Vegetable Crops

Vegetable Crops Win State Fair Honors

Gardeners from across the state brought their best vegetables to Des Moines to compete in the Vegetable Crop competitions judged at the 2024 Iowa State Fair.

VEGETABLES- POTATOES

Tray of Potatoes – Kennebec

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

Tray of Potatoes – Norland

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

Tray of Potatoes – Russet

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Lynne Pfantz, State Center

Tray of Potatoes – Viking

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

Tray of Potatoes – Yukon Gold

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

Tray of Potatoes – Any Other Variety

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Lynne Pfantz, State Center

3) Don Francois, Des Moines

Four Tray Potato Display

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

VEGETABLES- MOST UNUSUAL VEGETABLES

Most Unusual Vegetable

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Larry Dau, Primghar

3) Joyce Cortum, Norwalk

VEGETABLES- FIRST TIME EXHIBITOR

Plate of Mixed Vegetables

1) Ethan Thomas, Altoona

2) Allen Brush, Ainsworth

3) Reed Behrens, Johnston

VEGETABLES- SUNFLOWERS

Sunflower Head

1) Matthew Greazel, Boone

2) Martin Schnicker, Mount Pleasant

3) Chuck Werner, Chelsea

VEGETABLES- GARDEN VEGETABLES

Beans - Snap, Green

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Larry Dau, Primghar

3) Allen Brush, Ainsworth

Beans - Yellow Wax

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Jacob Van Manen, Kellogg

Beans - Black or Purple

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Larry Dau, Primghar

3) Gary Fattig, Chelsea

Beans - Any Other

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Kathy Fattig, Chelsea

3) Teresa Taylor, Granger

Beans - Lima

1) Gary Fattig, Chelsea

2) Kathy Fattig, Chelsea

3) Larry Dau, Primghar

Beans - Dried

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Ginger Werner, Chelsea

Beets for Table Use

1) Lynne Pfantz, State Center

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Dennis Terlouw, Newton

Cabbage - Round, Green

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Kate Van Manen, Kellogg

3) Jack Juhl, Waverly

Cabbage - Flat, Green

1) Kate Van Manen, Kellogg

2) Kristy Hoodjer, Runnells

3) Larry Dau, Primghar

Cabbage - Red

1) Julie Eslinger, Parkersburg

2) Lynne Pfantz, State Center

3) Larry Dau, Primghar

Cabbage - Savoy

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Lynne Pfantz, State Center

Cabbage - Any Other

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Robert Morris, Des Moines

3) Carol Todd, Des Moines

Carrot - Half Long Type

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Lynne Pfantz, State Center

Carrot - Long Variety

1) Dave Francois, Central City

2) Kate Francois, Central City

3) Don Francois, Des Moines

Cucumbers - For Slicing

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Dennis Terlouw, Newton

3) Ginger Werner, Chelsea

Cucumbers - Dill

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Larry Dau, Primghar

3) Dave Francois, Central City

Cucumbers - Pickling

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Larry Dau, Primghar

3) Dave Francois, Central City

Cucumbers - Burpless

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Jacob Van Manen, Kellogg

Cucumbers - White

1) Kara Norris, Saint Charles

2) Jacob Van Manen, Kellogg

3) Kate Van Manen, Kellogg

Cucumbers - Asian

1) Kara Norris, Saint Charles

2) Larry Dau, Primghar

3) Lynne Pfantz, State Center

Cucumbers - Any Other

1) Gary Fattig, Chelsea

2) Abby Kaska, Solon

3) Larry Dau, Primghar

Eggplant - Standard Variety

1) Chuck Werner, Chelsea

2) Ginger Werner, Chelsea

3) Don Francois, Des Moines

Eggplant - Oriental Type

1) Ginger Werner, Chelsea

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Kathy Fattig, Chelsea

Eggplant - Black Beauty

1) Robert Morris, Des Moines

2) Jacob Van Manen, Kellogg

3) Larry Dau, Primghar

Eggplant - Purple/White Stripe

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Robert Morris, Des Moines

Eggplant - White

1) Jacob Van Manen, Kellogg

2) Carrie Tinkham, Cedar Rapids

Eggplant - Any Other

1) Carrie Tinkham, Cedar Rapids

2) Lynne Pfantz, State Center

3) Dennis Terlouw, Newton

Garlic - Any Variety

1) Jordan Clasen, Earlham

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Julie Coy, West Des Moines

Garlic - Braided

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Jordan Clasen, Earlham

3) Teresa Taylor, Granger

Garlic, Elephant

1) Julie Coy, West Des Moines

Kale

1) Robert Morris, Des Moines

2) Reed Behrens, Johnston

3) Matthew Greazel, Boone

Kohlrabi - White

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Gary Fattig, Chelsea

3) Kathy Fattig, Chelsea

Kohlrabi - Purple

1) Kathy Fattig, Chelsea

2) Gary Fattig, Chelsea

3) Don Francois, Des Moines

Leeks

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Lynne Pfantz, State Center

Okra

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Kathy Fattig, Chelsea

Onions - Red

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Larry Dau, Primghar

3) Mary Schnicker, Mount Pleasant

Onions - White

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Erik Francois, Des Moines

3) Martin Schnicker, Mount Pleasant

Onions - Yellow

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Karla Host, Des Moines

3) Martin Schnicker, Mount Pleasant

Peppers - Sweet, Green, Bell Type

1) Jon Klinkenborg, Parkersburg

2) Gary Taylor, Granger

3) Kate Van Manen, Kellogg

Peppers - Sweet, Yellow and Orange, Bell Type

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

Peppers - Sweet, Red, Bell Type

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Dennis Terlouw, Newton

Peppers – Sweet, Any Other Red

1) Allen Brush, Ainsworth

2) Lynne Pfantz, State Center

3) Carrie Tinkham, Cedar Rapids

Peppers - Sweet, Mini Bell Type

1) Lynne Pfantz, State Center

2) April Newcomb, Muscatine

3) Ray Christenson, Granger

Peppers - Sweet, Banana

1) Lindsay Delger, Ankeny

2) Jarrod Bush, Clive

3) Don Francois, Des Moines

Peppers - Sweet, Gypsy

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Abby Kaska, Solon

3) Ann Kaska, Solon

Peppers - Sweet, Purple

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Tracey Klisares, Des Moines

Peppers - Sweet, Any Other

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Erik Francois, Des Moines

3) Don Francois, Des Moines

Potatoes - White

1) Lynne Pfantz, State Center

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Allen Brush, Ainsworth

Potatoes - Red

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Lynne Pfantz, State Center

3) Larry Dau, Primghar

Potatoes - Yellow

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Jenna Juhl, Waverly

Potatoes - Russet

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Dave Francois, Central City

Potatoes - Fingerling

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Julie Eslinger, Parkersburg

Rutabaga

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Larry Dau, Primghar

3) Gary Fattig, Chelsea

Shallots

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Larry Dau, Primghar

3) Lynne Pfantz, State Center

Sweet Potatoes

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Carol Todd, Des Moines

3) Larry Dau, Primgahr

Sweet Corn - Yellow

1) Kate Van Manen, Kellogg

2) Jacob Van Manen, Kellogg

3) Michael DeDecker, Altoona

Sweet Corn - Yellow & White

1) Lynne Pfantz, State Center

2) Jacob Van Manen, Kellogg

3) Allen Brush, Ainsworth

Sweet Corn - White

1) Kate Van Manen, Kellogg

2) Jacob Van Manen, Kellogg

3) Larry Dau, Primghar

Swiss Chard

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Betsy Cranston, Deep River

3) Susan Schultz, Haverhill

Tomatillo

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Carrie Tinkham, Cedar Rapids

3) Larry Dau, Primghar

Turnips

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Jacob Van Manen, Kellogg

3) Don Francois, Des Moines

Any Other Kind of Vegetable

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Ginger Werner, Chelsea

Summer Squash - Crookneck

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Kate Van Manen, Kellogg

3) Chuck Werner, Chelsea

Summer Squash - Scallop or Patty Pan

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Kate Van Manen, Kellogg

3) Don Francois, Des Moines

Summer Squash - Zucchini, Green

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Chuck Werner, Chelsea

3) Kate Van Manen, Kellogg

Summer Squash - Zucchini, Yellow

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Abby Kaska, Solon

3) Jacob Van Manen, Kellogg

Summer Squash - Straightneck

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Ginger Werner, Chelsea

3) Chuck Werner, Chelsea

Summer Squash - Any Other

1) Kara Norris, Saint Charles

2) Jacob Van Manen, Kellogg

3) Don Francois, Des Moines

Pumpkins - Small Pie Type

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Cortum Farm & Co, Indianola

3) Erik Francois, Des Moines

Pumpkins - Jack-O-Lantern Type

1) Jacob Van Manen, Kellogg

2) Cortum Farm & Co, Indianola

3) Ella Juhl, Waverly

Pumpkins - Warty Type

1) Erik Francois, Des Moines

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Cortum Farm & Co, Indianola

Pumpkins - Warty Type, White

1) Gary Fattig, Chelsea

2) Cortum Farm & Co, Indianola

3) Jacob Van Manen, Kellogg

Pumpkins - Any Other

1) Randall Green, Grimes

2) Allen Brush, Ainsworth

3) Ella Juhl, Waverly

Winter Squash - Acorn

1) Jacob Van Manen, Kellogg

2) Gary Fattig, Chelsea

3) Kathy Fattig, Chelsea

Winter Squash - Acorn-like

1) Kate Van Manen, Kellogg

2) Allen Brush, Ainsworth

3) Larry Dau, Primghar

Winter Squash - Banana

1) Jacob Van Manen, Kellogg

2) Ginger Werner, Chelsea

3) Chuck Werner, Chelsea

Winter Squash - Buttercup

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Jacob Van Manen, Kellogg

Winter Squash - Butternut

1) Martin Schnicker, Mount Pleasant

2) Erik Francois, Des Moines

3) Don Francois, Des Moines

Winter Squash - Cushaw

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Gary Fattig, Chelsea

3) Kathy Fattig, Chelsea

Winter Squash - Delicta

1) Jacob Van Manen, Kellogg

2) Larry Dau, Primghar

3) Don Francois, Des Moines

Winter Squash - Hubbard, Blue

1) Kate Van Manen, Kellogg

2) Jacob Van Manen, Kellogg

3) Don Francois, Des Moines

Winter Squash - Hubbard, Any Other

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Robert Morris, Des Moines

3) Jacob Van Manen, Kellogg

Winter Squash - Spaghetti

1) Chuck Werner, Chelsea

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Dave Francois, Central City

Winter Squash - Any Other

1) Gary Fattig, Chelsea

2) Kathy Fattig, Chelsea

3) Jacob Van Manen, Kellogg

Tomatoes - Red, Beefsteak Type

1) Kim Peterson, Granger

2) Mark Williams, Adair

3) Don Francois, Des Moines

Tomatoes - Early Girl

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Mark Williams, Adair

3) Lois Scholbrock, Des Moines

Tomatoes - Any Other Red or Purple

1) Dennis Terlouw, Newton

2) Lindsay Delger, Ankeny

3) Gary Taylor, Granger

Tomatoes - Pink

1) Reed Behrens, Johnston

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Tomatoes - Yellow or Golden

1) Mary Schnicker, Mount Pleasant

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) Dennis Terlouw, Newton

Tomatoes - Paste Type

1) Dave Francois, Central City

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Gary Taylor, Granger

Tomatoes - Cherry, Large Type

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Larry Dau, Primghar

3) Jon Klinkenborg, Parkersburg

Tomatoes - Cherry, Any Other Large Type

1) Ruralicity, Des Moines

2) Ann Kaska, Solon

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Tomatoes - Cherry, Black or Chocolate

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Larry Dau, Primghar

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Tomatoes - Grape

1) Abby Kaska, Solon

2) Lynne Pfantz, State Center

3) Larry Dau, Primghar

Tomatoes - Juliet

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Lois Scholbrock, Des Moines

3) Jon Klinkenborg, Parkersburg

Tomatoes - Small Cherry, Yellow & Orange

1) Chuck Werner, Chelsea

2) Ginger Werner, Chelsea

3) Larry Dau, Primghar

Tomatoes - Small Cherry, Red

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Mark Williams, Adair

3) Lynne Pfantz, State Center

Tomatoes - Teardrop

1) Abby Kaska, Solon

2) Larry Dau, Primghar

3) Lynne Pfantz, State Center

Melons - Cantaloupe or Muskmelon

1) Ray Christenson, Granger

2) Kathy Fattig, Chelsea

3) Don Francois, Des Moines

Melons - Honey Dew, Crenshaw or Other Winter Melon

1) Ray Christenson, Granger

2) Carol Todd, Des Moines

3) Gary Fattig, Chelsea

Melons - Watermelon, Small or Baby

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Ray Christenson, Granger

3) Rob Fattig, Chelsea

Melons - Watermelon, Round

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Robert Morris, Des Moines

3) Rob Fattig, Chelsea

Melons - Watermelon, Long

1) Martin Schnicker, Mount Pleasant

2) Rob Fattig, Chelsea

3) Allen Brush, Ainsworth

Gourds - Small Crown of Thorns

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

Gourds - Small Ornamental Spoon or Globes

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Erik Francois, Des Moines

3) Gary Fattig, Chelsea

Gourds - Small Ornamental, Mixed

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Erik Francois, Des Moines

3) Larry Dau, Primghar

Gourds - Autumn Wings

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

2) Don Francois, Des Moines

3) Gary Fattig, Chelsea

Gourds – Any Other

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Cortum Farm & Co, Indianola

3) Mark Williams, Adair

Pumpkin - Ornamental, Mini Orange

1) Allen Brush, Ainsworth

2) Mark Williams, Adair

3) Abby Kaska, Solon

Pumpkin - Ornamental, Mini White

1) Mark Williams, Adair

2) Lynne Pfantz, State Center

3) Chuck Werner, Chelsea

Pumpkin - Ornamental, Any Other

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Larry Dau, Primghar

3) Ginger Werner, Chelsea

Garden Vegetables - Best Overall Cabbage

1) Larry Dau, Primghar

Garden Vegetables – Best Overall Tomato & Runner-Up

1) Ruralicity, Des Moines

2) Dave Francois, Central City

Premium Vegetable Award (Div 129 & 130)

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Larry Dau, Primghar

VEGETABLES - Hot Pepper Plant in Patio Container

249 - Patio Hot Pepper

1) Carrie Tinkham,               Cedar Rapids

2) Kathy Martinez, Fort Madison

2) Lynne Pfantz,    State Center

3) Ruralicity, Des Moines

VEGETABLES- HEIRLOOM VEGETABLES

Peppers

1) Tracey Klisares, Des Moines

2) Gary Fattig, Chelsea

3) Jon Klinkenborg, Parkersburg

Potatoes

1) Carol Todd, Des Moines

Squash

1) Gary Fattig, Chelsea

2) Robert Morris, Des Moines

3) Carol Todd, Des Moines

Plate of Mixed Vegetables

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Carol Todd, Des Moines

3) Abby Kaska, Solon

Any Other

1) Robert Morris, Des Moines

2) Kathy Fattig, Chelsea

3) Ann Kaska, Solon

Heirloom Vegetables - First Place Overall

1) Don Francois, Des Moines

2) Jon Klinkenborg, Parkersburg

3) Tracey Klisares