Sept. 9, 2025
VIROQUA, Wis. – After a half-century of serving its “unique homemade french fries” at fairs across southwestern Wisconsin, Hub’s Fries, a beloved family tradition, will cease operations following the 2025 Vernon County Fair. Started by Lowell and Carol Hubbard of Viroqua in 1975, the family business has become a must-visit staple at events like the Westby Syttende Mai, the Vernon County Fair, the Viola Horse & Colt Show, and for many years, the Iowa County Fair in Mineral Point..
Cyndy Hubbard, daughter of the founders, expressed mixed emotions about the decision. “It is bittersweet, but I feel that it is the right decision,” she said.
The origin of Hub’s Fries traces back to an unexpected “ketchup problem” at the 1974 Vernon County Fair. Lowell Hubbard, then managing the Liberty Pole United Methodist Food Stand (now Cornerstone Academy Stand), observed children from Clinsman’s Fries using his stand’s refillable ketchup bottles without purchasing anything. After a conversation with Mr. Clinsman, who provided ketchup in small packages similar to those McDonald’s distributes. A turning point came when Mr. Clinsman suffered a burn at another fair and asked Lowell for help selling fries. This assistance eventually led to Lowell purchasing the stand in 1975, much to the surprise of his family.
“I think the person most surprised was my mother,” Cyndy recalled.
The Hubbards initially envisioned the stand as a means to help pay for their children’s college expenses. Lowell and Carol had three children Cyndy, Candace, and David, all of whom would attend college. While the stand “definitely helped,” Cyndy clarified, “we all had college loans and jobs during college. Another rumor is that Dad bought a new car every year with the money. Also, not true.”
The original Hub’s Fries stand was built in 1975 by Lowell and his brother-in-law, Paul Fanta. In 1986, Lowell and Carol acquired the 1956 stand still in use today and a used Penske truck to transport it. Early days were marked by “trial and error”. Cyndy remembered her first fair, the 1976 Iowa County Fair, where the linoleum floor became “like a skating rink in that stand” due to grease. “Discovering the rubber mats was a real find. They made such a difference,” she noted..
From its inception, Hub’s Fries has been a family affair, involving immediate family, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends. Lowell and Carol’s primary goal was never financial gain, but rather to “always to serve the best fries they could. They never wanted people to feel cheated or to serve an inferior product,” Cyndy stated. The tradition continues, with a third generation of workers, including Cyndy’s daughter, Joy, now working in the stand. David Hubbard, Larry Fanta, and Scott Wilkins, who worked together for many years, are returning to the stand for the Friday night of the fair to celebrate the occasion. .
What kept the family going for five decades? Cyndy points to “Two things—wanting to continue what our parents had started and were so proud of, and our customers”. She added, “We appreciate the kind things our customers say about the fries, their loyalty, and how much fun it is to talk with them as we hand them the fries. Thank you everyone for 50 years!”.
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