Kid Cooks Win State Fair Honors

DES MOINES, IA (09/05/2024) (readMedia)-- Kepler Pienta of Iowa City won First Place Overall and a $100 cash award in the Kid Chef Baking Championship: Level 1 competition judged Thursday, August 8, at the 2024 Iowa State Fair.

Samantha Riley of Urbandale earned Second Place Overall and $60. Lane Rigdon of Mediapolis claimed Third Place Overall and $40.

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

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

Additional results follow:

Ages 6-8

1) Kepler Pienta, Iowa City

1) Gwen Livingston, Shannon City

2) Wyatt Swinton, Ankeny

Ages 9-12

1) Samantha Riley, Urbandale

2) Caitlin Caffrey, Ankeny

3) Emery Nordhagen, Ankeny

Ages 13-17

1) Lane Rigdon, Mediapolis

2) Kaylee Myers, Mason City

3) None

The Iowa State Fair Food Department is the largest of any state fair in the country. There were 140 divisions, 726 classes and over 6,400 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 170 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. Catch Fair Fever at the Iowa State Fair, August 8-18, 2024. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org.