Hello, Wisconsin! My name is Julia Nunes, and in June, I was selected as the 73rd Alice in Dairyland.

Growing up on my family’s dairy farm in Chippewa Falls, Wis., my summers have always been filled with county and state fairs, camp adventures, and more. Although this year may look different, I’m still planning to celebrate summer and enjoy some of my favorite treats.

State fair

One event that will look different is the Wisconsin State Fair. Attending state fair with Chippewa County youth exhibitors has given me lasting friendships and memories to look back on. I will never forget early morning cattle washing or walking the Midway to try a new “on a stick” food. Lucky for us, this year the Wisconsin State Fair is making one of its signature items available curbside — the cream puff!

The Original Cream Puff is a treat I have dreamed of and drooled over for many years. Made with plenty of heavy cream, cream puffs have been enjoyed by fairgoers for 97 years. Taste summer with Original Cream Puffs that will be available for pickup from your car at the Wisconsin State Fair Park Aug. 6 through Aug. 9. Guarantee your cream puffs by preordering, and visit originalcreampuffs.com to learn more.

Grilled cheese

Another summer staple you can make at home this summer is a sandwich. On hot summer days, sometimes the easiest way to fuel your body is by making a quick sandwich with fresh, local ingredients.

August is National Sandwich Month, and one way to celebrate is by making a classic grilled cheese. Use Wisconsin butter and one of the over 600 types of Wisconsin cheese to make the perfect grilled cheese sandwich. Find your next favorite cheese at wisconsincheese.com.

GRILLED CHEESE: Celebrate National Sandwich Month in August with a classic grilled cheese sandwich.

I make my grilled cheese sandwiches with cheddar cheese and plenty of butter. I also like to experiment by adding Wisconsin ham and different varieties of cheese such as Gouda, brie or Muenster. When toasted to golden perfection, this cheesy meal is sure to satisfy.

Sweet corn

August is also prime time to find fresh, local sweet corn. Sweet corn is harvested when the kernels are soft and sweet, which makes it an incredibly tasty treat, especially when coated in butter (which is how my family enjoys it). When I worked at Klinger Farm Market in Chippewa Falls, the months of July and August were particularly busy as sweet corn ripened and became available. We would spend hours in the fields picking corn by hand and carting it to the store to be sold.

In 2018, Wisconsin harvested over 56,000 acres of sweet corn. Surprisingly, less than 1% of the U.S. corn crop is sweet corn for human consumption. Most of the corn you see in fields along the road is field corn. Even though sweet corn makes up only a small percentage of all corn grown in Wisconsin, it makes a big impact on the plates and in the minds of Wisconsin families. Fresh sweet corn is definitely one of my favorite summer snacks.

This summer may look different, but I challenge you to find new ways to celebrate and enjoy traditional Wisconsin products!