Our Day at the Wisconsin State Fair with Jack’s Frozen Pizza
One of the things I love about Wisconsin is how many family friendly activities we have going on during the summer months. One of my favorites is the Wisconsin State Fair and we try to visit at least once each year. This year we had the opportunity to attend a really special event thanks to our partnership with JACK’S Pizza – the Junior Amateur Talent Competition. JACK’S is looking to connect with its Midwest fans and figured the State Fair was the perfect place to do just that.
The competition consisted of the winners of competitions held at county fairs all over Wisconsin. The Youth Division included acts ages 2 to 12 and the Teen Division included 13 to 18-year-olds. Acts ranged from dancers to singers to musicians and the talent was breathtaking!
The winner in each age category won a $4,000 prize and a year’s worth of pizza, both provided by JACK’S Pizza. Second place received $2,000 and six months of pizza and third place received $1,000 and three months of pizza. Pretty impressive prizes, huh? I loved that the winners came from a variety of styles of singing – everything from an Ed Sheeran cover to an operatic piece.
JACK’S Pizza also provided shuttles to bring fair-goers from the infield parking (on the racetrack) to the Fair and back again once they were ready to leave. JACK’S knows the Fair requires a lot of walking and they’re looking out for you!
If you’re scratching your head and wondering why JACK’S Pizza is so involved with the Wisconsin State Fair, you probably don’t realize that JACK’S is a Wisconsin-born company. It’s true – the first ever JACK’S pizza was created in a Wisconsin family’s garage in 1960. As they grew, they recognized that one of the things that made their pizza great was the quality ingredients, like 100% real Wisconsin cheese, so they made sure to keep that in the recipe. To this day, JACK’S Pizza still uses simple ingredients like their savory sauce and quality Wisconsin cheese as well as all of your family-favorite toppings.
Since JACK’S appreciates that the Midwest makes them our favorite frozen pizza, they decided to give back and get in touch with their Midwest fans at our state fairs this summer. In addition to the Wisconsin State Fair, you can find JACK’S Pizza at the Indiana, Iowa, and Minnesota State Fairs this summer! Check out all that JACK’S has to offer!!
Josh and I had a blast at the Wisconsin State Fair and got to do one of our favorite things – sample some of the new foods that were introduced this year. While we did choose to pass on the cricket nachos and tacos (call us chickens!) the deep fried, bacon wrapped, cream cheese stuffed green olives on a stick caught my eye.
I really liked the tang of the olives mixed with the salty bacon and creamy cheese. I wasn’t wild about the thick breaded coating and wondered if I could recreate these at home without all the breading. But more about that later! I was pretty wiped after a day of hiking around the Fair but still had a hungry family to feed, so I was thankful that JACK’S Pizza “had my back” ! I love how simple it is to just pop a JACK’S Pizza in the oven and pull it out minutes later for a tasty, hot meal. JACK’S is perfect for those busy nights because it never takes more than just a few minutes to prepare a delicious meal. When you’re tired and have a hungry family, that is important! And if you’re into grilling your pizza, JACK’S Original Pizza is perfect for the grill!
Once I was rested up the next day, I went about creating that cream cheese stuffed, bacon wrapped green olive on a stick treat I was talking about. I remembered the bacon wrapped chestnuts my sister in law would bring to holiday dinners and thought I might try that tactic. They made a perfect appetizer snack while we relived our State Fair expereince and waited for the pizza to cook. Here’s my recipe:
Ingredients
- Large Green Olives
- Bacon
- Cream Cheese
- Wooden Picks or Skewers soaked in water
Instructions
- Drain olives and pat dry with paper towel.
- Stuff each olive with cream cheese.
- Cut bacon strips into halves.
- Wrap bacon around stuffed olives making sure to cover hole with bacon.
- Secure with pick.
- Place on a rack inside a roasting pan.
- Cook in 400 degree oven for 30 minutes or until bacon is crisp.
- Tip: Cover roasting pan with foil for easier clean up!
What’s you favorite Fair food? Have you ever tried to make it at home? I’d love to hear about it!! Will you be heading to the Minnesota State Fair this year? Check out these great tips!
This sounds like so much fun. I would love to take the kids to the fair.
Our favorite fair food is a toss up between corn dogs and funnel cakes. Luckily, we have BOTH of those in our frozen section at the store. WOOT!
I love funnel cakes but have never tried making them at home. I need to try it!
Those bacon wrapped olives look amazing! I don’t think I’ve ever seen something like that at our fair, but it’s already my new favorite fair food! Om nom nom.
I was surprised at how much I liked it!!
I like going to fairs like that! Fair food is so good! We’re big fans of Jack’s Pizza too.
I love when brands have little pop up activations. Never had Jacks before but sounds good.
I have never tried to recreate a fair food at home before. This recipe might just change that though!
Let me know how it turns out!
Oh my so so fun! My favorite fair food is an dessert, I’m a huge fan of sugar. haha!
Me too – the Fair is a dangerous place for people like us!
I haven’t had Jacks in quite some time, but I am going to have to remedy that soon. It’s delicious. My favorite fair food would have to be elephant ears!
Yes!! That’s another favorite of mine too.
This sounds like a lot of fun! What I love about state fairs are all the lovely food that’s being offered! This recipe is great for entertaining as well.
Jack’s is one of my husband’s favorites. I didn’t realize that’s where they’re from! Cool facts!
I have never heard of Jack’s but their pizza seems amazing! I would love to be able to try some.
This sounds like it was a ton of fun! You can never go wrong with Jack’s!
State fairs always have awesome food. Jack’s is the best though.
I like your version better, and it looks absolutely delicious. This would make a great appetizer. I am saving the recipe and will be making these if we happen to have guests come over. Oh, this would be great game day snacks too.
Fairs are so much fun! I love all fair food and always stuff my face on top of bringing food home!
This looks like such a fun event! I would love to try those fried olives!
My go to fair food is the bricks of fries ours has. I have never tried to make any of the fair food at home, I know our fair sells the scone kits to make at home.
Good real cheese is a must if you want a good pizza! It sounds like you encountered some interesting air foods!
People love their Jack’s Pizza. It looks like the fair was a lot of fun too.
Jack’s pizza is a favorite in my house! Your Bacon Wrapped Creamy Green Olives sounds like a perfect little appetizer!
Yummy!! I love fair food so much! This looks so tantalizing and delicious! I love me some good pizza!
Now that looks like a fun time! I haven’t heard of Jack’s Pizza, but I sure would try it!
The bacon wrapped olives look so yummy!! Loved the recipe. Need to try.
How much fun! Sunday night is frozen pizza night for us!
Those are great. That is a lot of pizza.We like Jack’s.