HOW IT ALL STARTED
In 1924, a unique undertaking was launched – the Dairy Bakery at the Wisconsin State Fair.  That was 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.  It was to be operated on state property -- State Fair Park -- and administered by the Wisconsin Bakers Association.  The idea was, and still is, to promote Wisconsin’s dairy products.

That first year, the Dairy Bakery occupied 400 square feet and produced a variety of bakery goods. In 1936, the bakery continued to make a wide assortment of products (34 varieties), and sold 27,108 cream puffs. By 1954, the bakery occupied 3,600 square feet and the product line was more specialized. Cream puffs were emerging as the public’s favorite product – a phenomenon that began during World War II. Because of rationing during World War II, there was a shortage of whipping cream. In fact, the Dairy Bakery was closed in 1944, 1945, and 1946 due to the war. Many people missed being able to indulge themselves in their favorite whipped cream desserts. So when the bakery reopened in 1947, people were delighted they could buy cream puffs at the fair again. And they did! The word spread and the cream puff craze was born.

In 1954 the Dairy Bakery sold 92,160 cream puffs, 13,440 Danish pastries, 6,000 crispies, 2,200 coffee cakes and four varieties of breads. To produce these products the following quantities of dairy products were used: 840 gallons of 32% cream, 205 gallons of whole milk (fluid), 50 pounds of dehydrated cheese, 412 pounds of grade AA butter, 2,540 pounds of whole frozen eggs, 90 pounds of frozen egg yolks and 20 pounds of frozen egg whites. A total of 30 people were employed.

Cream puffs continued to gain in popularity to the point they have become a State Fair tradition in Wisconsin.  Many people feel, “You haven’t been to the fair until you’ve had your cream puff.”  It is estimated that at current fairs one out of every four fairgoers consumes a cream puff.