Which will you try? Eight finalists selected for 4th annual State Fair "Sporkies" competition
WEST ALLIS -- Wisconsin State Fair officials say eight finalists have been selected from 26 entries for the fair's fourth annual "Sporkies" food competition.
A panel of local celebrity judges – with some help from fairgoers – will choose the recipients of four Golden Spork Awards during this year’s Wisconsin State Fair, which will take place Thursday, August 4th – Sunday, August 14th.
The eight pre-selected finalists will showcase their creations in front of the crowd and compete for first, second and third place.
Judging will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 10th at the Bank Mutual Amphitheater.
Celebrity judges this year include:
State Fair officials say again this year, one lucky fairgoer will have the opportunity to sit alongside the celebrity panel and taste-test the final creations as a guest judge.
Interested foodies will be able to enter the contest starting July 12th via Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #Sporkies2016. Entries must be completed by August 3rd.
Fair guests are encouraged to participate in the judging during the fair by sampling all of The Sporkies entries and voting for their favorites to award a fourth Golden Spork Trophy for the Fairgoers’ Fave.
Voting can be done on Facebook via a voting app, on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #FairgoersFave, or at the Guest Services Pavilion located on Central Avenue near Central Park and the Exposition Center.
Judging for the #FairgoersFave will be open from Thursday, August 4th – Tuesday, August 9th, and the entry with the most votes will also be awarded a Golden Spork Trophy during the final judging on August 10th.
A 13-foot spork trophy will be displayed at Sporkies finalist location and all vendors who entered will feature a poster at their fair location(s).
All food items entered will also be available for purchase during the 2016 Wisconsin State Fair.
Finalists are pictured below:
Water Street Brewery: Deep Fried Ol' Fashioned
Sprecher Root Beer: Everything Root Beer Float Cake
Saz's Bavarian Haus: Klement's Famous Racing Sausage Corn Dog
McZars Lakefront: Elvis Chicken and Waffle Sandwich
DT Concessions Fiesta Cookie Dough: Cookie Dough Fondue
Bryan's Concessions Mexican Grill: Thanksgiving Day Burrito
Brew City Pizza: Chili Mac Bottom Pizza
All Things Jerky Exotic Meat Grill: Mountain Man Bloody Mary Burger
Finalists are BOLD below with a complete list of Sporkies entries:
| SPORKIES ENTRY | VENDOR |
| 50 Yarder On-a-Stick | Emma’s Cookie Kitchen |
| Bacon Pork Burger | Pork Schoppe |
| Banana Split Cheesecake Square | Aggie’s Bakery & Coffeehouse |
| Blue Moon Marinated Pork Tacos with Garlic Parmesan Fries | Tavern at the Park |
| Caramel Apple Hard Cider Float | Slim McGinn’s Irish Pub |
| The Chili-Mac Bottom Pizza | Brew City |
| Cookies & Cream Mini Donuts | The Donut Family |
| Crabby Lobster Melt | Tropics at the Fair |
| Deep-Fried Bread Pudding Bites On-a-Stick | Saz’s Ribs |
| Deep-Fried Ol’ Fashioned | Water Street Brewery |
| Door County Surf & Turf On-a-Stick | Door County Fish Boil |
| Elvis Chicken and Waffle Sandwich | Slim’s Lakefront Brew Pub and Eatery |
| Fiesta Cookie Dough | Cookie Dough Fondue |
| Hefe Weiss Cake | Sprecher Landing |
| Jerky Cheese Fries | Exotic Meat Grill |
| Klement’s Famous Racing Sausage Corn Dog | Bavarian Haus |
| Mountain Man Bloody Mary Burger | Exotic Meat Grill |
| Muddy Martian Ice Cream | Cedar Crest Ice Cream |
| Not Your Father’s Fish Tacos | Slim’s PBR Park |
| Raw Oyster Shooter | Joey’s Seafood |
| Red Velvet Cake Milkshake | Hand Dipped Ice Cream |
| Root Beer Float Cake | Sprecher Root Beer Everything |
| Texas Tater Tots | Tropics at the Fair |
| Thank-full Chicken Sandwich | Rupena’s |
| Thanksgiving Day Burrito | Mexican Grill |
| Twisted Turtle Donut | Sprecher Landing |