Centerville Baker Wins State Fair Cookie Crown

DES MOINES, IA (08/17/2019) (readMedia)-- The best cookie bakers from across the state put their top creations to the test in the Midwest Living Cookies competition, judged Tuesday, at the 2019 Iowa State Fair.

Robin Tarbell-Thomas of Centerville won First Place Overall and the Sweepstakes Award, earning a $250 cash award, besting entries in 72 different classes of competition.

Patricia Custer of Urbandale earned Second Place Overall and $150. Emily Akkermann of Prescott claimed Third Place Overall and $100

Entries were judged on flavor, texture and appearance.

Additional results follow:

Bar Cookies - Apple Bars

1) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

2) Kim Van Patten, Indianola

3) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

Bar Cookies - Blondies

1) Angela Miller, West Des Moines

2) Kim Van Patten, Indianola

3) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

Bar Cookies - Brownies, Flavored (frosted or unfrosted)

1) Patricia Custer, Urbandale

2) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

3) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

Bar Cookies - Brownies (frosted, with or without nuts)

1) Larry Stohr, Altoona

2) Linda Oleson-King, Johnston

3) Nicki Studer, Ankeny

Bar Cookies - Brownies (unfrosted, with or without nuts)

1) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

2) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

3) Stephanie Adamson, Indianola

Bar Cookies - Butterscotch Bars

1) Carolyn Maschmann, Marshalltown

2) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

3) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

Bar Cookies - Jam Bars

1) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

2) Jacob Van Patten, Altoona

3) Kim Van Patten, Indianola

Bar Cookies - Lemon Bars

1) Larry Stohr, Altoona

2) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

3) Patricia Custer, Urbandale

Bar Cookies - Peanut Butter Bars

1) Meredith Willey, Norwalk

2) Amy Oetting, Waukee

3) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

Bar Cookies - Pecan Bars

1) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

2) Susan Hanke, Clive

3) June Newman, Garner

Bar Cookies - Pumpkin Bars (frosted or unfrosted)

1) Lori Richman, Des Moines

2) Angela Miller, West Des Moines

3) Julie Petersen, Knoxville

Bar Cookies - Rice Krispy Bars

1) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

2) Larry Stohr, Altoona

3) Brian Keul, West Des Moines

Bar Cookies - One-Layer Bar Cookie Other Than Named

1) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

2) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

3) Diana Barker, Indianola

Bar Cookies - Two-Layer Bars Other Than Named

1) Kathy Poetting, Des Moines

2) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

3) Patricia Custer, Urbandale

Bar Cookies - Three-Layer Bars Other Than Named

1) Kim Van Patten, Indianola

2) Aaron Barker, Des Moines

3) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

Bar Cookies - Four-or-More-Layer Bars Other Than Named

1) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

2) Kathy Poetting, Des Moines

3) Jean Bowden, West Des Moines

Molded or Pressed - Coconut

1) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

2) Amanda Szuch, Ankeny

3) Stephanie Adamson, Indianola

Molded or Pressed - Crackles/Crinkles (any flavor)

1) Larry Stohr, Altoona

2) Meredith Willey, Norwalk

3) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

Molded or Pressed - Filled Cookies

1) Luann Sutter, Ankeny

2) Kim Vore, Ankeny

3) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

Molded or Pressed - Gingersnaps

1) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

2) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

3) Gloria Gray, Des Moines

Molded or Pressed - Molasses

1) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

2) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

3) Kathleen Tinley, Council Bluffs

Molded or Pressed - Peanut Blossoms

1) Lori Richman, Des Moines

2) Patricia Custer, Urbandale

3) Meredith Willey, Norwalk

Molded or Pressed - Peanut Butter

1) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

2) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

3) Clay Beggerly, Fort Dodge

Molded or Pressed - Shortbread, flavored

1) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

2) Tammy Post, West Des Moines

3) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

Molded or Pressed - Shortbread, plain

1) Marla Mayberry, Urbandale

2) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

3) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

Molded or Pressed - Snickerdoodles

1) Diana Barker, Indianola

2) Stephanie Adamson, Indianola

3) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

Molded or Pressed - Snowballs

1) Amanda Szuch, Ankeny

2) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

3) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

Molded or Pressed - Spritz

1) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

Molded or Pressed - Sugar (not rolled or cut)

1) Marianne Carlson, Jefferson

2) Mary Cownie, West Des Moines

3) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

Molded or Pressed - Thumbprint (any filling permitted)

1) Jacob Van Patten, Altoona

2) Meredith Willey, Norwalk

3) Kim Vore, Ankeny

Molded or Pressed - Cookie Other Than Named

1) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

2) Clay Beggerly, Fort Dodge

3) Carolyn Maschmann, Marshalltown

Ethnic Cookies - Biscotti (any flavor)

1) Marianne Carlson, Jefferson

2) Amy Fuson, Indianola

3) Amy Oetting, Waukee

Ethnic Cookies - Chinese Almond

1) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

2) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

3) Patricia Custer, Urbandale

Ethnic Cookies - Italian

1) Jacob Van Patten, Altoona

2) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

3) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

Ethnic Cookies - Macaroons (French-style)

1) Alisa Woods, Des Moines

2) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

3) Jacob Van Patten, Altoona

Ethnic Cookies - Scandinavian

1) Marla Mayberry, Urbandale

2) Sydney Kolb, Urbandale

3) Jacob Van Patten, Altoona

Ethnic Cookies - Ethnic Cookie Other Than Named

1) Jacob Van Patten, Altoona

2) Amanda Szuch, Ankeny

3) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

Drop Cookies - Chocolate Base

1) Patricia Custer, Urbandale

2) Larry Stohr, Altoona

3) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

Drop Cookies - Chocolate Chip

1) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

2) Susan Hanke, Clive

3) Luann Sutter, Ankeny

Drop Cookies - Coconut Macaroon

1) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

2) Jacob Van Patten, Altoona

3) Patricia Custer, Urbandale

Drop Cookies - Dried Fruit (other than Oatmeal Raisin)

1) Candy Anderson, Waukee

2) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

3) Jill Oman, West Des Moines

Drop Cookies - Frosted Drop (any flavor)

1) DeeDee Kennedy, Des Moines

2) Phyllis Olson, Newton

3) Margaret Stoffregen, Des Moines

Drop Cookies - M&M

1) Larry Stohr, Altoona

2) Brian Keul, West Des Moines

3) Amanda Szuch, Ankeny

Drop Cookies - Meringue Drop

1) Patricia Custer, Urbandale

2) Alisa Woods, Des Moines

Drop Cookies - Monster

1) Anna Olsen, Ames

2) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

3) Seth Core, Ankeny

Drop Cookies - No-Bake

1) Colette Wortman, Urbandale

2) Pamela Cooper, Mount Ayr

3) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

Drop Cookies - Oatmeal Butterscotch (with or without nuts)

1) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

2) Laura Larson, Norwalk

3) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

Drop Cookies - Oatmeal Chocolate Chip (with or without nuts)

1) Tammy Post, West Des Moines

2) Lori Richman, Des Moines

3) Cheryl Ashwill, Des Moines

Drop Cookies - Oatmeal Raisin

1) Diana Barker, Indianola

2) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

3) Phoelisa Mcguire, Johnston

Drop Cookies - Oatmeal (other than named)

1) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

2) Margaret Stoffregen, Des Moines

3) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

Drop Cookies - Peanut Butter Base

1) Emily Akkermann, Prescott

2) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

3) Phoelisa Mcguire, Johnston

Drop Cookies - Potato Chip

1) Brenda Phillips, Urbandale

2) Diane Rauh, Des Moines

3) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

Drop Cookies - Ranger

1) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

2) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

3) Tammy Post, West Des Moines

Drop Cookies - White Chocolate

1) Carol Andreas, West Des Moines

2) Larry Stohr, Altoona

3) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

Drop Cookies - Drop Cookies Other Than Named

1) Lori Richman, Des Moines

2) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

3) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

Health Cookies - Cookies Made with a Sugar Substitute

1) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

2) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

3) Patricia Custer, Urbandale

Health Cookies - Gluten Free

1) Jordyn Siepker, Des Moines

2) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

3) Pamela Cooper, Mount Ayr

Health Cookies - Whole Grain

1) Judy Kiburz-Harrison, Tingley

2) Meredith Willey, Norwalk

3) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

Refrigerated and Rolled - Icebox (sliced)

1) Emily Akkermann, Prescott

2) Luann Sutter, Ankeny

3) Meredith Willey, Norwalk

Refrigerated and Rolled - Rolled Gingerbread

1) Meredith Willey, Norwalk

2) Carolyn Maschmann, Marshalltown

Refrigerated and Rolled - Rolled Sugar (frosted)

1) Lauren Probst, Windsor Heights

2) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

3) Brooke Mickelson, West Des Moines

Refrigerated and Rolled - Rolled Sugar (unfrosted)

1) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

2) Emily Akkermann, Prescott

3) Brooke Mickelson, West Des Moines

Refrigerated and Rolled - Sandwich Cookies

1) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

2) Peri Halma, West Des Moines

3) Margaret Stoffregen, Des Moines

Refrigerated and Rolled - Rolled Cookies Other Than Named

1) Brooke Mickelson, West Des Moines

2) Luann Sutter, Ankeny

3) Lauren Probst, Windsor Heights

Cake Mix Cookies - Bar (frosted or unfrosted)

1) Rita Cashman Becker, Fort Madison

2) Carolyn Maschmann, Marshalltown

Cake Mix Cookies - Drop or Shaped (frosted or unfrosted)

1) Sydney Kolb, Urbandale

2) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

3) Andrea Spencer, Stanton

Youth - Bar Cookie (age 12 and under)

1) Jimmy Baumhover, Woodward

2) Emerson Hilbert, Urbandale

3) Addison Spencer, Stanton

Youth - Bar Cookie (age 13-17)

1) Samantha Patterson, Carlisle

2) Sasha McCoy, Hartford

3) Megan Ford, Ankeny

Youth - Drop Cookie (age 12 and under)

1) Brooklynn Sedlock, Indianola

2) Addison Spencer, Stanton

3) Faith Ward, Indianola

Youth - Drop Cookie (age 13-17)

1) Megan Ford, Ankeny

2) Nora Crim, Johnston

3) Sasha McCoy, Hartford

Youth - Unbaked Cookie (age 12 and under)

1) Ellie Akkermann, Prescott

2) Andrew Kramer, Nevada

3) Christian Larson, Norwalk

Youth - Unbaked Cookie (age 13-17)

1) Megan Mcguire, Johnston

2) Samantha Hilbert, Urbandale

3) Sasha McCoy, Hartford

The Iowa State Fair Food Department is the largest of any state fair in the country. There are 166 divisions, 715 classes and over 7,300 entries at this year's Fair. Food Department judging is held in the Elwell Family Food Center sponsored by Blue Bunny Ice Cream.

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The Iowa State Fair is one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country and the single largest event in the state. The Fair began over 160 years ago and is now considered one of the best events in the nation, attracting more than one million Fairgoers every year from all over the world. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University, just off the interstate and minutes from Downtown Des Moines. Nothing Compares to State Fair Favorites: August 8-18, 2019. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org.