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Good Question: When Did Food-On-A-Stick Start?

(WCCO) We didn't eat them all, but there are 63 different foods on-a-stick at this year's Minnesota State Fair from hot dish to bacon to spaghetti and meatballs.

With the frenzy over sticks, Kassie Church wanted to know, "Were there always foods on-a-stick?"

When the State Fair started, it was more about "agriculture and how food was made," according to Dennis Larson, Concessions Manager for the Minnesota State Fair.

In the early years, the only dining at the fair was sit-down diners, largely run by churches.

In 1947, the Pronto Pup was introduced at the Minnesota State Fair, beginning the tradition of food-on-a-stick.

"It grew on very slow steps for obviously many years. And I think what's happened in the last dozen years or so is the newer, quirky, unexpected thing on-a-stick has really taken off," said Larson.

Although Larson said he'd like to take credit for the popularity of foods on-a-stick, he said "it happened on its own."

He pointed to the introduction of the deep fried candy bar in 2001 as a milestone. Next, Axel's launched macaroni and cheese-on-a-stick, starting the fair equivalent of the arms race.

Each vendor wanted to up the ante on the most outlandish thing to be put on a stick.

"It's created its own mini-culture," said Larson, who said he's heard of people who try to eat every food that's for sale on-a-stick.

He reported seeing food-on-a-stick at other state fairs, but doesn't think it's as big of a deal anywhere but Minnesota.

This year Larry Abdo introduced 1/3 pound of bacon-on-a-stick at his new booth "Big Fat Bacon."

"Did you consider introducing bacon without the stick?" asked WCCO's Jason DeRusha.

"In Minnesota? Not a chance," said Abdo. "It's like going fishing without minnows. You have to have the stick. "

 

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