Yes. Okay. Okay. So um hit the drum roll please. Yeah. Right. and So the first place Sporkies was the deep fried lemonade bites from Saz's barbecue, which confusing, yes, but also amazing.
Unique Food and Beverage Creations
00:22:55
Speaker
um Second place Sporkies winner was the hot ham and glazers from Bud Pavilion. And let me just say, I know you're not able to see this for yourself. It has donuts, it has ham, it has cheese, it has everything you would want, but also, you know, it's,
00:23:12
Speaker
I feel like it's one of those meals that you you'll never forget in your life. Maybe you've had a donut before but not in that combination. Not with ham, not with hammy sandwich form. Then the third place Sporkies winners was the rise in swine from camp bar So think chicken and waffles, but better. um Also new chicken, as far as I can tell. ah The first place drinkies winner was the fairway fusion from the old fashioned sipper club. I love that. I love the name of that vendor. That's absolutely fantastic. And you tried that one.
00:23:50
Speaker
Oh, I did. I yeah did indeed. Yes. What did you think there was like mint in it? It was, you know, like, what what were the flavors there? Okay, so it was a advertised as a unique twist on the classic Arnold Palmer. So I'm thinking, okay,
00:24:06
Speaker
That's like tea and lemonade, right? Like that, I know what those flavors are. I was not prepared for how delicious this was because there was sweet tea, lemonade, but also some sort of like, I think there was coconut, there were lime juices and like sort of like tropical flavorings in it. And then yes, mint, it was delicious. I mean, 10 out of 10 would recommend also the make an adult version. So just FYI, if you are an adult and would like to partake, you can also do that.
00:24:36
Speaker
Very cool. Yeah. Also, so I do want to ah what? Okay, no, go on. Go for it. No, no, no, I was gonna go ahead because I'm hoping you're gonna talk about ah the next drinkies finalist. Oh, yeah, the the purple pickle lemonade. Yeah.
00:24:54
Speaker
Yes, say that 20 times fast. Oh my goodness. I will say that we hunted this thing down. Yeah. So happy we did because it was an experience. and it Yes, that is the perfect way. But also like people were lining up for this too. They had their own ah area. It was over at the tropics. Yes. Bar.
00:25:20
Speaker
Which the yeah a kind gentleman from Tropics came by and said hi to us a couple of times in Central Park and they said, look out for the tiki hut. And I'm like, oh, yeah, all right. And I thought it was going to be a singular. ti No, this was a Jimmy Buffett esque massive part of the the state fair, which was incredible.
00:25:38
Speaker
um It's like its own food hall almost with like three different bars, a whole kitchen. Yes. A little sand stage and everything. Yeah, there's actual sand. Actual sand there. ah Yeah, Jimmy Buffet-esque is the perfect way to describe that.
00:25:56
Speaker
Yeah, and the purple pickle lemonade definitely is a must try. If you are going to the Wisconsin State Fair, swing by tropics, you will be shocked, delighted, and confused all at once. um It was truly great. Pro tip, mix it. That's all. ha Ah, yeah i yes. Ah, yes. I went in hard with the first sip, and I was um and was surprised. Yeah, it is but it is a bit confusing, I think. like That's the perfect way to put it. it It's refreshing, but also confusing, because you're just, you expect the pickle, but also not. Your brain is like, oh, what's what's pickle doing in this refreshing beverage? on But it it also just, I feel like aesthetically, it's really cool looking. You know, when they initially give it to you and it's layered, you know, purple, gosh, it's like the purple's on top, the lemonade's on the bottom, and then you have a pickle garnish.
00:26:54
Speaker
Yes, um it it reminds me of the, um have you ever had the ah butterfly pea berry drink? or I'm saying that wrong. um It's the one that changes with acidic. um So it goes in when ah and it's blue and if you add acid, so like lemons, so maybe it was that it becomes purple.
00:27:12
Speaker
Hmm. Interesting. Anyway, on note, but ah so aside from very Instagrammable foods and fun competitions, the fair also provides, you know, a bit of an economic boost to the local food industry. I mean, we're here ranting and raving, not so much ranting, but we are raving about the food that we've we've tried. um And it's a great opportunity for small businesses and local farms to get a platform to reach thousands of people and support the community, which I just love so much.
Fair Memories and Social Significance
00:27:43
Speaker
Yeah, that's very true. there's Beyond the economic impact here, there's also also a cultural aspect to it where the fair is a place where people are just coming together. Family, friends, co-workers, we even saw this company celebrating their they're a company picnic there. Yeah, which I thought was so cool. And, you know, everyone's just here sharing meals, making memories, listening to live music, right riding the sky glider. ah This is like an essential part of Wisconsin social fabric is this state fair. Okay, so Marissa, do you have speaking of memories? Do you have a favorite memory of a fair or maybe a favorite fair food?
00:28:29
Speaker
You know, ah I do. Growing up, it was cotton candy, always. You know, also, I'm going to date myself here because ah back back in my day, we didn't have all this cool stuff. but We didn't have all the squorkies and drinkies and pickle lemonade. It was basically, you know, cotton candy funnel cakes and elephant ears. Yeah. It was very simplistic. um Which cotton candy was just not something you could get every day. So I think for me, going to a fair and getting cotton candy was such a treat and just smelling it. Gosh, like just walking around and smelling it. Cotton candy was, you know, and it's like you could only eat so much before you want to throw up because it's just pure sugar. Like that's, you know, but yeah, that's mine. How about you? What's your, what is your favorite fair food or fair memory?
00:29:26
Speaker
I also love that year one of your favorite memories is just smelling the fair food because that's all you could do basically this time. is like oh Isn't it nice to just take a whiff? So favorite memory. ah I, so aside from, yeah, like getting like little treats, um, I was always partial to candy apples. Um, that was my go-to it's yeah, that's, it's always a challenge to eat, but also, and um,
00:29:56
Speaker
worth it, I guess. Uh, so. I love me a fair game. I want to do a Papa shot. I want to throw a ball at as some cans. um I want to throw little hoops onto milk jugs. And so it's a tie between that and actually a core memory was unlocked as we were walking through the Wisconsin State Fair in the Spin City.
00:30:22
Speaker
Ferros Fury, that boat ride was there. And that was like my childhood favorite ride. And it's not like a thrill ride. It's just like you get in a boat and it swings back and forth. But I'm like, oh my God, I completely forgot that that was me and my bestie. We always wanted to ride the Ferros Fury. Yeah, I think that was fun when we walked through Spin City, which was where all the games and rides are in the fair. That alone just brought back a lot of memories because Yes, like like you were saying, there are certain rides that I had growing up that are still there today, which, you know, may be named differently and hopefully better safety ratings. But yeah, it's just like it just reminded me of the times when my mom would take me to the fair with my sister. And those are just some of the best childhood memories I had. So it's really cool just like walking around and seeing these families creating their own core memories that
00:31:17
Speaker
yeah you know the fair provides for them, which I think is really neat. Yeah. And I also think that the fair, whether it is the state fair or a local fair or a county fair, it gives kids this and core memory of being independent for the first time. Like, oh, here's a couple of bucks and get some tickets. And then you can go with your friends and like go do a thing and come back to your parents. And it's, I don't know, it's just something that growing up in the country, I um and never really had a chance to do around town. I couldn't like bop
Agricultural Education and Exhibits
00:31:48
Speaker
down to a friend's house. So being at the fair was ah an opportunity to have that independence, which is cool.
00:31:53
Speaker
Definitely. So not only is the Wisconsin State Fair, it's a showcasing of incredible entertainment, viral must-try foods, but it also a big part of this fair is the state's farming excellence.
00:32:08
Speaker
There are livestock barns galore filled with prize-winning cows, pigs, sheep, and more. They're all proudly displayed by dedicated farmers, 4-H members. Sarah and I got a chance to walk around and and meet some of these animals in person, and it was an absolute blast.
00:32:28
Speaker
Yeah, and it's really a celebration of Wisconsin's farming heritage because not only are you seeing all of these animals that are, you know, prize winning and they're all the competitions, but you get to see, you know, there was a discovery barn for kids so they could learn about agriculture and they could learn about, you know, um, also there were baby animals inside. So yes, do I want to see a lamb and a little calf and little baby chickens? Absolutely. But it also taught them about, you know,
00:32:56
Speaker
um the the scientific aspects of the cycle of life and like raising, um raising livestock and things like that. So it's and awesome to see all of that be this the proud identity on display.
00:33:10
Speaker
Yeah, and ah I thought was really cool in that discovery barn. That was a very interactive experience for kids. Because like you said, it wasn't just, um but I mean, yeah, baby animals galore. But it also like there are a lot of interactive exhibits for kids to kind of learn as they're playing. And then it's just they can also take part in this fantastic showcasing of the state's agricultural prowess.
00:33:37
Speaker
So it's just like essentially the fair. It's not just rides and foods. It's like this celebration of everything, you know, Wisconsin farming and agriculture at the heart of Wisconsin's identity, essentially with all of these awesome displays.
00:33:52
Speaker
And honestly, let me just be, let's be real with you Marissa and the listeners. I'm all about the baby animals. oh I just want to see animals. i know That's all I want. I love the food. I love the drinks. I love the people, but just get me in a room with a bunch of animals so I can just baby talk at them for hours straight.
00:34:11
Speaker
There were alpacas, there were sheep, there were geese, there were chickens, cat like and so, all the goats, oh my gosh, all the little kinds of goats, especially, they were so cute. And I just, how am I going to be able to get a farm and just have all of these friends?
00:34:29
Speaker
on my farm with me. That just sounds like a blast. I didn't meet a donkey. yeah I wanted to, but I didn't. Maybe next year I'll go up to the Wisconsin State Fair and and and find a donkey. But, you know, not not only are they selling their wares, so like the Apaca vendor had, the Apaca's on display to meet, but also tons of products with their wool, which I thought was really, um really great. And if I wasn't pouring sweat, I probably would have wanted to interact more with their goods, but I felt like I was going to ruin them if I touched anything. um So yeah, these these competitions and opportunities to be vendors is is serious for these local businesses.
00:35:09
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. And just essentially the 4-H and FFA youth programs, they are especially impressive. These these young people, these youths, they're spending months preparing their animals and their projects for the fair, which also just like very cool in general to be young and have a goal and you know be learning in the process and then teaching other people as well. It's just a testament to the dedication and the importance of agriculture in the lives of these Wisconsin residents no matter the age. Yes. and yeah ah What can you say about the 4-H kids and the youth and how they um spend a lot of time preparing for this? You are not kidding. Did i did we talk about how I was in 4-H?
00:35:57
Speaker
No? What? You're dropping this now? Saving the goods for the podcast. I love it. Yeah, so ah I was in 4-H, but it was funny enough. I am a bit of a bleeding heart, and I didn't want to have a farm animal because I couldn't go through that. I couldn't raise an animal to, and I know it's an important part of agriculture and ah the economy, so it's not that I'm making a comment about that. I just couldn't, as a little baby Sarah, do that.
00:36:27
Speaker
because I'm like, oh, I'm going to raise a pig and then keep it forever. Right. Um, and usually, um, you, you end up selling them and things like that. So, uh, so what I did was called the, and like a horseless horse program because I also, we had horses on the farm, but they weren't, um, trained very well. Like I've been bucked off enough times where I'm like, ah, maybe not for me, not with them anyway. Um,
00:36:49
Speaker
um So, we we tried, but Cinnamon wasn't having it, so. Probably hated me for calling her such a basic name. Yeah. I love Cinnamon. No, I love that. That was the name of my first dog, Cinnamon. Yeah, great minds think alike. Okay. um So yeah, i did the um I did this horses program, but I got to, which is basically just like trivia about horses. And so, ask me ah ask me a thing and maybe I'll know it. um but Basically, I watched my friends go through the whole process with um cows, pigs, horses, and it was just a full-time commitment, really year-round. It didn't matter that the state fair was in a certain month. They were committed, which is just really impressive, and I'm so glad that you know, these kids have an opportunity to learn such an important part of their local culture, but also just um develop and share their knowledge with the public too, like as they grow up and because I think it's just something that's a unique part of our um country's heritage. So
00:37:54
Speaker
Yeah, thats that's really great that you brought that up. um No, we have not talked about your horseless horse program before, but i just love the educational aspect of that and incorporated in things like the fair is really fantastic because I think it's not just about presenting your animals or you know your vegetables or your flower arrangements. It's essentially exhibits and demonstrations that are teaching people too. It's teaching, it's passing down through generations. You wanna teach people about sustainable farming practices. You wanna explain to them about modern agricultural techniques. It's all about educating as well and you know along with
00:38:40
Speaker
supporting the local farms. Yeah, and I honestly thought that those like homesteading exhibits were fascinating. So even if it was about beekeeping demonstrations or tips for growing your own veg, um it's a great way to reconnect with nature. And honestly, it's something I feel like I need to do ah a hard and fast like class about because I don't know if you know this about me, but I kill plants.
00:39:04
Speaker
No matter how hard I try, I don't get it. I've tried so many times. And I think it's because I'm i' great with animals. that That's fine. Like I feel very in tune with that and raising animals and I but plants, I'm helpless and hopeless.
00:39:21
Speaker
um so yeah It's so funny because essentially it's just like water and sun and you're you're probably just like, you look thirsty. Here's more. You're still thirsty? Here's more. It's just over watering and they're like, Sarah. no
00:39:40
Speaker
Were you underwater just now? Amazing. Look, I even bought those um fancy little ah things you stick in the soil to say like what the water level is. Oh, yeah. Candice is always rough flying a red flag.
00:39:58
Speaker
yo Yeah, I think yeah, the aspect about sharing knowledge is very cool, which is kind of you know, just like tying back to states of discovery, our podcast in general is just the this concept of sharing knowledge. And that is huge at the fair that that was apparent everywhere you went.
00:40:19
Speaker
It's you know a component of agriculture. You're showcasing ways to live sustainably. There's like crop rotation techniques they're telling you, rainwater harvesting. People are there not just to have fun, but also to learn and then incorporate those learnings into their everyday lives.
Supporting Local and Final Reflections
00:40:36
Speaker
Right. So they can you can also learn about um like composting, permaculture, renewable energy. Like really, this is practical knowledge. And I know that if you go to the fair, you might not think like, oh, I'm going to learn something today. But you will. You absolutely will. And so you can take some of that knowledge home and implement it in your daily life.
00:40:55
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. It was really cool to see so many people at the fair very eager to learn about sustainability. We went into this one exposition building in in particular. Actually, there are two that come to mind yeah that were just packed with people and people that wanted to learn. They're not just there you know shopping and riding rides, but I think the fair really emphasizes this idea that anyone can make a difference.
00:41:20
Speaker
whether you have ah ah a large farm, you have a small urban garden, you have a hobby farm, no matter what, you know there's something that you could take away from being at the fair to incorporate.
00:41:32
Speaker
Yes. And also you can you know pull business cards for local ah farms and shops and sustainable vendors around you. So that way you can support small businesses too. So I don't know if you do this, but whenever I go to a local farmer's market, I'm just pulling business cards. Even if I'm not buying that day, I just want to you know get resources for the future. And I feel like people can do that too at the Wisconsin State Fair and just learn about the benefits of supporting your community and buying local.
00:42:00
Speaker
Definitely. and ah yeah I almost went home with a lot of maple syrup. I know that would not have gone well in my carry-on bag, but I just saw that pure maple syrup. that would have been my ah you know Those are my cheese curds. I feel like you stopped in your tracks and you're like, what? What is this? I know. No, yes. I would have, yes. If only I had checked a bag. ah I thought about it. I really did. but There's always next year. We've been learning next year. Just you wait, Wisconsin. We're coming back. Please invite us back.
00:42:53
Speaker
Can you tell me your favorite thing about Wisconsin? Oh, God. Okay, well there's so many things. Stony's Bloody Mary. Okay. Broughtwurst. And tailgating at a brewery. Milwaukee Brewers. um The people. The food. It's gotta be the food. Yeah. You know, cause I always go every year I live on the site and say like, what's new? What's new? And I gotta get the print out and then we gotta see what it is. Beer.
00:43:25
Speaker
Just so much stuff to do. can I have no choice. I was born here. Can I ask what your favorite thing about the fair is? Shopping. Cheese curries. Yes, cheese curries. And everything else. Just about everything.
00:43:44
Speaker
All in all, it should be said that the Wisconsin State Fair, I will highly recommend to anybody. I had an absolute blast. But for you personally, what was your favorite aspect of researching the fair? What's your favorite aspect about being at the fair?
00:44:04
Speaker
So I think one of my favorite things was all of the people that we talked to and who swung by and how so many people just had this overwhelming love for Wisconsin, the Midwest and the state fair.
00:44:21
Speaker
It was a passion for everyone. I know that's like a biased sample of people cause they're at the state fair, but I don't think that's the case because we were down at dive bars and our hotel bar and we were talking to people about this fair and they agreed like, yes, this is an amazing place to live. This is an amazing place to
Visiting Tips and Final Thoughts
00:44:38
Speaker
visit. We're crossing state lines just to come here. So I thought that might've been one of my favorite things was just like the passion of the people at the state fair. What about you? Yeah, no, I agree. I've never seen anything like it.
00:44:51
Speaker
I've never talked to so many people that absolutely love their state. yeah it was It was really something like mind blowing for me that people has they had had and have such an affinity for Wisconsin in general.
00:45:06
Speaker
Yeah. And also, I have never talked to so many people, period, end of sentence. yeah It was it was a it was a ah fun fun days at the fair. But yeah, it was a it was a lot of talking. But also, I think that's a commentary on this whole Midwest culture. People wanted to talk and wanted to engage, which I thought was absolutely beautiful. Yes. So go to the Wisconsin State Fair. It is running through August 11.
00:45:36
Speaker
I will say for me personally, 10 out of 10, I highly recommend, but also just don't go for one day. Sarah and I we we needed a bunch of days to explore everything. And I would say go for a couple of days and don't try and fit it in. Because you know what? You're going to be walking around, you're going to see a band that you like, and then you're going to stop for 40 minutes.
00:45:59
Speaker
you're going to see, you know, you're going to have an experience in the barn where maybe you just want to sit and stare at a very sleepy lamb chewing some hay and that'll take you another 30, 40 minutes. I mean, I will say I will. So speaking of a sleepy lamb, I have a video of it and I will go back to it once a day just to cheer myself up. I'm like, I'm so happy.
00:46:24
Speaker
Yeah. Yes, which is like, that's it. That's the state fair representative, that sleepy, happy lamb, just like chewing, grazing. I just grade in ah just want to be it. That's that's my my so true spirit. And also, another reason why you need a few days at the ah state fair, let's circle back to the brewery and beer culture. Every five steps is a bar.
00:46:48
Speaker
So if you want to really just take your time and enjoy it, you got to give yourself an entire entire day and a couple entire days. So um yeah, 10 out of 10. Yeah, absolutely. So thank you guys so much for joining us on this episode of States of Discovery. Stay tuned. This is going to be a phenomenal season and we will see you next time.