Vendors at the Wisconsin Valley Fair dodge recession
Written by
Jake Miller
Wausau Daily Herald
Aug. 6, 2011
Ed Tweedle and his 1972 corn-dog trailer haven't missed a Wisconsin Valley Fair in 35 years for one reason:
"They eat here," the 83-year-old said Friday. "They come down the midway with an elephant ear in one hand, a soda in the other and a corn dog in their pocket."
That love affair with foods found mostly either on sticks, deep-fried, or both, is one reason vendors at the fair have dodged much of the recession.
Up and down the rows of food trailers inside Marathon Park, sales this year were up for vendors compared to 2010. But the recession never really took hold inside the gates of summer fairs, they said.
"No, I don't think there is any recession here," said Tweedle, who travels from North Carolina each year to sell his hand-battered corn dogs.
Maria Doepke of Ringle is a fairgoer who planned Friday to spend money on the classics, such as corn dogs and cheese curds. While she doesn't set a budget, having three children can make the fair pricey, especially when buying food.
"Every year, the prices go up," she said.
Dennis Maxson, who works every year at the Wausau Breakfast Optimist Club trailer serving cheese curds, said sales appear to be up compared to last year. He said it's likely to get even busier this weekend.
"They're saving up for the fair -- those who have to watch their finances," Maxson said.
Of course, not every vendor is peddling the classics, and sales have been mixed.
Michael Loomis has sold cheesecake on a stick for the past 10 to 12 years during the fair. It's only a part-time gig, but he has experienced the ups and downs of the economy.
But even when sales slump a little bit, fair food still is a pretty sure bet -- especially a sweet piece of cheesecake.
"It's down a little bit, but we're doing quite well," he said.
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