Christi invites her mother, Wanda "Fernie" Winters, on to the show to talk about bringing the original Funnel Cakes to the State Fair of Texas and play a round of Deep-Fried Trivia before sitting down with the State Fair Director of Food and Beverage Melanie Linnear to talk about food, fun, and the challenges she faces as the Concession Queen of the biggest State Fair in the country.

Episode 2: The Original Fernie and Concession Direction

Christie and Zach head back to the fairgrounds for the final week of 2017's State Fair of Texas to talk about this year's turnout with State Fair President Mitchell Glieber, chat about Fine Fair Dining with Chef Cassy Jones, and Christi reveals her coveted Deep Fried Grilled Cheese recipe for listeners hungry for fair food.

Episode 3: Talking Turkey, Southern Comfort, and Deep Fried Grilled Cheese

Christie joins Zach and Matt in studio for a recap episode looking back on the 2017 State Fair of Texas. The gang has a candid chat with Senior VP of Food, Beverage, & Retail C.D. Risinger about managing the Fair during a near record-breaking year (and his brief involvement in the invention of the Lemon Chill) before waxing nostalgic with fellow Queen of the State Fair (and Christie's sister) Johnna McKee about what it's been like growing up with the next year's Fair always on the horizon.

Episode 4: Looking Back, Giving Thanks, & Wrapping Up

Welcome to The Fairs, Festivals, & Carnivals Podcast! Award winning Concessionaire and Fry Queen of Texas Christi Erpillo and her family have been frying Fernie’s Famous Funnel Cakes at the State Fair for 49 years, and now she wants to give you the inside scoop on all things Fair Food! Join us as we take a look inside some of the Fair’s biggest vendors to find out what makes the State Fair of Texas the best 24 days of the year! From fried foods to funnel cakes, this is The Fairs, Festivals, & Carnivals Podcast, with your host, Christi Erpillo!

Fairs, Festivals, & Carnivals

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