Food: Mine is the Best BBQ Sauce

Best BBQ Sauces Win State Fair Awards

Jacqueline Riekena of West Des Moines won first place in the Mine is the Best BBQ Sauce competition judged Friday, August 9, at the 2024 Iowa State Fair.

Blake Grolmus of Van Meter claimed second place and Audra Nitz of Runnells earned third place.

Entrants were challenged to create a State Fair award-winning barbeque sauce.

Entries were judged on taste, originality and appearance.

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.