Midwest
Deep-fried ranch a big hit at Minnesota State Fair: 'I wanted to hate it'
With the Minnesota State Fair in full swing, one particular food item has proven to be a hit: deep-fried ranch.
Served at Lulu’s Public House, the deep-fried ranch has drawn lines hundreds of people deep, as customers – perhaps out of curiosity – wait for the fair dish that has gotten everyone talking.
Described by the Minnesota State Fair as “ranch dressing filling made with ranch seasoning, buttermilk and cream cheese in a panko shell, deep-fried and dusted with ranch powder,” deep-fried ranch is accompanied by “a side of hot honey sauce crafted with Cry Baby Craig’s hot sauce.”
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A sign on Lulu’s Public House indicates the item is made of Hidden Valley Ranch and ranch flavorings.
“People in Minnesota love their ranch dressing,” Charlie Burrows, co-owner of Lulu’s, told Fox News Digital in an email in July, noting that “diners will ask for a side of ranch with almost everything.”
Deep-fried ranch, shown up close at right, has become one of the most talked-about items at the Minnesota State Fair this summer. (Jacqueline Hanson; Minnesota State Fair)
Burrows worked on the concept of deep-frying ranch dressing for more than a year and a half, he told Fox News Digital in July.
Despite the unusual nature of the dish, Burrows predicted that people were going to love it, saying he was “really excited.”
“We wouldn’t have done it if we didn’t think it tasted great,” he said.
As it turns out, Burrows was correct. He told Fox News Digital that just two days after the fair opened on Aug. 22, he had to place an order for 150% of what he’d originally planned.
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The item has been described by Lulu’s marketing team this way: It’s as if “Hidden Valley Ranch and a cheese wonton had a baby.” But Burrows told Fox News Digital that he likened his dish to a fried ravioli tossed in panko breadcrumbs.
The dish has been tasted – and enjoyed – by ordinary fair-goers as well as politicians and celebrities.
Deep-fried ranch dressing was described this way: It’s as if “Hidden Valley Ranch and a cheese wonton had a baby.” (Minnesota State Fair)
Olympic gymnast Suni Lee, a native of Minnesota, posted a video recap of her trip to the fair on Aug. 26, when she tried various food items.
Her first taste of deep-fried ranch left her wide-eyed and saying, “Oh my God.”
One of her security guards can be heard in the background saying, “Deep-fried ranch was awesome.”
“What is wrong with us? I loved it.”
Country singer Blake Shelton also enjoyed deep-fried ranch, even giving it a shoutout during his Sunday night concert at the fairgrounds.
“I ate it and it’s awesome,” Shelton said. “I mean, look at – What is wrong with us? I loved it.”
Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee, at left, and country music superstar Blake Shelton, right, count themselves as fans of deep-fried ranch. (Aytac Unal/Anadolu via Getty Images; Minnesota State Fair; Getty Images)
Shelton added that a person has “gotta be a hillbilly” to like something like that.
Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., who had previously referred to ranch as “the Midwest’s most sacred condiment,” also sampled deep-fried ranch.
“It’s really good,” she said. “The hot honey makes it.”
“Ranch is a condiment for pretty much everything, but this might be its best execution yet,” she said.
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Kelly Morrison, a congressional candidate for Minnesota’s 3rd District, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “LuLu’s deep-fried ranch dressing was even better than advertised,” along with a picture of herself holding a half-eaten triangle.
Minnesota State Fair-goers sample the deep-fried ranch, which will be available until the fair closes. (Jacqueline Hanson)
“Chef Reactions,” a TikTok food creator with more than 3 million followers, also found himself among deep-fried ranch’s fans – even if a bit unwillingly.
For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle
“I just had deep-fried ranch and I must begrudgingly admit it was not bad at all. I wanted to hate it. But I don’t,” he said in an Aug. 23 post on X.
The Minnesota State Fair runs through Labor Day.
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North Dakota
Make-A-Wish North Dakota unveils newly remodeled Wishing Place in Fargo
FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – Make-A-Wish North Dakota celebrated the grand reopening of its newly remodeled Wishing Place on Monday evening, January 12, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by community leaders, donors, and volunteers.
The Fargo facility underwent renovations last summer to create a more child-focused, community-centric experience for families visiting the nonprofit organization.
“I want the Wishing Place to serve as a beacon of light for families and be something that they are proud of, and the community is proud of,” said Billi Jo Zielinski, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish North Dakota. “So, this is a place not only for kids to come in, explore, and dream and wish, but also for our volunteers to be trained and to be inspired.”
Wish alumna Emily Gard, who was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma in 2003 and is now two years cancer-free, spoke at the event about the significance of the remodeled space.
“This remodeled space is where those life-changing moments take shape,” Gard said. “Every wish that will eventually be honored on the wall of stars represents a story that has been written and is waiting to unfold for a child.”
The invitation-only event was hosted for members of the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo Chamber of Commerce, Make-A-Wish North Dakota donors, and volunteers.
Since 1985, Make-A-Wish North Dakota has granted more than 1,150 wishes for children across the state. The organization’s vision is to grant every eligible child’s wish.
According to Make-A-Wish, wishes provide joy in the present, hope for the future, and the transformation that comes from daring to dream beyond the confines of a critical illness.
Families interested in learning more about eligibility for a wish, referring a child, or volunteering can visit wish.org/northdakota.
Copyright 2026 KVLY. All rights reserved.
Ohio
Boys high school basketball rankings, Jan. 12 USA Today Ohio Super 25
Pickerington North’s JR Bates hits buzzer-beater to beat Walnut Ridge
Pickerington North’s JR Bates makes a buzzer-beating 3-pointer for a 72-69 win over Walnut Ridge in The Challenge on Jan. 10 at Africentric.
This is the first in-season USA Today Co. Ohio High School Boys Basketball Super 25 Poll of the 2025-26 season, featuring voters from across the state. The Ohio Super 25 ranks the teams we believe are the state’s 25 best, regardless of division.
The Ohio Super 25 Boys Basketball Poll will be conducted weekly throughout the remainder of the regular season using a panel of sports writers and sports editors from across the state’s USA Today network. Each voter submits a Top 25 with a first-place vote worth 25 points, second place 24, and so on down to one point for 25th.
Here’s a look at our rankings as the eighth week of the regular season plays out.
Ohio high school boys basketball rankings – Jan. 12, 2025
| Rank | Team | Total points | First-place votes |
| 1 | West Chester Lakota West | 307 | 10 |
| 2 | Cle. Hts. Lutheran East | 249 | |
| 3 | Newark | 228 | |
| 4 | Cin. Princeton | 220 | |
| 5 | Lima Senior | 203 | |
| 6 | Westerville North | 195 | |
| 7 (tie) | Brecksville-Broadview Heights | 192 | 1 |
| 7 (tie) | Mason | 192 | |
| 9 | Cle. St. Ignatius | 187 | 1 |
| 10 | Hilliard Bradley | 182 | |
| 11 | Gates Mills Gilmour Academy | 166 | |
| 12 | Cin. Wyoming | 165 | 1 |
| 13 | Delphos St. John’s | 161 | |
| 14 | Massillon Washington | 158 | |
| 15 | Lakewood St. Edward | 157 | |
| 16 (tie) | Brunswick | 155 | |
| 16 (tie) | Cin. St. Xavier | 155 | |
| 18 | Cin. Winton Woods | 154 | |
| 19 (tie) | Maria Stein Marion Local | 137 | |
| 19 (tie) | Cin. Moeller | 137 | |
| 21 | Reynoldsburg | 135 | |
| 22 | Cin. La Salle | 126 | |
| 23 | Centerville | 97 | |
| 24 (tie) | Toledo St. John’s | 92 | |
| 24 (tie) | Cin. Taft | 92 |
Other schools receiving votes
Steubenville, Toledo Central Catholic, Trotwood-Madison, Alliance and Chaney.
South Dakota
SD Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Jan. 12, 2026
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 12, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 12 drawing
05-27-45-56-59, Powerball: 04, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 12 drawing
21-23-24-28-39, Lucky Ball: 01
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from Jan. 12 drawing
09-20-25-30-51, Star Ball: 10, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
- Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
- Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.
When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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