Classic Jams Contest Won By Iowa City Cook

DES MOINES, IA (08/18/2017) (readMedia)-- Rod Zeitler of Iowa City won First Place Overall Award and the Sweepstakes award in the C&H Canned Jams competition, judged on August 9, prior to the start of the 2017 Iowa State Fair.

Martha Kunkle of Carlisle claimed Second Place Overall and Michelle Westphal of Waterloo earned Third Place Overall.

Tanya K. Hardy of Osceola won the Reserve Sweepstakes award.

Jams are a thick spread made with crushed or chopped fruit cooked with sugar. Jam has the same brilliance and color as jelly, but is softer in texture.

Entries were judged on flavor, consistency, appearance and food safety.

Results below:

Apricot

1) Martha Kunkle, Carlisle

2) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Black Raspberry

1) Karen Heege, Des Moines

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

Blackberry

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

3) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

Blueberry

1) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) Louise Piper, Garner

Cherry

1) Julie Coy, West Des Moines

2) Joyce Brown, West Des Moines

3) Karen Heege, Des Moines

Gooseberry

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Louise Piper, Garner

Grape

1) Joy Walpole, Des Moines

2) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Hot Pepper with Fruit

1) Karen Heege, Des Moines

2) Terri Sinclair, Cumming

3) Denise Andreas, Ankeny

Kiwi

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

3) Michelle Westphal, Waterlooe

Mt. Ranier Cherry

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

3) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

Mulberry

1) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

2) None awarded

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Peach

1) Lashelle Woods, Newton

2) Andrew Schmitz, Waukee

3) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

Honorable Mention – Martha Kunkle, Carlisle

Pear

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

3) Louise Piper, Garner

Pear/Apple

1) Ileen M. Wallace, Council Bluffs

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

Pineapple

1) Martha Kunkle, Carlisle

2) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

3) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

Plum (other than wild plum)

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

Red Plum

1) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

2) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

3) Martha Kunkle, Carlisle

Red Raspberry

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Louise Piper, Garner

3) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

Rhubarb

1) Karen Heege, Des Moines

2) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Rhubarb-Raspberry

1) Louise Piper, Garner

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

Rhubarb-Strawberry

1) Sarah Biermann, West Des Moines

2) Julie Coy, West Des Moines

3) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

Sour Cherry

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Louise Piper, Garner

3) Lashelle Woods, Newton

Spiced Blueberry

1) Louise Piper, Garner

2) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Spiced Tomato

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

3) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

Strawberry

1) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) Julie Coy, West Des Moines

Strawberry-Kiwi

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

3) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

Sugar Free

1) Terri Sinclair, Cumming

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

Sweet Sauces/Topping (for ice cream and other desserts), half-pint jar

1) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

Three or More Fruits

1) Gale Butler, Des Moines

2) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

3) Sarah Biermann, West Des Moines

Triple Cherry

1) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Two Fruits Other Than Named Combinations

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Gale Butler, Des Moines

3) Terri Sinclair, Cumming

Vegetable

1) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

Wild Blackberry

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

3) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

Wild Plum

1) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

2) Julie Coy, West Des Moines

3) Terri Sinclair, Cumming

Jams Other Than Named (except freezer jams)

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

3) Karen Heege, Des Moines

The Iowa State Fair Food Department is the largest of any state fair in the country. There were 177 divisions, 769 classes and over 9,856 entries at this year's Fair. Due to the large number of classes, Food Department judging begins prior to the Fair in the Elwell Family Food Center sponsored by Blue Bunny Ice Cream.

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Frequently ranked as one of the top events in the country, the Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in the state of Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. Annually attracting more than a million people from all over the world, the Iowa State Fair located at East 30th and East University, just 10 minutes from downtown Des Moines is Iowa's greatest celebration with a salute to the best in agriculture, industry, entertainment and achievement. "Nothing Compares" to State Fair Thrills, August 10-20, 2017. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org.