It’s Labor Day. The last day of the Minnesota State Fair.

Sigh.

That means I have let another year go by without eating a Corn Dog—basically, just a hot dog dipped in batter, deep fried, and served on a stick

The stick is important.

Those of you who grew up east of the Blue Ridge may not be familiar with the Food On A Stick phenomenon. But it’s huge in those Big Rectangular States Out West. In addition to Corn Dogs, the Fair also offers:

Cheese on a stick

Caramel apples on a stick

Chocolate-covered bananas on a stick

Cheesecake on a stick

Sloppy Joe on a stick (it must be really, really sloppy)

Spaghetti on a stick (ditto)

Pretzels on a stick

Reuben on a stick (not sure how the sauerkraut makes it)

Pork chops on a stick

Pancakes and sausage on a stick

Chocolate chip cookie dough dipped in batter and fried, on a stick

Deep-fried Snickers on a stick

Macaroni and cheese on a stick (explain how THAT works)

Walleye on a stick

Frozen grapes on a stick (who wants HEALTHY when you’re eating food on a stick?)

Batter dipped deep fried fruit on-a-stick (that’s more like it)

Puff Daddy on a stick (I wondered what Diddy was doing these days)

Dixie wings on a stick (aren’t wings kind of like chicken already on a stick?)

And my Scandinavian favorite, Ole and Lena’s Tater Tot hot dish on a stick (served with a dipping sauce made from Cream of Mushroom Soup)