Food: Homemade Ice Cream Freeze-Off Championship

Homemade Ice Creams Win State Fair Awards

Homemade ice creams were the focus of competition in the Homemade Ice Cream “Freeze-Off” Championship judged Friday, August 16, at the 2024 Iowa State Fair.

Jeff Simms of Beaman was the overall winner. Martin Rouse of Grundy Center claimed second place overall and received the Sponsor’s Personal Choice Ice Cream Award. Tersha McNeely of Knoxville earned third place overall.

Entries were judged on taste/flavor, texture, appearance and written story.

Additional results as follows:

Vanilla Ice Cream (with or without mix-ins)

1) Tersha McNeely, Knoxville

2) Terri Simms, Beaman

3) Michael Kephart, Carlisle

Chocolate Ice Cream (with or without mix-ins)

1) Martin Rouse, Grundy Center

2) Tersha McNeely, Knoxville

3) None

Fruit Ice Cream (with or without mix-ins)

1) Jeff Simms, Beaman

2) Daniel Hodges, Ames

3) Brant Kassel, Des Moines

Other Ice Cream (Neapolitan, coffee, etc.; with or without mix-ins)

1) Daniel Hodges, Ames

2) Brant Kassel, Des Moines

3) None

Topping for Ice Cream - Pairings for above classes

1) Brant Kassel, Des Moines

2) Michael Kephart, Carlisle

3) Tersha McNeely, Knoxville

The Iowa State Fair Food Department is the largest of any state fair in the country. There were 140 divisions, 726 classes and over 6,400 entries at this year’s Fair. Food Department judging is held in the Elwell Family Food Center.