Uniquely Johnson County

<p>Elephant ears, 4-H showmanship and lemon shake-ups are part of just about every county fair that dots Indiana during the summer months.</p><p>The Johnson County 4-H and Agriculture Fair will feature those things, along with other Hoosier fair staples like pork tenderloins, cotton candy, cooking contests and demolition derbies.</p><p>A few of the fair’s foods, attractions and fundraisers are uniquely Johnson County.</p><p>A cinnamon, sugar dough treat dubbed a beaver’s tail raises thousands for the Center Grove/Bargersville Optimist Club. Whiteland FFA students zoom in and out of fair crowds all week selling 4-Hers and food vendors ice.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery<p>Here are some of the unique features residents can expect at the Johnson County Fair this week.</p><p><span>Center Grove Optimist Club Beaver Tail</span></p><p>A large piece of fried dough lathered in cinnamon and sugar is uniquely Johnson County.</p><p>The Center Grove Optimist Club has been selling beaver’s tails at the fair since 1982, according to newspaper archives.</p><p>The treats are fried dough covered in cinnamon and sugar that resemble elephant ears. However, beaver tails have more yeast, so they rise more, Optimist Club members say.</p><p>Beaver tails are made with more yeast to have a fluffier, donuts-like texture, while elephant ears are crispier, according to newspaper archives.</p><p><span>Farm Bureau Inc., Chocolate Milkshakes</span></p><p>A tradition that started in the early 1960s as a promotional tool for an insurance business has grown into an iconic part of the Johnson County Fair.</p><p>Farm Bureau Inc., began selling chocolate milkshakes at the Johnson County Fair as a way to promote the business and encourage people to eat dairy. All counties with a Farm Bureau Insurance office received the machines from the Indiana Dairy Association, said Andy Duckworth, president of Johnson County Farm Bureau, Inc.</p><p>Local Farm Bureau agents have just continued the tradition, Duckworth said.</p><p>Johnson County has wore its machine out and has since purchased a second machine. Proceeds from the milkshake sells go back to the 4-H auction, he said.</p><p>&quot;If you talk to people in Johnson County, they look forward to getting a Farm Bureau milkshake,&quot; he said.</p><p><span>Gateway Services Lemon Shake-Ups</span></p><p>Multiple vendors at the Johnson County Fair will sell thirsty fairgoers lemon shake-ups.</p><p>But, the Gateway Services drink made with lemons, sugar and ice is lovingly prepared by hundreds of community members.</p><p>Since 1972, Gateway has had a booth at the fair, where volunteers come together to squeeze lemons and shake them, raising money for Access Johnson County and Gateway Services, Inc., which provides transportation services to people with disabilities, according to a news release from the agency.</p><p>Community volunteers start the Friday before the fair starts, with volunteers squeezing lemons in a &quot;Lemon Squeeze-a-Thon.&quot;</p><p>Organizations from across the county also volunteer to staff the booth throughout fair week.</p><p><span>Indian Creek FFA Ice Cream</span></p><p>Ice cream, including homemade ice cream, is a staple at most county fairs.</p><p>The Indian Creek FFA put their own spin on the dairy staple in the early 1970s, and the ice cream booth has been one of the nostalgic stops for Johnson County fairgoers since their ice cream debuted, said Joe Dunn, Indian Creek’s FFA adviser.</p><p>&quot;I have people every single year who say they have been waiting since the last fair to have our ice cream,&quot; he said. &quot;It is kind of a nostalgic part of it.&quot;</p><p>The FFA’s ice cream is made using a unique ice cream maker that was designed and made by Indian Creek FFA parents and students in 1972. The ice cream maker has six crank units, where other ice cream machines have fewer.</p><p>The unique design allows FFA students and volunteers to make six batches of ice cream at once, which comes in handy during busy days.</p><p>“It was a homemade system that they came up with the 70s, and it is the same exact machine,&quot; he said.</p><p>New this year are strawberry and chocolate syrups fairgoers can use to top their dish of vanilla ice cream.</p><p>The actual recipe of the vanilla ice cream is still the same, with FFA students and volunteers using the same ingredients of eggs, heavy cream, half and half,  eggs, sugar and vanilla, just like FFA students did nearly 50 years ago when the fundraiser was first born, Dunn said.</p><p><span>Whiteland FFA ice sales</span></p><p>4-Hers who need to cool down their animal in stifling heat, which is expected this week, or a food vendor who needs ice for soft drinks can grab a bag of ice from the Whiteland FFA.</p><p>The Whiteland FFA has been selling bags of ice to fairgoers and vendors since at least the early 1980s and is the only FFA in the state that does this fundraiser at their county fair, said Hannah Goeb, Whiteland’s FFA adviser.</p><p>Fairgoers do not flock to the stand as a &quot;must do&quot; fair staple, but the service is unique as a fundraiser and dozens of students spend part of their week at the fair filling ice orders.</p><p>The chapter typically sells between 4,000 and 5,000 22-pound bags of ice, which makes the chapter between $4,000 and $5,000 annually. That money is used to help pay for competitions and trips FFA does throughout the year, Goeb said.  </p><p>&quot;It’s just a good fundraiser,&quot; Goeb said.</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="So where can you find it? " ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Here is a look at where you can find some of the Johnson County 4-H and Agriculture Fair’s unique staples:</p><p><strong>Center Grove Optimist Club Beaver Tail</strong></p><p>The  Center Grove Optimist Club’s fried dough can be bought at their stand on the east side of the fairground. The stand is north of the indoor arena and the swine pavilion.</p><p><strong>Indian Creek FFA Ice Cream</strong></p><p>The ice cream booth is directly West of the Farm Bureau Building, just outside the indoor arena.</p><p>A dish of vanilla ice cream is $2 for the first scoop, with each additional scoop costing $1.</p><p><strong>Farm Bureau Milkshakes</strong></p><p>Milkshakes are sold in the Farm Bureau Inc., building on the southside of the fairgrounds.</p><p>The dairy treat comes in two sizes and cost $2 and $3.</p><p><strong>Gateway Services Lemon Shake-Ups</strong></p><p>Thirsty fair goers can find a Gateway Services lemon shake-up on the west side of Herring Hall on the south central area of the fairgrounds.</p><p><strong>Whiteland FFA Ice Sell</strong></p><p>The Whiteland FFA sells 22 pound bags of ice for $5.</p><p>They deliver all over the fair. Call 317-494-8824 to order a bag of ice.</p>[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title="If you go" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Here is a look at today’s fair schedule:</p><p>10 a.m.: Read, Taste, Touch program at Heritage Hall.</p><p>11:30 a.m.: 4-H and Open Class exhibits open to the public.</p><p>5-8 p.m.: Cooking demonstrations at the Farm Bureau building.</p><p>6-11 p.m.: Family night at the midway. $25 unlimited ride bracelet.</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]