Albuquerque, NM – The New Mexico State Fair, renowned for its celebration of the state's rich agricultural heritage and culinary creativity, has announced the winners of this year's highly anticipated Unique Foods and Beef Jerky competitions. These competitions showcased the finest and most innovative food creations from across the state, highlighting New Mexico's distinct flavors and culinary prowess.

Unique Foods Competition
The Unique Foods Competition lived up to its name, drawing entries that pushed the boundaries of creativity and taste. The Unique Foods Contest ended in a tie for the first time in the competition's history. The Conductor's Corn Dog from Gravy Train and Rex's Belgian waffle green chile cheeseburger wowed the judges with their incredible flavors and creativity and ended the competition in a dead heat for the top prize.

Conductor's Corn Dog

A 100% all-beef Nathan's ¼ lb hot dog hand-dipped in scratch-made, top-secret corn dog batter. Fried to a delicious golden brown before it's split open and topped with cheddar cheese sauce, smoked bacon, fried cheese curd and Hatch green chile.
Concessionaire: Gravy Train, Food Court

Belgian Waffle Green Chile Cheeseburger

All beef patty grilled to perfection served on a Belgian waffle garnished with pickle, lettuce and tomato. The sandwich is then drizzled with green chile maple syrup and dusted with powdered sugar.
Concessionaire: Rex's, South of Natural Resources Building

Beef Jerky Competition
A beloved staple of the Southwest, beef jerky takes center stage at the fair's Beef Jerky Competition, where the finest cuts of beef are cured, spiced and dried to perfection. This year, Mike's Jerky took home the prize for best salt and pepper jerky while JR's Jerky Company claimed the top spot for green chile jerky.

A Celebration of New Mexico's Culinary Diversity
These competitions continue to highlight the diversity and talent of New Mexico's food scene. The New Mexico State Fair is proud to host such events, offering local chefs, food artisans, and home cooks the opportunity to showcase their skills on a larger stage. You won't want to miss the Original Green Chile Cheeseburger Competition on Monday, Sept. 9, or the High School Culinary Competition on Thursday, Sept. 12.

The 2024 New Mexico State Fair is scheduled until Sept. 15. The State Fair promises to be an incredible event, highlighting the culture, agriculture, art and beauty of New Mexico, including top-quality music and entertainment. Visit statefair.exponm.com to purchase your tickets today including park and ride and concert tickets.