Scenes from Oktoberfest

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What does elk and buffalo taste like?

Ohio Sustainable Foods owner Joe Nagy says it definitely tastes better than chicken.

The first-time Oktoberfest participant from Norwalk is offering Elk burgers, Buffalo burgers, jumbo scallops and Osso Bucco.

“All of our meats are Ohio grown with no antibiotics or hormones,” he said. “We have relationships with Ohio farmers, so we know where our meats come from.”

Nagy said he likes to talk to his customers while he cooks.

“I like to share what I do with people and teach them about it,” Nagy said. “I want people to enjoy it. That’s what food should be about. I have a passion about it and want others to enjoy the food.”

Nagy says none of his food is premade and all food is cooked to order.

LIFETIME REFILLS – If you buy a 32 ounce ice tea from Bayou Billy at Galion’s Oktoberfest for $7, you get $1 refills.

For life.

Is that a good deal?

Bayou Billy owner Troy Bennett thinks so.

“For $10, you get four cups of tea,” the Mansfield resident said Thursday afternoon in Galion. “You can’t beat that at the fair.”

Bennett said the tea is brewed every 45 minutes and is kept in a 35 gallon tank.

Bennett says he attends 25 events a year in Ohio including the Crawford County Fair, Richland County Fair, the Crestline Harvest Festival and a recent Mansfield car show.

He says those looking for refills can check bayoubilly.com for locations they can bring their mugs to for $1 refills.

THEY HAVE A MESSAGE – Road Riders for Jesus are looking to share God’s message at Galion’s Oktoberfest.

“We mainly talk to people who don’t know Jesus.” Road Riders for Jesus Road Captain Danny Johnson said. “Jesus changed my life,” Johnson said. “He made it better than it was before and it made me a better person. He gives you the promise of going to Heaven instead of going to hell. Jesus is the only way into Heaven,” Johnson said.

The Road Riders for Jesus meet at 9 a.m. every fourth Saturday of the month at BJ’s in Galion.

“We encourage people to ride for Jesus.” Johnson said. “Especially people who like to ride. Anybody can ride with us. It’s non-denominational.”

FOOD SAFETY CRUCIAL – Galion health officials are reminding vendors at Oktoberfest and all city festivals to follow food regulations to ensure safety for public consumption.

“There are state rules,” Director of Environmental Health Stephanie Zmuda said. “They apply everywhere in the state and everything is online. They can ask any Health Department, they are more than happy to work with everyone.”

The purpose of the inspections is to keep people from eating food that could potentially harm them.

“My goal is not to put anyone out of business,” Zmuda said. “We work with the vendor to keep them in operation. That is always our first option. Anything I find during inspection that is critical gets corrected right away. Critical means its more likely to get somebody sick.”

She said this is not the most pleasant part of the job.

“Stephanie is out there doing everything she is supposed to do,” Galion City Health Commissioner Trish Factor said. “To uphold the law and regulations, but most importantly to keep the community safe and healthy.”

Kristi Kitts buys a candy apple for her daughter Katie Nickelson Friday during Oktoberfest.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2015/09/web1_Katie.jpgKristi Kitts buys a candy apple for her daughter Katie Nickelson Friday during Oktoberfest.

By Deborah Elaine Evans and Chris Pugh

Galion Inquirer

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