JEFFERSON — Julie Strasburg’s aunt and uncle, Terry and Nancy Slater of Metter, Georgia, founded Georgia’s Snow Cones when they came to Wisconsin to visit family in Helenville four decades ago.
It has blossomed into a beloved family tradition and became a cherished gathering spot at the Jefferson County Fair.
Georgia’s Snow Cones offers one of countless treats at the annual Jefferson County Fair, which runs from July 10-14,
As you walk into the fairgrounds, follow the sweet, earthy aroma of roasted corn, mingling with the mouthwatering scents of funnel cakes, cheese curds and caramel apples.
There’s a Mexican food truck serving tacos, burritos, tortas and cheesy enchiladas. Across from there, is a sirloin tip meal tent also offering deep-fried veggies.
Other booths sell onion rings, soft pretzels dusted with sugar or salt, served with warm cheese, buckets of nachos, pickles on a stick, smoothies, cotton candy, deep-fried pickle chips and chili cheese dogs. There are also gyros, pizza by the slice or whole, cheese fries, elephant ears, Philly cheesesteaks, hamburgers and buckets of French fries, footlong corn dogs and freshly-squeezed lemonade.
Some vendors add a 3% service fee for card payments. Most accept Apple Pay, and there are ATMs in the activity center.
Georgia’s Snow Cones
The Slaters passed the torch in 1996 to Strasburg’s mother, Donna Herbert, who took over, ensuring the snow cone stand remains a cornerstone at the fair.
“It’s been a family gathering ever since. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come,” Strasburg remarked. Relatives from Wisconsin, Kansas, Illinois, Ohio and Minnesota come together each year to lend a hand, with up to 30 family members pitching in at once. Even the youngest great-grandchildren are now old enough to help out.
To mark its 40th anniversary, Georgia’s Snow Cones offered commemorative pins for a dollar.
“We strive to offer the best deals and create lasting memories for our customers,” Strasburg said, noting the importance of keeping costs low to her mother. Select from over 30 flavors from peach to raspberry.
Strasburg’s niece, Elizabeth Ayers from Finley, Ohio, shaved the ice and packed tall snow cones while other family members added the syrup.
“The best part is having repeating customers. Since we’re a multigenerational family, people 40 years ago are now bringing their kids and they tell us about how they used to come to us when they were kids. It’s really cool,” Strasburg said.
‘Nothing like fair food’
“There’s nothing like fair food, let’s be honest,” Dobie Gutweiler of Milton said Wednesday.
“Particularly the fried stuff,” Gerald Harris of Whitewater said.
The scent of turkey legs called to Gutweiler as she thought about grabbing one after she finished her sweet corn. For dessert, the couple planned on getting deep fried Oreos and a funnel cake with strawberries and whip cream. Harris brought Gutweilier, as it was her first time at the fair.
“The selection is incredible. There’s something here everyone will love,” Gutweilier said.
Kiwanis roasted sweet corn
The Kiwanis Club of Jefferson is selling roasted sweet corn and baked potatoes with fixings every day at the fair, a 44-year tradition for the club.
“All the money goes right back into the youth of the community. We give over $25,000 a year in direct donations to the youth,” club member of 30 years Ben Brantmeier said. “Our motto is serving the children of the world, one at a time.”
By selling food at the fair, the club is able to make two-thirds of its fundraising of the year.
“We also enjoy coming to keep our prices low. Prices have gone up for us but we keep them down to make it affordable for families,” Brantmeier said. Potatoes are $5 and corn is $3, the same it’s been in five years, he said.
The club will cook corn from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. It takes months of preparation to gather the needed supplies. The club prefers to buy produce locally, but with the drought last year and an abundance of rain this year, it’s been unable to.
“We want to give a special thanks to Festival Foods in Fort Atkinson for providing us products this year. They gave us a good price and we’re able to return that to the community. We’d love to support local farmers but it wasn’t available this year,” Brantmeier said. “We get a lot out of giving back to the community. Kiwanis means serving the community and having a good time while you’re doing it.”
Agri-Business Club
The Jefferson County Agri-Business Club had a long line that was served swiftly Wednesday night as they sold bbq pork, pork chop on a stick, single or double ribeyes, hot dogs, fruit cups, grilled cheese, cream puffs and water, lemonade, soda and milk under a large red and white tent.
“The money from here goes to scholarships and grants for youth involved in agriculture. It stays right in the county. The last couple of years we’ve been able to give about $12,000 a year. We’ve been serving at the fair for over 30 years,” club member Troy Klecker said. “We’re community oriented and driven to help support the community. We’ve got a lot of history here. This organization donated to the activity center and built the grandstands.”
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