- [Narrator] If you've attended the South Dakota State Fair at any time in the past 94 years, there's at least a chance that you stopped at Shorty's Hot Dog Stand for some good, old-fashioned fair food.

If you didn't get it done before the 2021 fair, then sorry, you've missed your chance.

At least in terms of being served by members of the extended family who've been running it since 1927.

And family is what the story of Shorty's Hot Dog stand is really all about.

- [Buyer] Oh, thank you.

- [Seller] Well thanks for being here all these years.

(laughs) - Oh, I appreciate that.

Thank You.

Thank you for being here all these years.

- [Narrator] It all started with a traveling salesman by the name of Shorty Harold.

- He was a character.

He was five, two or something.

He was short and a wore hearing aid.

And, I think he heard more than he let onto.

But you know, he was a lot of fun.

- He was out in Minnesota and he was selling pens and pencils, I think.

And stuff with your name on it.

It became a specialty business.

And, he was in a hotel apparently, and he was just getting restless wondering where all the people were that he needed to see.

And they were in the fairground.

So he opened a candy and gum stand, just to get out to see 'em.

Apparently in 27.

There was enough money in candy, gum, and of course, tobacco back in those days to make the annual trip to Huron and the State Fair worthwhile.

Nobody remembers when it was that he started selling hot dogs.

But Shorty kept at it, eventually bringing his wife and kids along.

And pretty soon, bringing their kids along.

By the time Shorty passed away, in 1966, the hot dog stand was almost like a part of the family.

- When he passed away in 66, my folks decided they'd bring the seven kids out for one year and then sell the stand.

We've been coming back ever since.

My sister lives in Alaska.

She's here with her kids and grandkids.

I came from California.

My brother, Charlie is from Indiana.

My brother, Dan and my sister Daisy, live in Illinois.

And my brother, Tom is on his way out tonight from Minnesota.

So this is our family reunion, and we all work (chuckles).

Were a pretty tight knit family for having six children.

And mom always told us that the reason we're still a tight knit family is because of the Fair.

Because when we were young kids, we were just thrown into this and say, "Here you go."

You know, and we all had to get along and make it work.

And I think we have.

I think we've done a pretty good job at that.

- The next generation aren't as interested.

You know, we grew up, we knew shorty, and we came out with our parents young.

They're all coming this year.

We'll have 30 people here, Friday for the weekend.

And it's just they're all busy.

You know what I mean?

So, we don't wanna leave the burden on any one party.

So, we gonna end it.

[Narrator] The plan is to sell the stand Shorty put up in 1963.

It's right across the street from what will be a multi-million dollar rodeo and livestock arena that's scheduled to open for the 2022 Fair.

- It will be very bitter-sweet to look at this and say, "Wow, this is the last one".

It's hard, you know.

So, we're gonna miss for sure.

- Oh, yeah.

- You know, I keep thinking, "Is there some way we could keep it?"

But, we made a decision and we're sticking to it.

- [Narrator] As for the family, they say they'll keep getting together every year somewhere.

No doubt, the stories and memories of the little hot dog stand at the South Dakota State Fair will be told and re-told to each new generation.