Each fall when the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair comes to Statesboro, people go for a variety of reasons.
Some look forward to the rides. Others enjoy the exhibits. Many enjoy the entertainment.
Something almost everyone has in common, however, is the food.
As excited screams are heard throughout the midway, the tantalizing aromas of cotton candy, fresh fried pork skins, sugar-coated funnel cakes and Italian sausages waft in the air.
Food is everywhere at the fair. Local clubs and churches operate large booths offering fair fare such as hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, coffee, baked goods and nachos.
Others, including local businesses, rent smaller booths each year in the Heritage Village food court, where they sell roasted and boiled peanuts, candy apples, barbecue, funnel cakes, chicken wings, and even home-style foods like chicken and rice and chili. Some fry fish and others sell candy, home-baked goods and soft drinks.
The Statesboro Kiwanis Club is known for its Pancake House, where freshly flipped pancakes can be had with fresh link sausage – your choice of maple or cane syrup, the latter which is cooked right next door. The Circle K Club, a college division of Kiwanis, smokes up barbecue next door as well.
That’s not all. If someone on the midway gets hungry, booths offer Italian sausages, elephant ears (much the same as funnel cakes), pizza slices, submarine sandwiches, popcorn, and the king of “fair foods” across the nation – deep-fried Twinkies, Oreos and candy bars.
While standing in line this week at one such booth, Joshua Mallard, 11, read a sign advertising the deep-fried candy bars and mentioned them to his father, Rathan Mallard, of Statesboro.
But he and his dad opted for funnel cakes instead.
“They’re probably not (good),” Joshua said. “I don’t think ‘deep fried’ goes very well with chocolate.”
Ashley Bravo, of Swainsboro, chose funnel cakes too. She said she doesn’t like plain Twinkies and has never tried a fried one.
“This is the one time a year you can splurge without feeling guilty,” she said.
Marian McNeal, of Pembroke, left the food court clutching bags of fresh pork skins, cotton candy and candy apples. But her favorite, like many, is the funnel cake. She said she prefers buying from local vendors because “they’re cheaper than the midway and have good food.”
He bought funnel cakes for his family, but Demario Prince, of Statesboro, was really hungering for an Italian sausage, he said. “I love it and the only time you can get it is fair time.”
It was traditional American fare for Greg Jarrett, of Statesboro, who had a cheeseburger.
He said he makes it a point to support the Bulloch County 4-H and Pittman Park United Methodist Church booths. He agreed with most people polled Thursday night at the fairgrounds, however.
“The funnel cakes are the best,” Jarrett said.
Local groups use the booth rental opportunity at the fair to raise funds for projects or give a boost to their business. David Gerrald, of L&D Produce, operates one of the larger booths in the Heritage Village food alley and has done so for the past 25 years, he said.
Fair Chairman Darrell Colson said many groups rent the booths a year ahead of time.

Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.