It should come as no suprise to U.S. pig farmers that pork’s taste and flavor is a winner. Two of the top three foods competing in a fan vote for the People’s Choice Best New Food title at this summer’s Iowa State Fair include pork.
The 2025 Iowa State Fair has a lineup of 67 new foods from nearly 200 food stands. Seven brand-new vendors will make their debut at the state fair in 2025. Fair officials narrowed the list of new foods down to 11 for a flavorful contest on July 15 where judges tasted each and voted for their favorites.
The top three finalists and official descriptions include:
- Three Little Pigs
Oak-kissed smoked ham balls served as a trio flight of nostalgic flavors. First is a savory and sweet honey and mustard-glazed ham ball topped with cornbread crumbles, reminiscent of a tried and true corn dog. Next is a tangy cherry soda glaze with Maraschino cherries to give it the old-timey feel. The third ham ball has a buttery vanilla glaze dusted with powdered sugar, bringing a sweet contrast that plays on the classic fair treat. Three Little Pigs sells for $13 from Whatcha Smokin’ BBQ from Luther, Iowa. - Bacon chicken ranch eggroll
Experience the savory delight of Winn and Sara’s handmade Bacon Chicken Ranch Eggroll, made fresh just for the Iowa State Fair. Each eggroll is lovingly wrapped by hand, filled with tender chicken, crispy bacon and rich white cheddar cheese. A perfectly golden, crunchy exterior drizzled with Winn and Sara’s famous homemade ranch dressing. Every bite is a delightful combination of cheesy, savory goodness wrapped in a crispy, flaky shell. Bacon chicken ranch eggroll sells for $15 from Winn & Sara’s Kitchen from Indianola, Iowa, and Norwalk, Iowa. - Scotcheroo shake
Meet your new fair favorite – a rich, creamy shake made with our handmade scotcheroo ice cream – peanut butter and butterscotch ice cream swirled with gooey scotcheroo fudge and packed with chewy chunks of the classic Midwest treat. It’s crowned with fluffy whipped cream, generous drizzles of chocolate and caramel and a full slice of scotcheroo on top. A nostalgic dessert reimagined as the ultimate fair shake. Scotcheroo shake sells for $12 from Over the Top from Pleasant Hill, Iowa.
Fairgoers can sample the top three finalists — along with all the rest of the new foods — and cast their vote in the Peoples’ Choice contest starting Thursday, Aug. 7 through midnight Wednesday, Aug. 13. The winner will be announced Friday, Aug. 15.
Other Best New Food semi-finalists featuring pork include:
- Hawaiian Hog, Iowa Pork Producers - Iowa Pork Tent
The Hawaiian Hog is a delicious sandwich layered with shaved pork loin, creamy coleslaw, brown sugar pineapple ring and served on a bun with a side of sweet chili sauce. This fits in with Iowa Pork Producer’s current menu as pork is the star of the show! - Maple Bacon Bourbon Grilled Cheese, What’s Your Cheez
It starts with a freshly made maple bread, then topped with a maple bourbon cream cheese. Add a gourmet maple bourbon cheddar cheese and wait. A bourbon maple candied bacon is added between all the goodness, and then it’s grilled to a golden brown and served with a maple bourbon raspberry dipping sauce.
Here’s a look at the 2025 New Food List:
• Bacon Chicken Ranch Eggroll *2025 finalist
• Bacon Popcorn
• Beignets - 2 Ct.
• Big Acai Sorbet Flight
• Butter Beer Cone
• Brisket Tenderloin
• Cafe Colada Funnel Cake
• Capn Crunch Berry Funnel Cakes
• Caramel Apple Delight
• Chicken & Waffle Breakfast Sandwich
• Chicken Pickle Ranch Rocket On A Stick
• Chicken Spiedini On A Stick
• Choc O Tater
• Chocolate Chip Storm Tornado
• Classic Korean Corn Dog
• Cookies N Cream Ice Cream Bar
• Craft Link On A Stick
• Deep Fried Banana S’mores
• Deep Fried PBJ with Nutella
• Double Bacon Cheese Burger Balls
• Fairgrounds Fiesta Wonton
• Flamin’ Hot Pickle Pizza
• Flaming Hot Cheetos Fries
• Footlong Hot Cheetos Corn Dog
• Freeze Dried Fruit Mix
• Fried Banana Cream Pie
• Full Mozzarella Korean Corn Dog
• Golden Fried Corn On The Cob Strips (Battered, Seasoned)
• Green Apple Cream Slush
• Hawaiian Hog
• High Roller Roll
• High Roller Roll Combo
• Holy Doughly
• HoQ Wrap (Chicken, Lamb Or Tofu)
• Hot Cheetos Mozzarella Corn Dogs
• Jalapeno Popper Egg Salad
• JR’s Bacon Wrangler BLT
• Lemon Cheesecake Ice Cream Single Scoop
• Loaded Cowboy Fries
• Lobster Biscuits & Gravy
• Maple Bacon Bourbon Grilled Cheese
• Maple Bacon Flavored Cheese Curds
• Nashville Hot Chicken Mac N’ Cheese Pizza Slice
• Oatmeal Cream Pie
• Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake
• Philly Cheese Steak Twisters
• Potato Half & Half Korean Corn Dog
• Praline Crunch Caramel Sundae
• Saigon Lobster Bomb
• Scotcheroo Ice Cream Shake *2025 finalist
• Sloppy Dog
• Smoked Meatloaf Platter
• S’mores Ice Cream Sandwich
• Soy On A Stick (Fried)
• State Fair Sweet Crunch
• Steak Tips Gnocchi
• Strawberry Cheesecake Flavored Pecans Small Cone
• Strawberry Kettle Korn
• Surf N Turf
• Sweet Granny’s Apple Delight Sundae
• Sweet Swine Stack Attack
• The Butcher’s Donut
• The Butter Cow Tornado
• Thelma’s Lemon Blueberry Ice Cream Sandwich
• Three Little Pigs *2025 finalist
• Voodoo Chips
• Voodoo Fries
The 2024 winner also featured pork - the Bacon Cheeseburger Egg Roll from Winn & Sara’s Kitchen.
