Something Special from Wisconsin™ (SSfW) program placed first in all categories, including Best of Show, at the 2026 Wisconsin State Fair Grand Champion Eats and Treats competition.
Open to Wisconsin’s professional food businesses with yearly sales under $2 million, the Wisconsin State Fair Grand Champion Eats and Treats competition highlights small to mid-size companies in the food processing industry. Judging took place in a variety of categories, including Bakeries Best Baked Goods, Chocolate and Beyond, Delightful Dashes, Garden Goodies, Hot. Hot. Hot. (Spicy), Raise the Bar, Satisfying Snacks, Sensational Sauces, Sip Showdown, and Tempting Treats. The Best of Something Special from Wisconsin™ and Best in Show categories rounded out the event.
SSfW™ companies won the following awards:
Apple Valley Enterprise LLC DBA AVEnue Orchard – Eau Claire
Choc N Cherry: 2nd Place, Chocolate and Beyond
Molasses Cookie: 2nd Place, Bakeries Best Baked Goods
Blue Habanero: 3rd Place, Hot. Hot. Hot. (Spicy)
Caramels: 3rd Place, Tempting Treats
Caramel Popcorn: 4th Place, Satisfying Snacks
Chocolate Chip Cookie: 4th Place, Chocolate and Beyond
Dashelito’s Hot Sauce & Spicy Foods – Madison
Dashelito’s Salsa: 1st Place, Garden Goodies
Hot Honey: 2nd Place, Hot. Hot. Hot. (Spicy)
Fazio’s Chocolate – Elm Grove
Cherry Chipotle Artisan Chocolate: Best of Show Award
Cherry Chipotle Artisan Chocolate: 1st Place, Chocolate and Beyond
Mint Meltaway Bar: 1st Place, Raise the Bar
Nonna’s Nougat: 1st Place, Tempting Treats
Fazio’s House-Made Peanut Butter Brittle: 2nd Place, Tempting Treats
Meet Me at the Fair Artisan Chocolate: 3rd Place, Chocolate and Beyond
Fika Spice – Shell Lake
Maple Sugar Fika Spice: 3rd Place, Delightful Dashes
It’s Poppin’! LLC – Westfield
Crazy Corn: 2nd Place, Satisfying Snacks
Sassy Seasoned Pretzels, 3rd Place, Satisfying Snacks
Lazy Eye Hot Sauce – Antigo
Lazy Eye Red Smoked Habanero: 4th Place, Hot. Hot. Hot. (Spicy)
Olympia Granola – Milwaukee
Banana Pineapple Coconut Trail Bar: 1st Place, Satisfying Snacks
Pleasant’s Best Sauces – Minocqua
Dragon’s Kiss BBQ: Best of Something Special from Wisconsin Award
Dragon’s Kiss BBQ: 1st Place, Hot. Hot. Hot. (Spicy)
Golden Bourbon BBQ: 1st Place, Sensational Sauces
Salad and Vegetable Topping: 2nd Place, Delightful Dashes
Baled Hay: 3rd Place, Garden Goodies
Beef-B-Q: 3rd Place, Sensational Sauces
Czech It Out BBQ: 4th Place, Sensational Sauces
El Magnifico Med Salsa: 4th Place, Garden Goodies
Rustic Made Holdings WI, LLC DBA Rustic Oak – Milwaukee
Old-Fashioned Cocktail Syrup / Non-Alcoholic: Blackberry: Judge’s Favorite
Old-Fashioned Cocktail Syrup / Non-Alcoholic: Blackberry: 1st Place, Sip Showdown (Non-Alcoholic)
Old-Fashioned Cocktail Syrup / Non-Alcoholic: Spiced Apple: 3rd Place, Sip Showdown (Non-Alcoholic)
Non-Alcoholic Bitters: Cardamom: 4th Place, Sip Showdown (Non-Alcoholic)
Starla’s Seasonings, Dips & Mixes – Belgium
Tikka Masala Dip Mix or Seasoning Mix: Judge’s Favorite
Tikka Masala Dip Mix or Seasoning Mix: 1st Place, Delightful Dashes
Gluten Free Beer Bread or Banana Bread Mix: 1st Place, Bakeries Best Baked Goods
Glorious Garlic Dill-icious Pickles: 2nd Place, Garden Goodies
Garlic and Herb Beer Bread Mix: 3rd Place, Bakeries Best Baked Goods
For a complete list of results from the Grand Champion Eats and Treats competition, visit https://wistatefair.com/competitions/competitive-exhibits-specialty-contests-judging-results/.
About Something Special from Wisconsin
