28 new foods will entice stomachs at 2022 CCF

Fairgoers to the 2022 Clay County Fair powered by SMU will have 28 new foods to enjoy during their visit Sept. 10-18, including five that have been named as finalists for the sixth edition of the "The World's Greatest County Fair Food" Contest.

"In our visitor surveys, fairgoers tell us one of the top reasons they attend the Fair is for the food," said fair manager Jeremy Parsons said in a news release. "This list of unique new foods will only add to our reputation as a nine-day foodie festival."

"The World's Greatest County Fair Food" Contest will be judged by a panel of local celebrity judges on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 2:30 p.m. on the Northwest Bank Stage, with one vendor taking home the coveted title of "The World's Greatest County Fair Food."

The finalists (and vendors) are included below.

• Roasted corn (Ormic Concessions): Prepared in the traditional style of south Texas, the corn is roasted in the husk. After roasting, the husk is peeled back and choices are added: butter, mayonnaise, red chili sauce or powder and grated Mexican Cotija cheese. Most prefer the "con todo" option – "with everything!"

• Lasagna Griller (Girl'd Cheese): Italian sausage, a yummy ricotta mixture, gooey mozzarella and marinara sauce all grilled into a crisp sandwich.

• Berkshire Bacon Ball on a Stick (Side Door Concessions): A bacon meatball made with Berkwood Farms bacon and stuffed with a homemade bacon cheese, wrapped with two pieces of bacon, smoked, dipped in BBQ sauce, and on a stick.

• Deep Fried Deviled Eggs (Iowa Egg Council): A Midwest classic with a crispy twist; panko-breaded egg whites with a pickled yolk sauce that would make grandma proud. Served six pieces per order and enough sauce to cover them all.

• Brisket Nachos (Gobblestop Turkey Shop): Nachos with cheese covered with slow cooked smoked brisket and topped with some more nacho cheese, BBQ sauce and jalapenos if you'd like.

In addition to "The World's Greatest County Fair Food," there will again be the "People's Choice" Award. Fairgoers can sample the five finalists and cast their vote at any of the fair's information booths from Saturday, Sept. 10 through Wednesday, Sept. 14. The winner will be announced on Thursday, Sept. 15 during the fair.

Beside the finalists, several other new foods will be featured at the upcoming fair. A complete food directory can be found at https://claycountyfair.com/visit-the-fair/vendor-directory/. The directory allows you to search and locate your old and new favorite foods by name and vendor location.