Wisconsin State Fair releases Sporkies finalists

The Wisconsin State Fair has quite the reputation for unique and unusual foods, and this year the selection has risen to another level with the fair’s Fifth Annual Food Competition, The Sporkies. Eight finalists have been selected from 31 entries, and a panel of local celebrity judges – with some help from the fairgoers – will choose the recipients of four Golden Spork Awards during this year’s Wisconsin State Fair which will take place Thursday, August 3 – Sunday, August 13.

The eight pre-selected finalists will showcase their creations in front of the crowd and compete for first, second and third place. Judging will begin at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, August 9 at the Bank Mutual Amphitheater.

Emmy-nominated “Wisconsin Foodie” host Kyle Cherek will return this year as emcee. He will moderate the panel of celebrity judges, who will taste, deliberate and eventually choose the first, second and third place winners of Golden Spork trophies. The Sporkies celebrity judges will include Super Bowl Champion LeRoy Butler, OnMilwaukee.com Senior Food & Dining Writer Lori Fredrich, Milwaukee radio veteran Steve Palec and Fox 6 anchor and reporter Nicole Koglin.

One lucky fairgoer will once again have the opportunity this year to sit alongside the celebrity panel and taste-test the final creations as a guest judge. Interested foodies will be able to enter the contest starting Tuesday, July 11 at 9:00 AM via Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #SporkiesJudge2017. Entries must be completed by Friday, July 28 at 9:00 PM. More details are available at WiStateFair.com.

Fair guests are encouraged to participate in the judging during the fair by sampling all of The Sporkies entries and voting for their favorites to award a fourth Golden Spork Trophy for the Fairgoers’ Fave. Voting can be done on Facebook via a voting app, on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #FairgoersFave, or at the Guest Services Pavilion, located on Central Avenue near Central Park and the Exposition Center.

Judging for the #FairgoersFave will be open from Thursday, August 3 – Tuesday, August 8, and the entry with the most votes will also be awarded a Golden Spork Trophy during the final judging on August 9.

All food items entered will also be available for purchase during the 2017 Wisconsin State Fair. A 13-ft. spork trophy will be displayed at all Sporkies finalists’ locations and all vendors who entered will display a poster at their fair location(s).

Please visit WiStateFair.com for list of all 2017 Sporkies Entries. Finalists are highlighted and BOLD.

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