See the Unusual Vegetable at The Ionia Free Fair

One thing you can count on at a county fair is there is always something unusual to see. This year at the Ionia Free Fair there is a most unusual vegetable you can see here.

Ionia Free Fair

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The Ionia Free Fair is iconic in West Michigan since it has been going strong since 1915. The Ionia Free Fair is also the world's largest fair that is free to attend, hence the name.

Ionia Free Fair and Ionia Fairgrounds Facebook Page

I have yet to attend the Ionia Free Fair but I did drive by the fairgrounds back in the spring while returning to Grand Rapids after a visit from my parents. My son and I wanted some KFC and we Googled one and it took us to Ionia. He and I thought Ionia was a great town and a place we need to visit again and what we saw of the fairgrounds looked amazing.

Ionia Free Fair and Ionia Fairgrounds Facebook Page

The Ionia Free Fair is underway now through July 20. Here are some of the major events planned for 2024:

Monday, July 15 - Demo Derby
Tuesday, July 16 - SJO Motorcross
Wednesday, July 17 - Tractor Pull
Friday, July 19 - Rodeo
Saturday, July 20 - Dirt X Sxs Championship Racing

The special events do require tickets which you can purchase here.

See the Unusual Vegetable at The Ionia Free Fair

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Of course, the Ionia Free Fair has a midway with rides and all the fun fair food. Like most county fairs there are livestock and other farm-related items to see. County fairs also have a lot of contests for those who raise farm animals and even crops.

r/Michigan Reddit Page

One contest at the Ionia Free Fair was for the most unusual vegetable. I have to admit at my first glance at the photo above I did think someone somehow grew a turd but that is just my bad eyesight and because I was looking at a tiny thumbnail photo. The vegetable looks to be a blue ribbon-winning potato that won the contest. Below are what some of the folks on Reddit had to say.

r/Michigan Reddit Page

I did like the "Qbert" comment from the Reddit poster "vexunungods."

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r/Michigan Reddit Page

Reddit poster "radiofreetrees" provided insight into how the Ionia Free Fair judges the contests.

The Ten Biggest Ionia Free Fair Shows

Over its long, storied history, the Ionia Free Fair had a knack for bringing in the biggest acts of their day. Here's just a sampling of who has played the main stage over the years.

Gallery Credit: jojogirard

Here Are 13 of Your Favorite Fried Foods

Some foods need a fryer, others should never go near one. Forget baking. We are so obsessed with eating deep-fat fried foods. And every time you turn around, there's another menu filled with most of the items that have bathed in a hot-boiling fat vat.

There seems to be no end to what a deep fat fryer can cook. And we prove it every day with our love of crispy, greasy, burnt-tongue, salty foods.

I won't argue that an order of onion rings or sweet potato fries is the best marriage partner to a burger. Especially when they are made from scratch. So, pile them high.

What are some other delights that need the fryer?

Gallery Credit: Dave Roberts