RCB Bank's Pie Eating Contest is a Tasty Success!
By SHERRY MUCHMORE
News Staff Writer
Ponca City News
AN ENGRAVED pewter platter was awarded to Lois Bickle, left, by Kitty McGinnis on behalf of Sage, Rosemary and Thyme Garden Club. The SRT's hosted the 17th annual Ponca City Herb Festival last weekend. Bickle won grand prize in the Festival's first pie contest. (News Photo by Sherry Muchmore)
New to the Ponca City Herb Festival this year was an old-fashioned Pie Baking Contest held on the patio of Cann Gardens. The event was a great success with 37 homemade pies submitted from individuals throughout the community and not just from the ladies. Family favorites came from everyone — men, women and children. Watching the contest unfold, you couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. It was a step back in time to when life was simpler — music playing in the gazebo, venders showcasing hand crafted goods, neighbors and friends gathering on a warm summer day while children sported painted faces and paper hats they crafted at the children's tent.
Kitty McGinnis, president of the Iris Garden Club, came up with the idea for a pie baking contest and the Herb Festival Board agreed whole heartedly. Her inspiration came from a family vacation. While Kitty was visiting in her home state of Wisconsin last Fourth of July, she was asked to help judge the Hales Corners' Pie Contest. Hales Corners is one of the southwestern suburbs of Milwaukee, close to Kitty's hometown of New Berlin.
"It was so much fun," Kitty said "... I thought it would be a perfect addition for the Herb Festival.
"Our family is really close — I have three sisters and two brothers, all living in Wisconsin near each other. When my family heard about the pie contest, I was elated to learn that my sister-in-law and good friend, Marilyn Neuens, and sisters, Pat Wysocki, Mary Grzybowski and Barb Schumacher, had decided to come for the weekend to help me. Pat, the accountant, helped with the tallies."
Judges for the contest were Neuens, Grzybowski, Schumacher and a visiting friend from Texas, Jo Dale Weatherbee. The four women joined Jim Eck, Jeff Denton, Phil Turney and Charlene Cole along with Tom Muchmore and myself. Judges were divided between the three categories: Apple and Fruit Pies; Sweet Pies and Berry Pies; and Pecan Pies and Southern Classics.
Brace Books and RCB Bank - Pioneer joined the fun by sponsoring the new event.
Each category was judged on appearance, crust and taste with each pie ranked in its category. Best Overall Pie was awarded for each category as well as to the top points earner as overall winner.
Winners of the inaugural Ponca City Herb Festival Pie Baking Contest are:
Apple and Fruit Pies
Best Appearance: Lois Bickle's Apple Pie
Best Crust: Marie Trenary's Skillet Apple Pie
Best Taste: Erik Peitz's Apple Streusel Pie
Best Overall Pie: Lois Bickle's Apple Pie
Sweet Pies and Berry Pies
Best Appearance: Charlotte Shiever's Apple Cranberry Pie
Best Crust: Vicki Wasson's Chess Pie
Best Taste: Anna Shiever's German Chocolate Pie
Best Overall Pie: Vicki Wasson's Chess Pie
Pecan Pies and Southern Classics
Best Appearance: Sherry Hoach's Caramel Apple Pecan Pie
Best Crust: Linda Williamson's Cherry Pie
Best Taste: Sherry Hoach's Caramel Apple Pecan Pie
Best Overall Pie: Sherry Hoach's Caramel Apple Pecan Pie
Grand Prize for Best Overall Pie was won by Lois Bickle for her Apple Pie.
