Hot diggity dog: Fairgoers cool off with lemon shakeups, homemade ice cream

Austin McKinney pushes ice cream into a bucket in the Rural Youth Ice Cream building during the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair in Columbus, Ind., Wednesday, July 10, 2019.

If you haven’t heard, it’s a hot one.

Temperatures have soared into the high 80s and low 90s this week at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds with no relief in sight. Nevertheless, fairgoers from across Bartholomew County aren’t letting the scorching sun divert them from one of the best aspects of a county fair — indulging in some of the best unhealthy treats ever concocted.

However, with the ongoing heat, fairgoers have made ice-cold lemon shakeups and homemade vanilla ice cream the go-to favorites this year.

Outside the Bartholomew County Young Farmers barn, patrons line up with dollar bills in hand for a bowl of the nonprofit organization’s famous homemade ice cream.

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Austin McKinney, president of Bartholomew County Young Farmers, said the organization brings in around $10,000 to $15,000 from its ice cream sales each year depending on the weather.

“Kids Day and the Demo Derby, we get a lot of people on those days,” McKinney said.

All the ice cream is prepped and churned right on site. Each batch takes about 30 to 40 minutes to make — three gallons at a time.

McKinney said they prepare about 20 batches, equivalent to 120 gallons every day. One three-gallon bucket makes about 43 small bowls.

Ice cream isn’t the only thing local vendors are serving up.

Emma Crim and Hannah Jackson split a lemon shakeup while Crim enjoyed fried cheese curds and Jackson treated herself to a hand-dipped corn dog on Wednesday at the fairgrounds.

For just one week a year, Michelle LaMantia said she can splurge on as many funnel cakes as she wants.

“It’s sweet and just yummy,” LaMantia said of her deep-fried funnel cake doused in powdered sugar. “This is all mine.”

When the Shinn family recalled their favorite fair food, only one food came to mind.

“Funnel cakes,” Riley Shinn said.

“Funnel cakes,” Barrett Shinn said.

“Funnel cakes,” Joanna Shinn said. “It’s fat and it’s sugar!”

Only the youngest of Joanna Shinn’s three children said something different: “Slushies!” Emme Shinn said.

Emme Shinn still exhibited a fondness for funnel cakes, however, when she stole her mom’s funnel cake, covering her little fingers in white powdered sugar.

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Today

9–11 a.m.: Open Class Flowers due – Family Arts Building

9 a.m.: 4-H Rocket Demonstration – Grandstand

11 a.m.: 4-H Barbeque Contest – David Boll Theatre

5–10 p.m.: Lil’ Hands on the Farm, 4-H Community Building, Family Arts and Commercial Buildings open

5 – 8 p.m.: Midway Opens – Regular priced tickets until 8 p.m.

5 p.m.: 4-H Parade of Champions – Livestock Pavilion

6:30 p.m.: Lil’ Wrangler Horse & Pony – Horse Arena

6:30 p.m.: 4-H Supreme Showmanship & Livestock Awards –– Division 1: Rabbit, & Poultry – Pavilion

7 p.m.: 4-H Supreme Showmanship & Livestock Awards – Div 2: Beef, Dairy, Swine, Sheep & Goats – Pavilion

7 p.m.: Night Owl Country Band – David Boll Theatre

7 p.m.: Blacksmithing Demonstration – Heritage Building

7 p.m.: Full Throttle Monster Trucks – Grandstand

8 p.m.: Midnight Madness – $15 wristbands until midnight

Saturday

7:30 a.m.: Livestock Auction Buyers Breakfast – Pavilion

8:15 a.m.: 4-H Livestock Sale – Pavilion

5–9 p.m.: 4-H Community Building, Family Arts, and Commercial Buildings open

5 -10 p.m.: Midway Opens – $20 wristbands until 10 p.m.

7 p.m.: Demolition Derby – Grandstand

7 p.m.: Blacksmithing Demonstration – Heritage Building

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– Lemon shakeups

– Funnel cake

– Deep-fried Oreos

– Hand-dipped corn dogs

– Homemade vanilla ice cream – Bartholomew County Young Farms

– Pork burger – Bartholomew County Pork Producers

– Chicken dinner – Kiwanis

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Funnel cake: 760 calories/44 g fat

Cotton candy: 171 calories/0 fat

Fried Twinkie (2 oz.): 420 calories/34g fat

Cheese curds (2 oz.): 410 calories/0 fat

Corn dog: 240 calories/0 fat

Source: MyFitnessPal

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