ALEXANDRIA — Driving down Indiana 9, Madison County 4-H Fair goers can smell the fair before they can see it, and it has nothing to do with the livestock.
The sweet smells of delicious fair cuisine waft in every direction, as people line up to sample the different kinds of food offered.
Food booths displaying traditional favorites such as cotton candy, funnel cakes, corn dogs and pork tenderloins jockey for position with booths selling more unusual choices. Egg rolls, fajitas, apple dumplings and deep fried vegetables are sold from stands right next to the old classics, making this year’s fair the most diverse yet.
But one food booth has stood the test of time, and still offers perhaps the most traditional of all Indiana fair foods.
Ousley’s Roasted Sweet Corn has been operating at the fair for the better part of a decade, although it has recently come under new management.
“We took this over three years ago to help pay for college,” said Kylie Cleek. “Our grandpa donates the corn, and all of the profits we make go toward paying for school.”
Kylie’s grandfather, farmer Wayne Ousley, supplies the girls with corn. He also has the contract to supply corn for the Indiana State Fair.
Kylie, a junior at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., runs the stand with her sister Courtney, a sophomore at the same school.
“We’re grill pros now,” Kylie said. “Nine minutes on each side and they’re ready.”
Kylie and Courtney are both 10-year 4-H Club veterans and although they don’t compete at the fair anymore, they still spend a lot of time there working at the booth earning money for school.
“By the time we split it, it’s about $2,000 each,” Courtney Cleek said. “But every little bit helps.”
The week has already been busy as the duo goes through about 500 ears of corn each day.
“Things were a little slow on Sunday because of the rain,” Kylie said. “People were standing next to the grill just to stay warm.”
But with loyal customers like 7-year-old Audrey Cleek and her mom Laurie, Ousley’s Roasted Sweet Corn will continue to sell ear after ear.
“This is Audrey’s third ear,” Laurie said. “And she’s very picky, so you know it must be good.”
4-H Fair fare
Most food booths at the 4-H Fair open up around lunch time and continue to stay open late into the evening. With no entry fee, you can stop by the fair for a quick bite.
4-H Fair
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Aaron Piper
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Discussion
Delightful dishes keep fairgoers happy and full
- 4-H Fair
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On yet another muggy day, 4-H Fair closes
Bracelet Day at the Madison County 4-H Fair almost resembled an old western ghost town Saturday afternoon.
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Madison County 4-H Fair: Day 6
Photos from the Madison County 4-H Fair on Thursday
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Showmanship and responsibility
The Mares family of Lapel will bring a total of 21 horses to the Madison County 4-H Fair this week, but most of those horses will be shown by horseless children. “It teaches them responsibility and good manners,” grandfather Carl Mares said of the fair.
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4-H Fair schedule: July 22
The Madison County 4-H Fair has activities through Saturday at the 4-H Fairgrounds at Beulah Park in Alexandria.
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Madison County 4-H Fair: Day 5
Photos from the Madison County 4-H Fair on Thursday.
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Many 4-H’ers donate earnings back to organization
As a 10-year 4-H member, Lydia Alexander, of Elwood, wanted to do something special during Thursday’s 4-H auction. Instead of pocketing the money she earned from auctioning her lamb, Alexander donated it back to the Madison County 4-H Association.
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Champion exhibits more than just showmanship
Towering over his steer during Wednesday’s Supreme Showmanship competition, Brandon Brunt seemed to have little trouble directing it where to go.
“It helps to be 6-foot-4,” Brunt said. -
Madison County 4-H Fair: Day 3
Photos from the Madison County 4-H Fair in Alexandria on Tuesday.
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4-H’ers show off livestock
Despite temperatures reaching 95 degrees, area 4-H kids did their best to show off their livestock in the sweltering show arenas where mounted metal fans were turned on “high.”
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Madison County 4-H Fair: Day 2
Photos from the second day at the 4-H Fair and feature on Jared Burke during the Swine showings.
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