Marianne Carlson, Iowa State Fair food competitor extraordinaire, did well in competitions judged during the first three days of the fair.
Carlson won first place in six categories of the King Arthur flour bread competition judged Aug. 10, the opening day of the fair. She took the blue ribbon in beer bread, French bread, mixed grain, oatmeal, sesame cheddar and whole wheat, and third place in the caraway rye category. She placed second overall to win a $150 gift card and also received the Sweepstakes award. The first place winner, Cheryl Rogers of Ankeny, won just one category – artisan bread.
Two days later Carlson took reserve Sweepstakes honors in the King Arthur yeast roll contest. She placed first in cinnamon rolls (frosted or glazed), first in white pan rolls, and third in cinnamon rolls with nuts.
Carlson claimed first place and a $75 gift card in the Bubba’s Pimento Cheese Challenged on Aug. 10. Entries were judged on visual appeal, taste and originality. Pimento cheese spread was a required ingredient.
Her pie baking skills earned Carlson first place in the Oh My! It’s a Peach Pie! competition judged Friday.
Also on Friday she took first place in the chocolate works- toffee category, second place in the variations of candy- popcorn, and third place in fudges with nuts category of the Chocolate Storybook Candies competition. Entries were judged on flavor, appearance, texture and technique
On Saturday Carlson placed first and received $50 in cash in the Country or Crazy Coffee Cakes competition. Bakers were challenged to create an award worthy coffee cake and accompany the baked good with a story about its recipe. The entries were judged on taste, appearance and the story.
A written description was also part of the Nostalgic Comfort Food contest and Carlson placed second in the dessert category. Cooks were to create a nostalgic comfort dish from scratch, accompanied by a written description of why the dish was nostalgic to him or her. The presentation was to echo the nostalgic value.
On Thursday, she placed second in the no bake dessert without crust category of Tammie’s No Bake Dessert competition judged Aug. 10,
On Saturday Carlson placed fourth and won a $50 cash prize in Vera Towne’s fresh pecan pie competition. The made from scratch entries were judged on taste and appearance.
In other competitions, Avril and Becca Shahan of Jefferson competed in the annual Twins, Triplets and More contest Aug. 10. They placed first in the age 3 most alike category.
Aiden Anderson of Paton placed fifth in the youth division of a weed identification contest held Aug. 11.
