Vittles galore at country fair

Photo: Darren Handschuh

It can take a lot of effort to have fun – and, considering the size of the Interior Provincial Exhibition grounds, it can also take a lot of walking.

The Armstrong Fair covers several acres filled with animals, vendors, a midway, shows, hundreds of exhibitors and enough stuff to keep visitors going for hours on end.

And if you buy trinkets or win prizes at the midway games, you have to carry your haul while you wander around and check out all there is to see.

That can work up a fearsome appetite. Fortunately, there is bevy of food vendors ready to serve.

There are, of course, fan favourite cheeseburgers and fries – what fair would be complete without them –hotdogs, corn dogs, mini-doughnuts that come in a little white bag sprinkled with sugar, slushies, snowcones and ice cream.

But if taking in the country surroundings has put you in the mood for Asian cuisine, there is a Chinese food vendor ready to dish up your favourite Cantonese dish.

Walking through the expansive food court is like going on an international culinary adventure without ever leaving the IPE grounds.

There's Greek food, Ukrainian food, wood-fired pizzas and, of course, that most Canadian of all treats: poutine. Wraps, roasted corn, ribbon fries, pulled pork – the list is almost endless.

Ironically, at an event that features cattle, swine, chickens, turkeys and other delectable critters, there is also a vegetarian food vendor.

But one of the most popular items in the food court is one of the most appropriately named for an agricultural fair: horse blankets.

Served up by the Knights of Columbus with some help from the Enderby branch of the Rocky Mountain Ranger army cadets, there is a steady line of people looking to get their hands on the tasty treat.

A horse blanket, explains Darlene Lewis, is flattened out bread dough that is deep fried and covered with cinnamon and icing sugar.

“You can't have the fair without horse blankets,” said one woman as she grabbed a pair of the $2 treats.

Lewis said they have many repeat customers.

Ingo Scholermann, who was manning the booth with Lewis, said one fair-goer from Osoyoos ordered a dozen of the deep-fried delights.

“We have been here for 30 years,” said Scholermann. “We have people come back year after year, so they must be good.”

Scholermann said money raised from the food stand goes to charity. The cadets receive a portion as well for helping to run the booth and serve thousands of customers.

The 116th IPE runs through to Sunday evening.