MONROE - Gadget Night, like a 1950s television game show that asked panelists and experts to "guess that gadget," proved to be educational and entertaining for its audience of all ages.

Gadget Night, held Friday at the Brodhead High School, was part of Green County's contribution to "Key Ingredients: America by Food," the Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit on display at the Brodhead Public Library until June 17.

"Vanna Red," played by Cara Carper from the Green County University of Wisconsin-Extension office, was the show's host for the evening.

Doug Pinnow, Arla Thompson, Dave Moser, Gavin Garrett and Steve Hawkins were the local panelists asked to identify the gadgets submitted by community members.

But the real answers to the gadgets' identities were revealed by David Driscoll, curator of Business and Technology at the Wisconsin Historical Museum. He was stumped a couple of times, and even the gadget owners couldn't help - they were hoping for some answers to the unusual items in their collections.

Panelists were just as likely to make up answers if they didn't know what a gadget was really used for, doing their best to convince the audience that they were experts, too. That set the tone for the night.

The audience was asked to participate by judging the answers with applause, and some of them played along by choosing the most far-fetched answer.

Monkey dribble ladles, canary bathtubs, ear cleaners and egg drop soup-makers got laughs, and even some support from the audience.

The biggest surprises came when one of the panelists guessed correctly.

Gavin Garrett, a senior at Brodhead High School, got off to a good start by correctly identifying a wooden pot stirrer, an item that looked like a small spike mace. Garrett said he has seen a similar tool used on the television show, "The Flintstones."

Fifth-graders from Brodhead Elementary School entertained with musical selections about food, including "Food, Glorious Food." Pickles, popcorn and potato chips, part of Brodhead's food production heritage, were featured at the buffet table, along with trays of cheese and salami and petit fours , courtesy of Swiss Colony of Monroe.

Gadget Night is just one of numerous scheduled local displays and special events highlighting the food heritage of Brodhead and Green County. Next on the schedule is the pie contest and apron fashion show at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Bank of Brodhead.

"Key Ingredients," on exhibit at the Brodhead Memorial Public Library, explores the connection between Americans and the foods they produce, prepare, preserve and present at the table.

For more information on the exhibits and events, go to www.keyingredientsbrodhead.com.