Deep-fried doughs. Gooey Wisconsin cheese curds. Creamy milkshakes. Getting hungry yet? We are, and after a year with no Indiana State Fair, we’ve been busy planning routes and to-do lists that include indulging in tasty fair treats. Before the gates opened, we asked Schmidt Associates team members to share their favorite foods and what they intend to try this year. Their answers are sure to bring out the Hoosier spirit and whet your appetite.

Sarah Hempstead, Chief Executive Officer/Principal
“I love deep fried vegetables and a vanilla milkshake. I’m healthy like that.”

Meghan Miller, Architectural Graduate
“I always enjoy the roasted corn-on-the-cob. Taken off the grill and drenched in all that butter before it’s given to you is awesome, and it tastes great, too.”

Brad Wallace, Senior HVAC Mechanical Designer
“I like anything made with Fruity Pebbles, so when I heard that one of the Taste of the Fair items this year is a Fruity Pebble funnel cake, I knew instantly what I’d be trying first. You can’t ever go wrong with Fruity Pebbles.”

Thomas Kennedy, Engineering Graduate
“I usually eat pretty healthy and have done the ketogenic diet to maintain weight. In years past, I always avoided the fair, so I wouldn’t be tempted. However, this year, I’m going to have a pork tenderloin, among other things. There’s just so much to try and with it being once a year, I can justify breaking the diet.”

Kevin Shelley, Project Manager/Principal
“It’s hard to beat an elephant ear—just plain—no toppings, besides butter, cinnamon and sugar. It’s called traditional, and it’s a must-have at the fair.”

Kristen Gandenberger, Digital Marketing Specialist
“I’ve only been to the State Fair once. It was a whirlwind, but what I remember most was eating a lot and going home very full. My favorite food is the corndog. They’re just so good, and classic for a reason. Going to the fair made me feel like a true Hoosier.”

Craving anything yet? If so, get out to the fair and make time to savor the goodies between free stage concerts, livestock competitions, and spending time at the midway. If you can’t make it this year, check out this list of 60 recipes for homemade State Fair food from Taste of Home.

Can’t get enough of the fair? Read about the Master Plan & Facility Assessment we completed with the Indiana State Fairgrounds or check out the first renderings of the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion to be completed in 2023.