Kid Cooks Win State Fair Honors

DES MOINES, IA (08/17/2023) (readMedia)-- Emery Nordhagen of Ankeny won First Place Overall and a $100 cash award in the Kid Chef Baking Championship competition, judged Thursday, August 10, at the 2023 Iowa State Fair.

Gwen Livingston of Shannon City earned Second Place Overall and $60. Brooklyn Sedlock of Indianola claimed Third Place Overall and $40.

Contestants were challenged to create an award winning kid-prepared food item accompanied by a written story that told of why they chose that dish to enter.

Entries were judged on flavor, appearance and attached written story.

Additional results follow:

Ages 5-8

1) Gwen Livingston, Shannon City

2) Emmaline Walz, Marion

3) Jansen Petersen, Knoxville

Ages 9-12

1) Emery Nordhagen, Ankeny

2) Caitlin Caffrey, Ankeny

3) Jade Sommars, Colfax

Hon Mention – Samantha Riley, Urbandale

Ages 13-17

1) Brooklynn Sedlock, Indianola

2) Ian Caffrey, Ankeny

3) Drew Gilbert, West Des Moines

The Iowa State Fair Food Department is the largest of any state fair in the country. There are 138 divisions, 695 classes and over 6,800 entries at this year's Fair. Food Department judging is held in the Elwell Family Food Center.

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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. Best Days Ever at the Iowa State Fair, August 10-20, 2023. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org.