Summary:
– Made in Oklahoma Store features more than 800 products at the State Fair.
– More than 60 Oklahoma vendors supply products for the store.
– Seventy percent of store sales goes directly back to Oklahoma producers.
OKLAHOMA CITY — A veritable cornucopia of bagged, tagged, wrapped, jarred and bottled items line the shelves. A sign reading “Made in Oklahoma Store” hangs high above.
Towels, beef jerky, dog treats, lotions and much more from both familiar and unfamiliar producers, all made in Oklahoma, are showcased at the Oklahoma State Fair every year at the Made in Oklahoma Store, which generates roughly $200,000 over the span of 11 days.
“(It’s) a place where we can support our people right here at home, which is really part of the Okie culture and something that we’re proud the public wants to do,” Oklahoma State Fair Executive Vice President Gina Burchfiel said. “So come see what’s new and unique in the store and support your friends and neighbors across the state.”
A decades-old passion project between the fair and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, the Made in Oklahoma Store has more than 800 unique items available for purchase, provided by more than 60 in-state vendors every year.
Meriruth Sellers, director of market development at the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, said having the store at the State Fair is a great way to get Made in Oklahoma products in front of an audience that appreciates them.
The Made in Oklahoma Store sells many items, including salsa, barbecue sauce and more. (Photo/Oklahoma State Fair)
“We know that most of the attendees live and work here in Oklahoma, so Made in Oklahoma products mean something to them,” Sellers said. “We love getting to hear from them when we’re at the store, and many people will come to us and say, ‘My son or daughter moved away, but I want to send them a Christmas gift. Or my coworker got transferred, and we’d love to send them some Made in Oklahoma stuff to remind them of their time here.’”
The fair retains no profit from the store, collecting only enough to cover operating expenses. Seventy percent goes straight back to the producers.
“I think from a business perspective, we want to keep Oklahoma businesses going and do all that we can to support small businesses,” Burchfiel said. “I think it’s important that we keep providing support to these different businesses because that’s what keeps Oklahoma strong, and I think it’s what keeps Oklahoma interesting.”
Sellers said the Made in Oklahoma Store sees a lot of consistency from Oklahoma vendors coming back to sell their products, calling it one of the Agriculture Department’s favorite parts of putting the store together every year.
“Those companies are able to come back year after year and actually build their market share in Oklahoma City,” Sellers said. “Perhaps they make their product in Tulsa or started their market base in Enid or southeast Oklahoma or somewhere that may not have gotten in front of the people in central Oklahoma before. When companies come back year after year, they’re just increasing that awareness.”
The Made in Oklahoma Store also sells Oklahoma State Fair souvenirs.
“You can come get a State Fair T-shirt or shot glass or Christmas ornament or baby bib,” Burchfiel said. “We do different things each year to break up what you’re able to buy, so there’s almost always a T-shirt, which is fun. We have a lot of return people that look for the different designs each year.”
The Made in Oklahoma Store is located inside the Bennett Event Center at the Oklahoma State Fair, which runs Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 27.
