Delaware North’s Wisconsin State Fair team has found creative ways to reuse old equipment for its concession operations. From beverage troughs and dessert carts to deep fryers and pans, General
Manager Carrie Obradovich and Executive Chef Jeannie Goljenboom repurpose these items for operational use or beautification.
“We take equipment from other Delaware North venues that may not be needed there anymore,” Obradovich said. “A retired dessert cart from Lambeau Field becomes a condiment cart at the fair.”
Delaware North has operated food service at Wisconsin State Fair and Expo Center since 2002. A Wisconsin tradition for 168 years, the fair attracts more than one million attendees over the course of its 11-day run in August.
Chef Goljenboom donated old pans, beverage troughs and bins to the fair horticulturalist who used them to create lush floral arrangements. The displays were placed at Delaware North concession locations throughout the fair as part of a beautification project.
“We’ve been able to turn ‘trash’ into treasure,” Goljenboom said. “A broken deep fryer becomes a unique way to display plants.”
The chef also noted the whimsical selection of plants, “For the fryer container, the horticulturist didn’t just choose any plant . . . she picked the elephant ears plant that resembles fried elephant ears pastries.”