Whether it's for the first time or another of many, vendors are offering fairgoers a wide variety at the Lycoming County Fair this year.
For new vendors at the fair this year, it's an exciting time to feature their menu to the masses as the fair runs through July 24.
The Whole Enchilada owners Aaron and Trisha Milheim are one of five newcomers in this year's 140th annual county fair.
"We're excited to serve some great stuff," Aaron Milheim said. "We deep-fry our shells right on the spot and the chicken and beef is made-to-order."
Mix that with a stack of toppings and the Milheims serve a heavy meal or the "whole enchilada," said one happy customer.
Working his way around a circular, wood-fire grill, Mongolian Barbecue owner Ronald Ray Jr. stir fries his special mix of steak and vegetables for all to watch and enjoy.
In his first year at the fair, Ray purchased his specialty grill which was a staple at the Bloomsburg Fair for more than 30 years, from the owner who retired two year ago.
"I bought it and took it out of storage a year ago," Ray said. "It cooks at about 600 degrees and with one trip around it, the barbecue blend of steak, cabbage, carrots, peppers, onions and my secret sauce is done."
Getting in at the last minute, Fair Association concession manager Dale Levan personally helped get Ray his trailer in the last spot available on the fairgrounds.
After rolling up the pie dough and filling it with fresh fruit pie filling, Deep Fried Pies owner Matthew Mills drops a pie into a deep fryer for a minute and tops it with ice cream for an original treat.
"It's a family business," Mills said. In his first year at the fair, Mills gets some help from his wife, Gretchen, and daughter, Maria, as well as advice from his father-in-law, Gordy, long-time owner of Gordy's Steak Burgers.
"The whole idea came from some family - brainstorming," Mills said. "We wanted to make something the fair didn't have."
To quench your thirst, Tim and Frannie Heffler offer the refreshing flavors of a dozen Kutztown's Famous Sodas.
"The sarsaparilla is the best I've ever tasted," Connie Rider of Muncy said.
For vendors who have been staples at the fair for many years, the fair is a reunion of sorts - a time to see familiar faces and turn new ones on to the secrets all the others know.
"We've met some wonderful people over the years," said Harold Gunzey, founding owner of Gunzey's Sausage. "Some of the vendors have been great friends for years, our children all grew up together and some of us have known each other nearly all our lives."
Whether it's the taste that you remember or the aroma of frying onions and peppers to be piled on top of a one-of-a-kind sausage as you pass by, Gunzey's has been a staple at the fair for 47 years.
"We purchased the secret recipe from Shamokin Packing when they closed and gave it to Country Store Meats to exclusively make our original sausage," Harold's daughter, Theresa said. "My father started this nearly 65 years ago and now we have four generations of Gunzeys here at the fair with us."
At Austin's Place, those looking for an at-the-beach atmosphere will find steamed clams by the dozen and juicy shrimp.
Owner Brian and Angela Stolz may be in just their second year running the stand, but neither are strangers to the fair.
"I was born and raised on the fairgrounds and it's been a big part of my life," Brian Stolz said. Stolz's grandfather and father were and his sister is secretary of the Lycoming County Fair Association.
"Angela and I love seafood and the beach, so we wanted to bring that to the fair," Stolz said.
At the Beef Pit, owner George Page and family members tend to the wood-fire grill that produces what he described as the finest roast beef, pork and ham at the fair.
"Over the years, the best part is seeing all the familiar faces," Page said. "Some people come up to me and tell me that the only reason they come is to eat our food."
With four stands on the fairground, Hewlett's Italian Sausage has been at the fair for about 50 years.
Hewlett's owner Robert Snyder, who's been running the stand his father-in-law started in the late 1950s for more than 30 years, commends the Stolz and Heydenreich families for keeping the fair going for all the years.
In their second year at the fair, Valley Inn of DuBoistown is offering their award-winning wings.
"It was a little slow the first night, but I was really surprised by the number of people at the fair," said Garreth Watts of the Inn. "It's a friendly atmosphere and we're happy to be back again."
In her 11th year of working the Sunset Ice Cream stand at the fair, Jane Pennington said, "The first 1,000 people through the gate July 21 to purchase ice cream or a milkshake here will get a free t-shirt and a ticket to see Ryan Pelton.
"Wednesday will be Sunset Ice Cream Day," Pennington said.
Just naming a few, the fair offers several other menu options for those planning to attend over the next week, including multiple burger and pizza stands spread throughout the fairgrounds, gyros, deep fried Oreos and cactus taters.
