Iowa State Fair staple offers more than just hot dogs

FAIR. BOWE WELL, JAMES, BETTY’S FOOT LONG HAS BEEN A STAPLE HERE AT THE FAIR FOR THE LAST 47 YEARS. BUT THE BEST CUSTOMERS SOMETIMES DON’T EVEN COME FOR THE FOOD. AND HOT DOGS. THERE’S NINE HOT DOGS STUFFED INTO BUNS. OH, WOW. AND SOMETIMES SCOOPED INTO A BAG OF CHIPS. I DOLLARS. WELCOME. YOU KNOW, BETTY’S FOOT LONGS HAVE BEEN SERVING UP THEIR SPECIALTY FOR 47 YEARS. OH, GUYS, THAT LOOKS GOOD. PEOPLE COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AND SAY, OH, MY GOSH, I’M SO GLAD YOU’RE HERE. YOU BE MA’AM. HERE. AND IT STILL RUNS HER PARENTS FOOD. STAND NOW OR RUSH COMES IN SPURTS WITH THE HELP OF HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS. IT’S JUST US AND THIS FAIR. AND WE LOVE THAT. LOVED BY HER FAVORITE CUSTOMERS. HOW ARE YOU? I’VE MISSED YOU. IT’S BEEN THREE DAYS WHERE I’VE BEEN, MAN. THE IOWA STATE TROOPERS. CAN I GET YOU SOMETHING TO DRINK? WHO? SHE FEEDS EVERY YEAR. A TRADITION STARTED BY IZZO’S FATHER AFTER WATCHING THEM CHASE DOWN TROUBLEMAKERS ALL FAIR LONG. I COULDN’T. NOT BE HERE. BUT THE BIG REASON IT SO KEEPS COMING BACK IS FOR THE TREE THAT SITS ACROSS FROM HER COUNTERTOP. WE HAVE A TREE THAT HAS A PLAQUE UNDERNEATH FOR MY SON WHO LOVED THE FAIR, AND HE PASSED AWAY FOR YEARS AGO. IT’S SO SON. BRIAN DIED OF HEART RELATED ISSUES IN 2018. HE USED TO HELP HIS MOTHER RUN BETTY’S HOT DOGS. NOW IT’S HOW CARING KEEPS CLOSE TO HER SON. WE MADE THAT PLAQUE SO THAT HE COULD SEE ALL THE SIDEWALKS AND ALWAYS BE WITH US. WE COME OUT WHEN IT’S NOT FAIR TIME AND SIT IN THE SHADE FROM HIS TREE JUST TO HAVE HIM WITH THIS. ALL OF THE HARD, FAIR TIME WORK. ALL RIGHT, I’LL TAKE IT. WORTH IT TO SPEND TIME WITH BRIAN. THE CARDINALS ARE SINGING IN THE MORNING. HE’S HERE WITH US, TELLING US TO HAVE A GOOD DAY. NOW, KAREN AND HER FAMILY LIVE HERE IN DES MOINES. THE ONLY EVENT THEY DO ALL YEAR ROUND IS THE IOWA STATE FAIR. SO IF YOU WANT TO STOP BY BETTY’S FOOTLONG, YOU ONLY HAVE A FEW MORE DAYS TO DO SO. WE’RE LIVE AT THE IOWA STATE FAIR BEA

Bettie's Footlongs has been selling food at the Iowa State Fair for 47 years, but the crowds aren't the only thing keeping this family-run operation coming back every year.Karen Idso runs her parents’ food stand now, with the help of family and friends.She is loved by her favorite customers, the Iowa State Troopers, who she feeds every year.The tradition of feeding the state troopers was started by Idso's father after watching them hard at work throughout the fair.But the main reason Idso keeps coming back, is for the tree that sits across from her countertop.Idso's son, Bryan, died of heart-related issues in 2018. Bryan used to help his mother run Bettie's Footlongs."We have a tree that has a plaque underneath for my son who loved the fair. And he passed away four years ago," Idso said. "We made a plaque so he could see all the sidewalks and always be with us. We come out when it's not fair time and sit in the shade from his tree, just to have him with us.”All of the hard work around the time of the Iowa State Fair is worth it to Idso to spend time with Bryan."The cardinals are singing in the morning. He's here with us telling us to have a good day," Idso said.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Bettie's Footlongs has been selling food at the Iowa State Fair for 47 years, but the crowds aren't the only thing keeping this family-run operation coming back every year.

Karen Idso runs her parents’ food stand now, with the help of family and friends.

She is loved by her favorite customers, the Iowa State Troopers, who she feeds every year.

The tradition of feeding the state troopers was started by Idso's father after watching them hard at work throughout the fair.

But the main reason Idso keeps coming back, is for the tree that sits across from her countertop.

Idso's son, Bryan, died of heart-related issues in 2018. Bryan used to help his mother run Bettie's Footlongs.

"We have a tree that has a plaque underneath for my son who loved the fair. And he passed away four years ago," Idso said. "We made a plaque so he could see all the sidewalks and always be with us. We come out when it's not fair time and sit in the shade from his tree, just to have him with us.”

All of the hard work around the time of the Iowa State Fair is worth it to Idso to spend time with Bryan.

"The cardinals are singing in the morning. He's here with us telling us to have a good day," Idso said.

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