MONROE - Whether it's cheese curds or sandwiches, visitors have favorite foods they look forward to eating when they attend the Green County Fair.
It takes a lot of will power to walk around the fairgrounds and not sample something - it's almost impossible to walk past ice cream or steak sandwiches and not want to grab a quick bite.
Fortunately for the organizations that set up food stands at the fair, there doesn't seem to be a lot of people who can ward off temptation.
The amount of food sold and eaten at the fair is staggering.
At the Lions Club booth, for example, pork sandwiches are the main item for sale. Keith Riese kept a close eye on the grill as he prepared the pork for the sandwiches. Riese estimated the Lions Club would sell about 1,900 pork sandwiches by the end of the fair.
Reid Stangel, who worked at the Kiwanis food tent, had no idea how much steak was used this year at the fair but he knew it was a lot.
"They go through a cow and a half a day," Green County Circuit Court Judge James Beer laughed as he put some toppings on his sandwich.
George Anton, who worked at the Veterans of Foreign Wars food stand, estimated the organization sold 200 dozen ears of corn during the fair. Pauline Ferguson, who also worked at the stand, said the group would sell about 2,000 cheeseburgers, too.
Homemade pies were the specialty at the Monticello Music Parents stand as people lined up for dessert. And at the Green County Ag Chest trailer, Bonnie Gerner said about 1,500 cups of ice cream were sold every day at the fair.
The 4-H members also get involved with barbecue sandwiches. Teena Fey estimated the group would sell about 250 pounds of barbecue by the end of the fair.
But the most popular item sold could very well be the fried cheese curds. People say they can't wait for the fair every year so they can get some cheese curds from the Optimist Club.
John Rufenacht, who has been working in the Optimist's food tent for several years, said the group sells about 10,000 cups of cheese curds at the fair.
It takes a lot of will power to walk around the fairgrounds and not sample something - it's almost impossible to walk past ice cream or steak sandwiches and not want to grab a quick bite.
Fortunately for the organizations that set up food stands at the fair, there doesn't seem to be a lot of people who can ward off temptation.
The amount of food sold and eaten at the fair is staggering.
At the Lions Club booth, for example, pork sandwiches are the main item for sale. Keith Riese kept a close eye on the grill as he prepared the pork for the sandwiches. Riese estimated the Lions Club would sell about 1,900 pork sandwiches by the end of the fair.
Reid Stangel, who worked at the Kiwanis food tent, had no idea how much steak was used this year at the fair but he knew it was a lot.
"They go through a cow and a half a day," Green County Circuit Court Judge James Beer laughed as he put some toppings on his sandwich.
George Anton, who worked at the Veterans of Foreign Wars food stand, estimated the organization sold 200 dozen ears of corn during the fair. Pauline Ferguson, who also worked at the stand, said the group would sell about 2,000 cheeseburgers, too.
Homemade pies were the specialty at the Monticello Music Parents stand as people lined up for dessert. And at the Green County Ag Chest trailer, Bonnie Gerner said about 1,500 cups of ice cream were sold every day at the fair.
The 4-H members also get involved with barbecue sandwiches. Teena Fey estimated the group would sell about 250 pounds of barbecue by the end of the fair.
But the most popular item sold could very well be the fried cheese curds. People say they can't wait for the fair every year so they can get some cheese curds from the Optimist Club.
John Rufenacht, who has been working in the Optimist's food tent for several years, said the group sells about 10,000 cups of cheese curds at the fair.