Garner Cook Tops the Competition to Win State Fair Jams Title

DES MOINES, IA (08/11/2018) (readMedia)-- Louise Piper of Garner won First Place Overall in the C & H Canned Jams competition, judged on August 8 prior to the start of the 2018 Iowa State Fair.

Rod Zeitler of Iowa City claimed Second Place Overall and the Reserve Sweepstakes Award. Gale Butler of Des Moines earned Third Place Overall.

Tanya K. Hardy of Osceola won the Sweepstakes prize.

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) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

2) Karen Heege, Des Moines

3) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Black Raspberry

1) Louise Piper, Garner

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) Karen Heege, Des Moines

Blackberry

1) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

2) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Blueberry

1) Julie Coy, West Des Moines

2) Martha Eddy, Urbandale

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Cherry

1) Louise Piper, Garner

2) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

3) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Gooseberry

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

3) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

Grape

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

3) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

Hot Pepper with Fruit

1) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

2) Julie Coy, West Des Moines

3) Karen Heege, Des Moines

Honorable Mention – Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Kiwi

1) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

Mt. Ranier Cherry

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Martha Kunkle, Carlisle

3) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

Mulberry

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

3) Ileen M. Wallace, Council Bluffs

Peach

1) Andrew Spencer, Stanton

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) Lashelle Woods, Newton

Honorable Mention – Martha Kunkle, Carlisle

Pear

1) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) Martha Kunkle, Carlisle

Pear/Apple

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

3) Ileen M. Wallace, Council Bluffs

Pineapple

1) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

2) Joy Walpole, Des Moines

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Plum (other than wild plum)

1) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

2) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Red Plum

1) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) Martha Kunkle, Carlisle

Red Raspberry

1) Louise Piper, Garner

2) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Rhubarb

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Martha Kunkle, Carlisle

3) Louise Piper, Garner

Rhubarb-Raspberry

1) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

2) Louise Piper, Garner

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Rhubarb-Strawberry

1) Louise Piper, Garner

2) Julie Coy, West Des Moines

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Sour Cherry

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Louise Pier, Garner

3) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

Spiced Blueberry

1) Martha Kunkle, Carlisle

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

Spiced Tomato

1) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

2) Ileen M. Wallace, Council Bluffs

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Strawberry

1) Louise Piper, Garner

2) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Strawberry-Kiwi

1) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

2) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Sugar Free

1) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) Louise Piper, Garner

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

1) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

2) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

3) Karen Heege, Des Moines

Three or More Fruits

1) Louise Piper, Garner

2) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

3) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

Triple Cherry

1) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Two Fruits Other Than Named Combinations

1) Gale Butler, Des Moines

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) Abigail Boring, Ankeny

Vegetable

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

Wild Blackberry

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

3) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Wild Plum

1) Tanya K. Hardy, Osceola

2) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Jams Other Than Named (except freezer jams)

1) Michelle Westphal, Waterloo

2) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

The Iowa State Fair Food Department is the largest of any state fair in the country. There are 171 divisions, 727 classes and over 9,574 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 Moments, August 9-19, 2018. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org.