Pork chop on a stick: Favorite Iowa State Fair food voted number one by readers

Once upon a time, the humble pork chop on a stick was just a shy little treat, tiptoeing its way into the hearts of fairgoers. Back in 1999, when the Iowa Pork Producers Tent unveiled this sizzling sensation, they were cautiously optimistic about its potential. In fact, it sold a mere 6,000 sticks that year!

The people who read Des Moines Register have shared their opinions. They participated in a poll about their preferred food choices during the Iowa State Fair for the past four weeks.

During the semifinals, the pork chop on a stick triumphed over the hot beef sundae while the cheese curds emerged victorious over the Grater Taters. The finals consisted of a showdown between the pork chop on a stick and the cheese curds, with voting concluding on August 3rd. In the end, pork chop on a stick won.

“We’re excited the pork chop on a stick was chosen as Iowans’ favorite State Fair food! It’s delicious, packed with protein, and easy to carry with you. We look forward to selling more than 50,000 of them this year,” said Trish Cook, the president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association and a pig farmer from Buchanan County. “Iowa is No. 1 in the nation for pork production, and we can’t wait to see everyone at our amazing new Iowa Pork Tent building.”

But oh my, how the tables turned! Like a culinary superstar in the making, the pork chop on a stick decided to hog the limelight at the Iowa State Fair. And guess what? The porky magic spread like wildfire, and before anyone knew it, those delectable pork chops were flying off the sticks, churning out a staggering 6,000 a day!

It’s like they whispered to each other, “Hey, let’s double the fun next year!” And just like that, they did! The following year, Dave Moody, the president of the Iowa Pork Producers Organization, was astonished to witness that delicious number jumping to a grand 12,000 pork chops on sticks parading around the fairgrounds!

You see, friends, there’s just something about skewering meat on a stick that takes it from “ho-hum” to “yum-yum!” Maybe it’s the convenience of eating while strolling or the sheer joy of nibbling away like a carnivorous lollipop. Whatever it is, these pork chops on a stick have managed to conquer the hearts (and tummies) of folks far and wide.

So, the next time you savor a juicy pork chop on a stick at the Iowa State Fair, take a moment to appreciate its rags-to-riches story. From a humble start to becoming the talk of the town, these sizzling sensations have turned the fairgrounds into a pork-tastic paradise!