Next stop for State Fair of Texas' 2018 theme: Innovation station

If there's one word to describe the fried foods that debut at the State Fair of Texas every year, it would be "inventive." But some years, there are items that go beyond that definition.

Funnel cake bacon queso burger? Now that's innovative.

The State Fair of Texas is giving a shout-out to ground-breakers with the theme "Celebrating Texas Innovation" for its 132nd year. Of course, organizers aren't just talking about food.

"From America's first self-contained modern shopping center, stadium nachos, iconic corn chips, the frozen margarita machine, handheld calculators, to even corny dogs, several of the world's favorite creations were introduced right here in the Lone Star State," says a State Fair news release.

Mitchell Glieber, president of the State Fair of Texas, believes the theme supports the event's mission to educate Texans with displays such as the Big Tex Urban Farms, a mobile agriculture system in the fairgrounds featuring 100 raised plant beds.

"We aim to inspire future innovators by offering exhibits and activities that are both educational and entertaining," he said.

The 2018 theme follows last year's community-focused "Celebrating Texans." The fair plans to highlight Lone Star residents and companies "who have imprinted on our great state's history and future" with a social media campaign throughout the event.

We don't yet know which funky fried foods will make a statement this year. But we do know one thing: The State Fair of Texas comes to Fair Park in Dallas from Sept. 28 to Oct. 21.