State Fair

There's No Tired Like State Fair Tired

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 14:58:46 GMT

You don’t know tired until you know end-of-state-fair tired. I’m on day 1,247 of the state fair or so it feels today. I’m not sure what day of the week it is or what’s happening in the next hour. I know I showered today, but it probably wasn’t obvious as I was instantly covered in dirt, sweat and who knows what within my first hour in the barn.

I realize I am not the only one who feels this way as I’m greeted by fellow show parents suffering from the same affliction. We knowingly nod and putter on, cleaning pens, tidying up our tack areas and adding more ice to the cooler.

Sadly, state fair mini donuts and coffee aren’t enough to wake us from the state fair stupor.

But goodness, it’s a good kind of tired. It’s the kind of tired that reminds me there is nothing better than working hard for something and knowing you gave it your best.

It’s the kind of tired knowing that this week you anticipate all year is coming to an end, requiring you to move on to the next thing. But truth be told, you just want time to stand still for a few minutes so you can soak it all in through those tired eyes.

Because these are the moments we live for as show parents.

The fierce determination on her face as she takes her first sheep into the show ring at the state fair.

(Cindy’s Livestock Photos)
The conversations and coaching on the way to the show ring.

(Jennifer Shike)
The laughter of kids united by a common passion, kids who see the world through a different lens than others.

(Jennifer Shike)

The friend who always steps in to help without being asked.

(Jennifer Shike)

The smile she can’t contain as she shakes the judge’s hand.

(BROOKLYNN SALO/Cindy’s Livestock Photos)
The connection between kids and animals that reminds you there are some places in your heart that humans can’t fill.

(Jennifer Shike)

We live a lot of life in these show barns. Some of it’s fun to talk about and some of it’s not. But in the good times and in the tough times, we grow and we learn. We find out how to understand others better and we realize this world isn’t all about us. We get humbled, we get praised, we get hurt, we get redeemed, and we gain perspective.

These tired eyes aren’t just for lack of sleep during state fair week, but rather for a lot of life lived.

Parents aren’t the only tired ones!

(Jennifer Shike)

Read More: No, He’s Not a Buffalo: Why We Can’t Avoid Their Questions Anymore

Pork BBQ’ers Bring the Heat to Ohio State Fair

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 23:10:09 GMT

The irresistible scent of smoked pork drew big crowds and fierce competition to the Ohio Pork Council’s 26th Annual Pork Rib-Off, held July 29 at the Ohio State Fair. The beloved cook-off not only celebrated barbecue mastery but also spotlighted the high-quality, nutritious pork that Ohio’s hardworking pig farmers devote their daily passion to producing.

Happy eaters at the Ohio State Fair sample the tasty creations.

(Ohio Pork Council)

Participants from around Ohio, including many long-time competitors, sought awards in categories for ribs, pulled pork, people’s choice, and barbecue sauce. Baney-Q, Columbus, Ohio, took home Grand Champion Ribs honors; with Lil’ Bear BBQ, Black Lick, Ohio, taking Reserve Champion Ribs honors.

In the pulled pork category, it was Bark Brothers BBQ, Cincinnati, Ohio; taking Grand Champion honors, while Baney-Q took home their second trophy of the day with Reserve Champion.

Rounding out the last two categories, Bark Brothers BBQ won top honors for best BBQ sauce, while Keepers of the Que, from Eldorado, Ohio, won the coveted People’s Choice award for most flavorful pork.

“We’ve been coming to the Ohio Pork Council’s Pork Rib-Off for over 10 years,” said Mark Bergmeier from Bark Brothers BBQ. “We were determined to do better this year, and we did, which we’re very excited about achieving with our pulled pork and BBQ sauce.”

When asked what his secret to winning the People’s Choice award was, Seth Risner of Keepers of the Que, said, “For my family, it’s all about pork every day. It just goes with so many dishes and flavors. The secret is to know how to cook it for maximum flavor by not overcooking it in the first place.”

A group of seasoned judges happily scored the competitors’ entries, including Representative Bob Peterson, Representative Roy Klopfenstein, Senator Tim Schaffer, Senator Rob McColley, and Anthony Dowdy, Executive Store Leader at Giant Eagle.

“We couldn’t have been more pleased with the great judging panel and especially with the crowd we had at this year’s event,” said Saydee Baughman, director of events and promotion at the Ohio Pork Council. “We heard so many great compliments from fairgoers who enjoyed sampling the delicious barbecue created by these talented pork grill masters. We hope that motivates more consumers to put more pork into their daily nutritional routine to bring more flavor into home-cooked meals.”

Each year, the Ohio Pork Council hosts the Rib-Off competition during the second week of the Ohio State Fair. This year, sponsorship from Giant Eagle further supported this event by providing the meat used by participants.

(Ohio Pork Council)

Grand Champion Ribs honors went to Baney-Q of Columbus, Ohio. Pictured here are (from left) Rep. Bob Peterson (judge); Reagan Isler (award giver); Rep. Roy Klopfenstein (judge); Keile & Cathy Baney; Ohio Pork Council President Nathan Schroeder, (host); Senator Rob McColley (judge); Senator Tim Schaffer (judge); and Anthony Dowdy, Giant Eagle (sponsor).

Grand Champion Moments: Why Ohio Pork Producers Can’t Wait for the State Fair

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 17:37:23 GMT

Picture this: A mouth-watering double-decker dream come true featuring two thick slices of pork loin layered with coleslaw, bacon and barbecue sauce. Outrageous? Yes. And that’s exactly why everyone loves it and comes back for more at the Ohio Pork Council Food Booth each year.

“We call it our secret menu item,” says Cheryl Day, executive vice president of the Ohio Pork Council. “If they ask for it, we’ll give it them. However, you won’t see it on the menu. Several years ago, our Double Decker Loaded Pork Loin Sandwich became a viral favorite — and a masterclass in how farmers and foodservice teams turn bold ideas into state fair gold. We won the A&E Best in Chow with that one and if you ask for it, we’ll make it for you!”

(Ohio Pork Council)

From award-winning creations to $3 bacon boats on Thursdays to a new hit-in-the-making – pork tenders, the offerings from the Ohio Pork Council bring fairgoers back year after year. But that’s not the only way they are sharing pork’s story.

Beyond the Banner
Two exciting shows will take place at the Ohio State Fair this year, including the Battle for the Bacon show on July 30 and the Breaking Boundaries show on July 25.

“We believe the investment we make in the barn goes deeper than just the grand champion trophy,” Day says. “We definitely will sponsor awards for youth exhibitors from the skillathon to the livestock judging contest to recordkeeping, but what’s most important to us is the time spent in the barns with people.”

One of the ways Ohio Pork Council intentionally connects with the next generation is through Kelly Morgan. Not only does she also serve as the director of OH-PIGS, a series of jackpot pig shows held throughout the summer, but she’s also the superintendent of the swine barn at the state fair.

(Ohio Pork Council)

With deep roots in the industry, Morgan develops meaningful relationships with youth who show pigs and their families which in turn allows her to more easily connect families with fairgoers who have questions about raising pigs.

In addition, Morgan helps organize two very special shows during the state fair. One of the shows, “ Breaking Boundaries ,” is near and dear to Day’s heart. The show pairs up a show pig exhibitor with a young person who has a physical or intellectual disability . Together, the pair works to show a pig together.

“One of our interns, Kylie, has a special needs brother. She puts on a similar show at her county fair and asked if we could do it at the state fair,” Day says. “I told her this could be her intern project, and she went to work getting permissions and organizing it. We wanted to build a community where our show pig exhibitors learn how to have compassion for other people, and this was one way of doing this.”

(Ohio Pork Council)

Participants will get a red-carpet moment and will get to be a celebrity in the show ring on July 25. More than 45 kids reached out to be a mentor and said, “Please use my pig for that show.”

“Just like our kids get that connection with their animals, we’re going to give these young individuals that have intellectual disabilities some connection with an animal, and make them feel really special,” Day says. “It’s really living out those We Care principles that our pork producers follow every day and showing them that it’s more than just competing in the ring.”

Battle for the Bacon
What happens when lawmakers show pigs? Day says the relationships grow.

During this popular crowd-pleaser, 12 to 14 legislators are invited to show a pig in this battle between Ohio’s Representatives versus Ohio’s Senators in a showmanship competition. Working with the Ohio Director of Agriculture, lawmakers are invited to participate in this program that pairs them up with a show pig exhibitor who will teach them all about showing pigs.

(Ohio Pork Council)

“We’re on our third year,” Day says. “Last year, we had several of those kids who mentored the lawmakers invite the lawmakers out to their farm or they sat down for a meal. Ohio Pork Council did not do that. We just showed them it was okay to connect with those lawmakers.”

Day says many families shared that they’d never met with a legislator before because they didn’t think they would have anything to offer them.

(Ohio Pork Council)

“This is about teaching people to tell their story at a level that the person they are connecting with can understand,” Day adds. “It seems like a very scary conversation at first, but honestly, once you realize that lawmakers are people just like you and me, it’s pretty fun. I think we need to teach our youth to be fearless. Be very respectful, but at the same time, don’t be afraid and don’t apologize for what you’re doing in the barn every day.”

(Ohio Pork Council)

She appreciates the unscripted stories the kids share with the lawmakers during this event.

“These kids are telling stories from their heart,” Day says. “We don’t tell them what to say. We just make the connection. We give them the tools and the pat on the back. They do the rest and that’s what I love about it most.”

Power of Piglets
But Ohio pork producers aren’t forgetting where it all starts – in the barn. A sow giving birth in real time in front of a crowd at the state fair is a powerful sight that Ohio Pork Council uses to educate fairgoers who can’t get enough of the piglets on display. Although it’s a lot of work and not an easy effort to organize, the farrowing display generates big crowds every time.

(Ohio Pork Council)

“People love to come see how many piglets the sows will have,” Day says. “They will wait three or four people deep to watch them farrow or even just to see the piglets.”

The sows are supervised and cared for by Ohio Pork Council’s education director Kayli Mitchell and two interns who interact with the public, explaining the farrowing process and the safety the farrowing stalls provide the sows, piglets and caretakers.

(Ohio Pork Council)

“Our team does such a great job of caring for the animals,” Day says. “Every time I turn around, they are scratching one of those sows behind the ears. That is how their love for animals shows through. Again, we can’t script that. That is a genuine connection.”

These Moments Matter
It all comes back to food and reminding fairgoers of why pig farmers do what they do. Each year the Ohio Pork Council’s Rib-Off attracts highly skilled grillmasters to compete for the best ribs, pulled pork and barbeque sauce in the state. After celebrity judges sample the food, fairgoers can enjoy free samples and cast their vote for the highly sought-after People’s Choice Award. Most say it’s worth the cost of admission to the fair, just to get a taste of what the rib teams put together each year, Day says.

Ohio Pork Council’s Rib-Off always draws the crowds!

(Ohio Pork Council)

“ Vice President JD Vance was one of our judges for the Rib-Off when he started his humble campaigning career in 2022,” Day says. “He still talks about it with his kids when they walked in the barns.”

She says this illustrates how the pork industry engages and builds relationships truly makes a difference.

“These ‘grand champion moments’ aren’t just PR stunts — they’re bridges between rural communities and decision-makers,” Day says. “They give consumers, lawmakers and influencers a taste (literally and figuratively) of what it means to raise pigs in Ohio with care, integrity and innovation.”

Pork Steals the Show in Iowa State Fair's Best New Foods Competition

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 14:06:30 GMT

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

Three Little Pigs
(Iowa State Fair)

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

Bacon Chicken Ranch Eggroll
(Iowa State Fair)

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

Scotcheroo Shake
(Iowa State Fair)

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

Hawaiian Hog
(Iowa State Fair)

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

Maple Bacon Bourbon Grilled Cheese
(Iowa State Fair)

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.

Read complete descriptions here.

Pork Picnic in a Cup is One of Iowa State Fair's Top New Foods

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 14:00:00 GMT

Quite simply, the “Pork Picnic in a Cup” that you’ll find at the Iowa Pork Tent during the 2022 Iowa State Fair “is everything that’s good at the family picnic.” That’s how Doug Rice of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, describes the layered combination of corn chips, shredded BBQ pork, baked beans, and creamy coleslaw, with a spear of brown sugar pork belly slid down the side of the cup.

Pork Picnic in a Cup was selected as a Top 3 of the Iowa State Fair’s New Fair Foods contest. The fair announced the top new foods on Tuesday, July 19; fairgoers will select the winner during the early days of the fair, which begins Aug. 11.

Variations of this new menu item have been made by the volunteers working at the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) Pork Tent through the years. The Iowa Pork Tent committee refined the ideas and added the result to the Iowa Pork Tent menu for 2022.

Rice, who is chairman of the Iowa Pork Tent committee, is a lifelong attendee of the Iowa State Fair. He has spent nearly every August helping in the Iowa Pork Tent; first, beside his parents, and later with friends he made through the years. He says Pork Picnic in a Cup is pork’s twist to the walking taco.

And while you may want to pick up the $10 meal-to-go, you should feel free to sit in the shaded and ample seating space offered at the Iowa Pork Tent. “It really is the heartbeat of the Iowa State Fair,” Rice said. “It’s a traditional stop for political candidates looking to meet Iowans, and it has the best food and best food value on the fairgrounds,” he says.

Hannah Spurr, IPPA’s consumer outreach director/Iowa Pork Tent manager, points out that one of those food values is a $5 pork burger special that will be offered every day of the fair from 2-4 p.m. At other times of the day, the pork burger will be $7.

“The Iowa Pork Tent is a great place to find fresh pork grilled by the men and women who raise it,” she says. “Eating at the Iowa Pork Tent is a tradition! Just last year, we celebrated 40 years of serving pork at the Iowa State Fair, and we plan to be here meeting and serving Iowans for many more years!”