When you’re living in the dairy state, it’s only logical that you should be able to find plenty of cheese to eat at the State Fair. And you can. In addition to things like smothered tots, cheesy pretzels, nachos and grilled cheese sandwiches, here are seven great spots to get your cheese straight up and … well, usually fried.

1. Hot Wisconsin Cheese

First Street, next to Cream Puff Pavilion

This is the best spot on the grounds – hands down – to eat fried cheese. The batter is light and not too greasy, and the choices are plentiful. Grab the jalapeno cheddar nuggets. They’re light, crisp and perfectly stretchy, with just a bit of a kick.

Hot Wisconsin Cheese also carries Cheddar nuggets (the fan favorite), mozzarella fingers, Swiss and rye on a stick, and bacon and cream cheese on a stick ($5).

2. Brad & Harry's

Central Street between Second & Center

Look for the big mouse on the sign at this popular food vendor serving up fried Ellsworth cheese curds with your choice of marinara or ketchup. These salty curds are covered in a heavier batter than some other spots. Better buy a beverage, too, while you’re there.

3. Tropics at the Fair

First Street and Wetley Way

This doesn't sound like the most logical place to get cheese, but it's worth the visit. Linger in the shade of this tiki themed sit-down restaurant and enjoy one of the State Fair Golden Spork Awards Finalists: beer battered pretzel-coated cheese curds – a crispy version of regular fried cheese curds with nice pretzel flavor. Served with remoulade.

4. Crutchee's

Center & Badger

If you love corn dogs, you’re likely to love cheese on a stick: corn dog batter filled with melted American cheese. It’s hot, melty and a bit like a grilled cheese sandwich made with corn bread.

5. The Big Cheese

North Grandstand Avenue between Wisconsin Way & Fifth Street

This vendor is closer to Spin City than the others. So, if you’ve got a hankering for battered fried cheese curds and would prefer not to walk to one of the other vendors across the park, they’ll do in a pinch. The curds are smaller than at some of the other vendors, but fairly similar to the curds sold at Brad & Harry’s.

6. Saz's

Central Avenue, across from Wisconsin Products Pavilion

Grab a table and order the "festival famous" mozzarella sticks. Made of string cheese wrapped in eggroll wrappers and fried up golden, these treats are served with plenty of marinara for dipping.

7. Wisconsin Products Pavilion

Central Avenue and Second Street

If you’re tired of all things fried, step into the air-conditioning for a moment and check out the cheese selection. There are plenty of goat cheeses to sample along the north wall. Skip the grilled cheese (which in my mind is over-rated), and get yourself a nice bag of squeaky curds. You can eat them while perusing the Wisconsin State Fair cheese and butter contest winners.