A visit to the Agriculture and Forestry Museum in Jackson gave Kay Shoemake and her late husband, Kent, an idea they could market and sell at fairs and craft shows across the state, including this week’s South Mississippi Fair.

That idea was fried pork skins and a marketable name time call “Kuntry Skins.”

“Our son was playing ball in Jackson and we visited this exhibit where they had it set up like a small country town,” explained Shoemake, a resident of Soso. “There was a country store there and a woman with a big pot frying skins.

“My husband and I decided to try it at home,” she said. “It turned out great and we started selling them at the fair. I know I’ve been selling them for at least 20 years now.”

Shoemake said she takes pork skin and cuts it into small pellets. The pellets are then placed in hot oil and come out as nice “big skins.”

“It doesn’t take them long to cook when the oil gets really hot,” explained Shoemake. “My husband use to say, ‘they are rooting one another out of the cooker.’”

Once the skins are done and cooled, they are placed in plastic bags and sold for $4 a bag. Customers have their choice of plain or barbecue flavored skins.

“We cook them fresh, right on the spot,” said Shoemake. “You can’t get them any fresher.

“When you purchase skins at the grocery store, you really don’t know when they were cooked,” added Shoemake. “Here, you know. You can even watch us cook them.”

Assisting Shoemake at the fair this year are family friends Jeffery and Lona Miller. However, her regular help is another friend, Judy Rose. Shoemake’s concession stand opens around noon each day of the fair this week and closes at the end of each day.

“I enjoy coming to the fair each year,” said Shoemake. “I love the fair and enjoy being around the people. You meet new people and make a lot of friends here.”

And while her skins have sold well at the fair, Shoemake said she doesn’t sell enough to make a living. “It’s just the fun and excitement of the fair that keeps me coming back each year,” she said.