Grinnell Farm to Table Pie Fest was a hit

​        Laurel Tuggle-Lacina is shown with her Baskets of Apple pie that won her first place in the Best Overall Pie category at the first annual Pie Fest held at the Grinnell Farm to Table outreach in Grinnell on Saturday, April 12.

By Tommy Hexter & J.O. Parker
 
      The first annual Grinnell Farm to Table Pie Fest drew 13 bakers showcasing their culinary skills. Of the 13 bakers, 10 pie craftsman served up 12 pies to visitors and an additional three bakers made pies for the silent auction. 
         A big thanks goes to all the devoted pie eaters who attended the event and support a good cause.
       “I think at least a dozen people sampled all 12 pies,” noted Tommy Hexter, director of the Grinnell Farm to Table outreach and organizer of the Pie Fest. “The pies were so delicious that most people had a tough time making up their mind on which to vote for... but, we had some winners!”
Inaugural Pie Fest Results:
BEST OVERALL PIE:
        First Place: Basket of Apples by Laurel Tuggle-Lacina
        Second Place: Key Lime Pie by Taylor Price
        Third Place: Linzer Jammie by Mark Levandoski
MOST UNIQUE PIE:
       First Place: Very Veggie Pie by Lisa Bacon
       Second Place: Purple Sweet Potato Pie by Vanessa Preast
       Third Place: Basket of Apples by Laurel Tuggle-Lacina
Honorable Mentions...
       Pennsylvania Dutch Wet Bottom Shoo-Fly Pie by Golden Pear Kitchen, Waterloo, Iowa
       Grand P(l)ie French Silk by Steppin' Out Dance Academy
       Divine Chocobliss by Heather Hastings
       Dipping into Spring by Cassandra Lawrence
       Local Sunshine Lemon Meringue by Anya Hart
      The event raised $800 for our Local Food Access Fund, which will be used to purchase food from local producers and donate it to Poweshiek County Food Pantries and other food access sites.
Grinnell Farm to Table Bio:
     Grinnell Farm To Table is a food hub that connects Poweshiek County area residents with farmers and producers in the surrounding area to create a healthier, more environmentally sustainable, regional food system and increase access to local foods. Located at 1032 Main St., Grinnell, the outreach works with 35 local producers and operates an online farmer’s market in addition to a produce box program and food pantry deliveries.

​       Taylor Price, left, and Mark Levandoski, right, are shown at the first annual Pie Fest. Price earned second place in the Best Overall Pie category with her Key Lime Pie and Levandoski brought home third place honors in the Best Overall Pie category with his Linzer Jammie pie creation.