Food: Pies from the Heartland

Pies from the Heartland Win at State Fair

The best pie bakers from across the state put their top creations to the test in the Pies from the Heartland Competition judged Monday, August 12 at the 2024 Iowa State Fair.

Keri Crowley of Indianola won First Place Overall – Cream Pie and a $200 cash award.

Crowley also won Second Place Overall – Cream Pie and a $175 cash award as well as Third Place Overall – Cream Pie and a $125 cash award.

Keri Crowley of Indianola also claimed First Place Overall – Fruit Pie and a $200 cash award.

Jodi Hilleman of Rhodes won Second Place Overall – Fruit Pie and a $175 cash award.

Marcia Miller of Des Moines earned Third Place Overall – Fruit Pie and a $125 award.

Miller also won the Sweepstakes Award and Crowley earned the Reserve Sweepstakes Award.

Entries were judged on filling, quality of crust, appearance and originality.

Complete results follow:

Cream Pies - Berry Cream

1) Keri Crowley, Indianola

2) Maria Monahan, West Des Moines

3) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

Cream Pies – Butterscotch

1) Elle Wignall, Des Moines

2) Julie Petersen, Knoxville

3) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

Cream Pies - Chocolate Cream

1) Keri Crowley, Indianola

2) Larry Harker, Johnston

3) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

Cream Pies - Coconut Cream

1) Keri Crowley, Indianola

2) Gail Marske, Clive

3) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

Cream Pies - Custard (traditional)

1) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

2) Angela Miller, West Des Moines

3) None

Cream Pies - Key Lime

1) Gail Marske, Clive

2) Julie Petersen, Knoxville

3) Alaina Ingebritson, Hubbard

Cream Pies - Lemon Meringue

None

Cream Pies - Oatmeal Pecan

1) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

2) Sara Giesler, Urbandale

3) None

Cream Pies - Peanut Butter

1) Chris Myers, Boone

2) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

3) Jessica Denner, Polk City

Cream Pies - Pecan – Chocolate

1) Meredith Willey, Norwalk

2) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

3) Jessica Denner, Polk City

Cream Pies - Pecan - Traditional (no coconut)

1) Sara Giesler, Urbandale

2) Linda Oleson-King, Johnston

3) June Newman, Garner

Cream Pies - Pumpkin (one crust)

1) Angela Miller, West Des Moines

2) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

3) Jake Garrison, Altoona

Cream Pies - Rhubarb Custard

1) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

2) Elle Wignall, Des Moines

3) Jessica Denner, Polk City

Cream Pies - Sour Cream Raisin

1) Jackie Garnett, Des Moines

2) Phyllis Olson, Newton

3) Gail Marske, Clive

Cream Pies - Sweet Potato Pie

1) Laura Morse, Council Bluffs

2) None

3) None

Cream Pies - One Crust Cream Other Than Named

1) Keri Crowley, Indianola

2) Elle Wignall, Des Moines

3) Chris Myers, Boone

Fruit Pies – Apple

1) Nicole Moritz, Bettendorf

2) Debbi Cooper, Ankeny

3) Tony Dahlman, Des Moines

Fruit Pies - Apple Crumb

1) Nicole Moritz, Bettendorf

2) Phyllis Olson, Newton

3) Linda Oleson-King, Johnston

Fruit Pies - Blueberry

1) Nicole Moritz, Bettendorf

2) Elle Wignall, Des Moines

3) Tony Dahlman, Des Moines

Fruit Pies - Cherry-Raspberry

1) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

2) Nicole Moritz, Bettendorf

3) Joyce Larson, New Market

Fruit Pies - Lattice Top Cherry

1) Shelby McCreedy, Atlantic

2) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

3) Nicole Moritz, Bettendorf

Fruit Pies - Two Crust Cherry

1) Keri Crowley, Indianola

2) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

3) Joyce Larson, New Market

Fruit Pies- Gooseberry

1) Joyce Larson, New Market

2) Sandy Klever, Pleasant Hill

3) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

Fruit Pies - Peach

1) Marianne Carlson, Jefferson

2) Michael Hackbarth, Bettendorf

3) Joyce Larson, New Market

Fruit Pies - Peach-Red Raspberry

1) Nicole Moritz, Bettendorf

2) Joyce Larson, New Market

3) Deborah Cronin, Des Moines

Fruit Pies - Black Raspberry

1) Keri Crowley, Indianola

2) Wei Schneider, Iowa City

3) Joyce Larson, New Market

Fruit Pies - Red Raspberry

1) Joyce Larson, New Market

2) Jessica Denner, Polk City

3) Michael Hackbarth, Bettendorf

Fruit Pies - Raspberry (2 or more)

1) None

2) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

3) Joyce Larson, New Market

Fruit Pies – Rhubarb

1) Alaina Ingebritson, Hubbard

2) Jessica Denner, Polk City

3) Larry Harker, Johnston

Fruit Pies - Strawberry-Rhubarb

1) Shelby McCreedy, Atlantic

2) Patricia Hamand, Altoona

3) Keri Crowley, Indianola

Fruit Pies - Strawberry (one crust)

1) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

2) None

3) None

Fruit Pies - Triple Cherry

1) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

2) Joyce Larson, New Market

3) None

Fruit Pies - Two Crust Berry Other Than Named

1) Karen Steggerda, Urbandale

2) Joyce Larson, New Market

3) Nicole Moritz, Bettendorf

Fruit Pies - One Crust Fruit Other Than Named

1) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

2) None

3) None

Fruit Pies - Two Crust Fruit Other Than Named

1) Jodi Hilleman, Rhodes

2) Lorraine Doke, Indianola

3) Marcia Miller, Des Moines

Pie Other Than Named (any crust can be used)

1) Jackie Garnett, Des Moines

2) Joyce Larson, New Market

3) Sara Giesler, Urbandale

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