FAIR FOOD A TRADITION; OLD FAVORITES, SOME NEW ENTREES ON MENU

Karry Brant estimates she sells 800 to 900 funnel cakes a day during the SEMO District Fair.

That's a lot of fried dough and powdered sugar.

Brant, who runs Sivori Catering's concession stand, said her 30 years of peddling funnel cakes and soft drinks at the fair have won her legions of loyal customers.

"We see them coming back every year," she said Friday.

Funnel cake is just one of the sweet, gooey or greasy goodies that make loyal fair-goers decide to forget their cholesterol counts for the week.

Also on the menu at the 35 food stands at this year's SEMO District Fair are cotton candy, lemonade, lemon and orange shake-ups, popcorn, taffy, hot dogs, chili dogs, chili pie, bratwurst, snow cones, nachos, kettle corn, egg rolls, barbecue of all sorts, fried fish, Philly cheese steak sandwiches, fried veggies, smoked turkey legs, steak on a stick and pizza.

And what would a fair be without a dozen or so concession stands selling corn dogs?

Polish sausage -- on the traditional bun and on pita rounds -- is also available.

King's Taters offered deep-fried potatoes thin-sliced into spirals.

And for dessert, fair-goers can chow down on chocolate-covered bananas, chocolate-covered cheesecake on a stick or a variety of ice cream.

Jim Humphrey said the best sellers at Dean's Concessions, the stand he works in, include lemon shake-ups, Italian beef and corn dogs.

"And funnel cakes," he added.

On Friday, the workers at King's Taters spiral-sliced and deep-fried 29 cases of potatoes, said Jon Bird, one of the workers at the stand.

"That's usually a slow day, too," he said.

Bird estimated there are 80 to 90 potatoes in a case.

Fair attendance is strong this year, organizers say. On Thursday, 12,980 people attended the annual event, which wraps up tonight in Cape Girardeau's Arena Park.

For some people, fair food is a long-standing tradition.

Bruce Greer of Marble Hill comes out every year for the Polish sausage with grilled peppers and onions.

"Then I go home and eat a bottle of Rolaids," he joked.

Tim Sander, 12, of Marble Hill wasn't quite sure what kind of soft drink he'd picked up, but he said it tasted good.

"It's some kind of ice thing in a coconut," he said.

The 143rd annual SEMO District Fair ends tonight.

TODAY'S EVENTS

Antique Tractor Pull, 8 a.m. at the Grandstand

4-H/FFA Public Speaking, 8:30 a.m. at the Grandstand

Recipe Contest, 10 a.m. at the R&R Tent

Parade of Champions, 10:30 a.m. at the Grandstand

Quarter Scramble, 11:30 a.m. at the Grandstand

Poultry/Rabbit Dress-Up, 1 p.m. at the Grandstand

AG Adventure, 1:30-3 p.m.

PeeWee Showmanship, 2 p.m. at the Grandstand

Fiddler's Contest, 2 p.m. at the R&R Tent

Circus Show, 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Big Top Tent

Pedal Tractor Pull, 4 p.m.

Country & Western Dancing, 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the R&R Tent

Country Sounds, 6-8 p.m. at the R&R Tent

Lone Starr and Brad Hawkins, 8 p.m. at the Grandstand