Fair dishes up a taste of Nebraska

SCRIBNER - James and Sally Cole stood at a corner table under the Dodge County Fair tent that housed the new Taste of Nebraska event Friday night.

The Scribner couple said they were happy that the first-time event became part of the fair this year.

"For one thing, it’s different," Sally said. "It’s a different event for the Dodge County Fair. Plus, it’s introduced us to some Nebraska products that we didn’t know existed. My favorite thing was the wide variety of wine and food."

James said he liked the variety of foods from area businesses, like the meats provided by Lincoln Street Market in West Point.

Phil Simpson, who owns Silver Hills Vineyards & Winery near Tekamah with his wife, June, said events like this help Nebraska businesses. "The exposure is good," Simpson said. "We see more people here in one night as we do anywhere else. We try to do as many of these as we can.

"We’re a farm winery," he continued. "We’re presenting our wares at the county fair like people have done for 100 years."

The Simpsons farm about 1,000 acres. He said the majority of that farm is corn, beans and cattle, but they also have three acres of grapes for wine and an acre of apples for their apple wine.

Dodge County Fair Board member Laurie Helgenberger, who coordinated the Taste of Nebraska event, said she thought it was successful.

"We wanted to have a different event this year," Helgenberger said. "This is kind of two fold. It gives us a chance to promote Nebraska products.

"I would call it a success. Anytime you try something new you never really know what to expect."

She said the Taste of Nebraska event came about because another fair board member saw something similar at the Nebraska State Fair. Plus, an event like this is held at the Butler County Fair.

"I hope this is continued again next year," she said. "I think it did what we wanted it to do."

One of the most unusual products offered for sampling was the rootbeer flavored milk from Burbach’s Countryside Dairy of Hartington.

Helgenberger said many of the wines, milk products, cheeses, meats and dips can be found at grocery stores around Dodge County, including Scribner and Fremont.