Oohooh that smell

Few people are familiar with the unique landmarks Fort Atkinson has to offer. We have the world-famous Fireside Dinner Theater, where visitors can enjoy a delicious meal during a broadway show; Nasco, a manufacturer of educational materials, arts, crafts and farm equipment; and the National Dairy Shrine (right across from my house!).

You must be thinking, "Gee, what else could Fort Atkinson possibly have?"

Let me tell you.

Along with all those glorious attractions, Fort has all those beat with one little subsidiary of a manufacturing plant. For McCain frozen foods. Along with preparing and cooking things like french fries, tater tots, Aromatic Thai Corn, Rising Crust Pizzas and Old South juice concentrates, they have one item that trumps them all: onion rings.

I'm not saying in terms of delicious. I won't argue that onion rings are any better or worse than tater tots, or aromatic Thai corn. I'm arguing in terms of the rank production smell factor.

Generally, the stench doesn't get too foul until mid-summer. Some days, you can't smell a thing unless you're driving right past. And sometimes, it's just like the smell of cooking onion rings -- which is delicious for about 20 minutes. After smelling it for five hours, it becomes nauseating.

But on days like today (even though it's 20 degrees), when the wind's just right, a stronger onion-y aroma envelopes the town. And by onion-y aroma, I mean it smells like a bear got into a patch of onions, ate every last one, and shit himself while walking around the entire city.