For food-lovers, state fairs showcase the best that local farmers and vendors have to offer. At the Indiana State Fair, ranchers serve sandwiches made with steak or pulled pork, and dairy farmers operate the Dairy Bar, with a menu of ice cream, milkshakes and gooey grilled cheese sandwiches.

At the Wisconsin State Fair, the state’s dairy farmers provide the ingredients for more than 400,000 cream puffs (sweet cream nested in flaky pastry shells) and deep-fried cheese curds, which vendors sell to fairgoers. At the Ohio State Fair, food vendors such as Schmidt’s honor the region’s German heritage with sausage sandwiches, bratwurst and frankfurters topped with steamy sauerkraut.

Throughout the region, state fairs are ideal occasions for sampling indulgences including sugar-dusted funnel cakes and buttery corn on the cob. The events are also known for serving food on a stick. Corndogs — deep-fried, breaded hot dogs — are the classic example, but vendors at the Iowa State Fair offer more than 70 food-on-a-stick options.

To drink, fairgoers seek out lemon shake-ups, a blend of lemonade, sugar and ice. Many state fairs are also featuring the region’s growing number of breweries, wineries and distilleries with judged competitions and tasting events.