The core and heart of Valley is our cooperative business model, layered with a love of our home state, Wisconsin! Partnering with local small businesses and organizations to help them achieve large-scale goals they may not otherwise achieve on their own is paramount to the why of our organization – it is what the cooperative model is all about, people and businesses coming together to pool their collective strengths to pull off the otherwise unimaginable.
Our decades-long partnership with the Wisconsin State Fair is a perfect example of seeing this in action! No one does cream puffs and brownies from scratch at high volume quite like they do.
Grab a fork and some wet naps, too, because we’re about to dig into these amazing organizations, their rich history, and take a sneak peek behind the curtain of what makes these two iconic State Fair baked goods so delicious.
Wisconsin State Fair Cream Puff & Wisconsin Bakers Association
The History of How it All Began
The late Charles J. Kremer, president of the Wisconsin Association of Master Bakers from 1905-1907, which today is known as the Wisconsin Bakers Association, owned and operated Kremer’s Bakery in Milwaukee, WI, before becoming a senior food inspector and dairy and food commissioner.
It was during this time when Kremer was a food inspector that he got the idea to start a dairy bakery. He wanted the public to see the relationship between the dairy industry and the baking industry, and he felt the dairy bakery at the Wisconsin State Fair would be the perfect place to get the message across.
As a result, a unique undertaking was launched – the Dairy Bakery at the Wisconsin State Fair in 1924. This was also the year the Wisconsin Bakers Association and the State of Wisconsin began their joint venture to establish and operate a bakery using genuine Wisconsin dairy products in front of thousands of observers at the request of then State Governor John Blaine.
And thus the Wisconsin State Fair Cream Puff was born, and the legendary puffs continue to be a nostalgic tradition at the Wisconsin State Fair today.
The Making of the Wisconsin State Fair Cream Puff
The Wisconsin State Fair has been working with the Wisconsin Bakers Association to produce the cream puffs since they were first introduced in 1924, and Valley has been a part of that partnership in helping source various ingredients, including flour, salt, eggs, and powdered sugar used to make the cream puffs.
With a near-century-old recipe and a mammoth seasonal team, it’s not just dessert—it’s a Wisconsin tradition. The Wisconsin State Fair cream puff stands apart for several reasons—some practical, some nostalgic, and some purely epic in scale.
Over 350,000 puffs are made fresh during the 11-day fair by a crew of 150+ working around the clock. Despite the scale, the process still involves fresh baking daily, real whipped cream, and pâte à choux made on-site.
Generations of Wisconsinites mark the fair by eating at least one. It’s almost a rite of passage, often your first cream puff ever is that one. People talk about them with reverence: “You can’t say you went to the fair unless you got a puff.” Unlike a bakery that sells year-round, these puffs are only available during the State Fair and select drive-thru pop-ups.
Partnership with Valley
“Valley supports the Wisconsin Bakers Association and the Wisconsin Bakers Foundation by fostering connections and promoting industry events and activities. Valley provides high-quality ingredients and donates a reefer trailer for onsite cold storage that guarantee the quality of the cream puffs at the Wisconsin State Fair is top-notch! Together, these organizations ensure the Original Cream Puff remains a Wisconsin State Fair tradition: a large-scale baking production underpinned by curated ingredients, tradition, and seamless coordination.
- Jessica Hoover, CEO of the Wisconsin Bakers Association
Blue Ribbon Brownie & Wisconsin State Fair Park Foundation
The History of How it All Began
In 2004, the Cream Puff celebrated its 80th birthday, and the Wisconsin Bakers’ Association introduced the Blue Ribbon Brownie. They were originally made in partnership with Grebe’s Bakery, but in 2023, it was decided that the Wisconsin State Fair Park Foundation would take over the product and run it as a fundraiser for the nonprofit.
The Wisconsin State Fair Park Foundation is a nonprofit with a mission to help the State Fair grow. The Foundation funds capital improvements, youth programming, park beautification projects, and so much more.
Keeping the Blue Ribbon Brownie Fresh & New
The 2025 Wisconsin State Fair will be the first time the Blue Ribbon Brownie will be offered in three flavors: cream cheese frosted, strawberry, and, of course, the traditional classic fudge.
These flavors lend themselves to a Neapolitan offering and will be available in a 3-pack combo as such.
Partnership with Valley
Valley has been working with the Wisconsin State Fair Park Foundation since they took over the production of the Blue Ribbon Brownie from Grebe’s. Through the partnership, Valley has helped the Foundation figure out all the ins and outs of the bakery business, organized a tasting session with Foundation board members, and discussed operations that facilitated a partnership with a local bakery to help with production.
“As a nonprofit Foundation, we are novices when it comes to baking. Valley’s representative, Heidi, is our valued partner, and it is no exaggeration to say that we wouldn’t be able to execute this important fundraiser without her deep knowledge of operations, product ordering, timelines, and all the tiny details that go into a successful baking operation. Heidi has even helped us bake the brownies… There is no end to her commitment to making our fundraiser successful in its first year.”
- Anna Zeck, Executive Director of the Wisconsin State Fair Park Foundation
The Power of the Cooperative
Supporting two iconic Wisconsin State Fair baked goods is a feather in our cap that Valley wears with pride – but the truth is the Wisconsin Bakers Association and the Wisconsin State Fair Park Foundation are the real heroes bringing these nostalgic pastries to life each year and we are honored to be part of the story thanks to the Wisconsin State Fairs membership with our cooperative.
And because of our cooperative business model, their partnership and support of Valley helps benefit all our member owners. So, remember this when you visit the Wisconsin State Fair and grab your cream puff and Blue Ribbon Brownie – you’re not just buying dessert, you’re supporting local bakeries throughout the entire state of Wisconsin!
Want to know more about becoming a member of our cooperative? Click here!
