Food - Bacon, Bacon, Bacon - Iowa's Best

Winterset Cook Goes Hog-Wild in State Fair Bacon Contest Win

Susie Jones of Winterset won First Place Overall and a $250 cash award in the Bacon, Bacon, Bacon – Iowa’s Best competition judged Friday, August 11, at the 2023 Iowa State Fair.

Matthew Phoenix of Ankeny claimed both Second and Third Places Overall and a total of $150 in cash awards.

Contestants were tasked to create and award worthy bacon-centric dish and accompany that entry with a short narrative regarding the inspiration for the food.

Entries were judged on taste, creativity, appearance and accompanying story.

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.