“We are known for our Polish and Italian [sausage], they’re one third of a pound. We do them on a pitchfork or we serve them on steamed rolls with onions and cheese,” said Melissa Szala.
Serving sausage on a pitchfork is not only a family business, the fair is where she met her husband, and where they return every year, until 2020.
“We are so ready to get back to the fair,” said Szala. “We were fortunate enough that we did those drive throughs at the fairgrounds last year, but they took the people away. And we love our people.”
2019 was a good year. There were plenty of hungry people and high expectations for the next year.
“We had a great year, 2020 is going to be fantastic,” recalled Szala. “Then the pandemic hit. When the pandemic hit, our world stopped.”
Without the fair and several other events where the pitchfork sausage trailer usually appears, it had an impact.
“Before I know it, our entire year, my income is gone.”
So this year, they’re getting ready for their 9th fair with high hopes. But predicting what the turnout will be in the first year back is difficult at best.
“Like everybody else, we’re running into massive supply issues,” said Szala. “We had to place our orders for the State Fair for one of our sausages back in May.”
Szala says even getting horseradish is difficult. They make the product, but the containers are not being made.
“COVID has done things to the shipping and supply industry that we’ve never had to think about before.”
She hopes fairgoers will feel comfortable enough to come back.
“We realized last year with the pandemic that the reason we do what we do, is because not only do we love giving people great food and a great product, but we love interacting with them. We love seeing their smiles we love hearing about their day. We missed our people. We are so glad to get the people back and get back to work.”
The State Fair is set to start August 26. You can find the Pitchfork Sausage booth at the corner of Lee and Underwood near the new Sweet Martha’s Cookies.
