Below: Michael Koontz helps unload a carousel horse for one of the midway rides. Koontz is one of many workers putting finishing touches on the fairgrounds before the gates open at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Photos by KELLY KERR / Tulsa World

Machine puts ice cream in a fast freeze at fair booth

Just ask T.J. Paskach and Will Schroeder, two men from Iowa in town for the Tulsa State Fair. The men are the proprietors of Nitro Ice Cream, one of the many exhibits at the 11-day event that runs Thursday through Oct. 7 at Expo Square.

"We are excited because we have a lot of new vendors this year," said Valerie Russell, Tulsa State Fair space sales manager.

Paskach and Schroeder were graduate students studying for doctorates in chemical engineering at Iowa State University, when they developed a machine that uses liquid nitrogen to freeze one gallon of ice cream per minute.

"The faster you freeze it, the smoother it is," Schroeder said.

Along with producing smooth ice cream, the machine's patent-pending technology puts on a spectacular show. Clouds of condensed vapor pour out of the machine as it whirls, jumps and pours out vanilla ice cream.

The pair said it is both the novelty and the quality of the product that will draw customers to their ice cream stand in the Trade Center.

Although Schroeder received his doctorate in May and Paskach is finishing up work for his graduate degree, the engineers plan to continue promoting their high-tech invention.

Both men turned down high-paying jobs in the petroleum industry to perfect the Nitro Ice Cream machine, Schroeder said.

"We are getting the machine ready to sell as part of a franchise package," he said.

Nitro Ice Cream will not be the only new feature at the fair. Other new exhibits include Goat Mountain and Coca-Cola's College Football Game Zone.

Goat Mountain is an educational exhibit where visitors can view 40 different breeds of goats and learn about the animals' habits, said Lisa Schumacher, Tulsa State Fair marketing assistant. The exhibit will feature four shows per day beginning Friday.

The Game Zone will let visitors experience interactive exhibits that simulate aspects of collegiate sports, Schumacher said.

Other big name attractions include the "Disney On Ice" show, which opens Thursday and runs through Sunday in the renovated Pavilion, as  well as the PRCA Rodeo.

Admission to the fair increased $1 for both adults and children this year. Adult admission is $7. Admission for youths ages 6 to 12 is $4, and children under 6 are admitted free.

The fair's main event Thursday is Mazzio's Ultimate Ride Night, a promotion that will allow fairgoers to ride all midway rides all night for $10, including gate admission. The deal is available at area Mazzio's restaurants.

Gates will be open from 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday.

Mega Ride wristbands cost $50 plus tax before the fair begins and $60 plus tax after opening day. The wristbands provide unlimited rides throughout the fair on both the Murphy Brothers' and Bell's midways.

Senior Day on Oct. 5 offers free admission for people who are at least 62 years old.

The Tulsa World is sponsoring Buddy Days. The newspaper will publish coupons Sunday through Oct. 4, good for two-for-one admission to the fair and two-for-one rides. The coupons will be valid for use only on Oct. 3 or 4.

People interested in more information about the fair can call the fair office at 744-1113 or visit the event's Web site: http://www.tulsastatefair.com/.

Nicole Nascenzi, World business writer, can be reached at 581-8315 or via e-mail at nicole.nascenzi@tulsaworld.com.