MINOT, N.D. (KMOT) – Food is a staple of every North Dakota State Fair.
One family business has been serving up meals at the fair for half a century.
If you’ve gone to the North Dakota State Fair over the years, and love good food, odds are you’ve eaten at one of Tubby’s stands.
They’re celebrating 50 years at the fair, and aren’t stopping any time soon.
Some of the staff serving you on the grounds like Coy and Wyatt by the steak and chicken booth, are the third generation of family working the booths at the fair.
‘It means a ton, just because like our grandfather started this. He’s no longer around, and it’s just one of them things. It’s nice to honor him and keep it going in the family, and just enjoy that time as a family, really,” said Coy.
Jeri Armstrong Long is second generation. Here she is hard at work at the Tubby’s burger stand.
She’s seen generations of customers come back.
“There were some cattle people that we had many years ago down the Midwest when we used to travel, and they came over and said hi. So it’s the connections like that, and now it’s their grandchildren showing cattle,” said Jeri.
It’s that kind of service that keeps fairgoers like Scott Post coming back.
“Always enjoy the steak sandwich, or the chicken. Great environment, great seating in the back, out of the heat,” said Scott.
The world’s changed an awful lot since Tubby’s first came on the scene.
Their recipes?
“We have not tweaked anything. Everything’s all original,” said Coy.
Jeri says the young generation’s work ethic will keep Tubby’s going.
“Everybody likes to see the people that in operation that are running that place. When we leave, they need to be there,” said Jeri.
Keeping a fair favorite and family affair going, 50 years strong.
Tubby’s has two booths—their larger one across from the Flickertail Garden, and the burger booth across from some of the animal barns.
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Dining and Cooking