At the Minnesota State Fair, Tim Walz will be enjoying a pork chop on a stick and a vanilla milkshake

MINNEAPOLIS — Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz devoured a pork chop on a stick and washed it down with a vanilla milkshake Sunday as the Minnesota governor and his family toured his home state fair.

Flanked by his wife, Gwen, and their daughter, Hope, and with a security detail behind him, Walz surveyed the rows of food vendors offering all manner of fairground delicacies, many served on a stick.

“For those of you who aren’t from Minnesota, I want to point out that there are a lot of state fairs in the country, this is the best,” Walz said. “I can say that after tasting pork chops in Iowa.”

The annual 12-day fair is an opportunity for Minnesota farmers to showcase their products. Walz highlighted the state’s agricultural sector by walking past booths with signs like “PUT PORK ON YOUR FORK” and “#PORKPROUD.”

Excited visitors gathered around Walz to shake his hand and take pictures.

Walz acknowledged that his status as Kamala Harris’ running mate may have caused more disruption than usual at an already crowded fairgrounds in Falcon Heights, a Minneapolis suburb. But he said the increased attention gives him an opportunity to promote Minnesota’s economy and culture.

PHOTOS: It’s pork chop on a stick and a vanilla milkshake for Tim Walz at the Minnesota State Fair

“I think people see that we can talk about Minnesota across the country, talk about the economy here, talk about things like the state fair, talk about agriculture,” Walz said.

On Labor Day, Walz plans to meet with union leaders in Milwaukee.