Deep Fried or Sugar Sweet, Fair Goers Savor Tasty Treats

People crowded the Benton County Fairgrounds Friday night for rides, games, and food.

“I kind of wanted to try something different and this is definitely different, and I love it,” said Laura Hamilton, a fair goer.

Food at the Benton County Fair is interesting. “This is ice cream that has like crushed pistachios on it,” said Hamilton.

Eaters agree the food is also tasty. “They have sauce on it, cheese, and bacon bits,” said Darshan about a food called butterfly potatoes.  “It’s the only kind of thing you can just get at the fair.”

Cooks use a power tool to prepare butterfly potatoes. “We put a butterfly cutter, a real thin blade on it so when the potato spins, it cuts it all real thin all together,” said Talon Tarsten, a vendor.

Tarsten says butterfly potatoes and pita wraps are a favorite. “It’s unique. Nobody sees it every day,” he said.

Do forget fried cupcakes, hamburgers, and BBQ.  “We got some good old boys that can pull some pork well, but they also got great beans and coleslaw with it.”

People at the fair also enjoyed traditional fair fare, such as cotton candy, caramel apples and corn dogs. The “experts” say the most popular fair food is funnel cakes.

Families enjoy food, fun, and fellowship. “I have to admit this is really the first time I’ve ever like eaten fair food and I’m loving it,” said Hamilton.

No one was going home with an empty stomach.

The Benton County Fair runs through Sunday.