Food - Famous Dave's Canned Pickles

Rod Zeitler of Iowa City won first and second place overall in the Famous Dave’s Canned Pickles contest, judged Friday, August 8, prior to the start of the 2022 Iowa State Fair.

Zeitler also claimed the sweepstakes award.

Jacqueline Riekena of West Des Moines and George Ellerbach of Iowa City tied for the reserve sweepstakes award.

Entries were judged on flavor, consistency, appearance and food safety.

Complete results follow:

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Cucumber Pickles - Bread & Butter

1) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

2) Kara Norris, Saint Charles

3) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Cucumber Pickles - Kosher Dill, whole, pint or quart jar

1) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

2) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Cucumber Pickles - Quick Fresh-Pack Dill (not fermented), whole (quart jar) or sliced horizontally or circular (pint jar)

1)) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Terri Sinclair, Cumming

3) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Cucumber Pickles - Reduced Sodium Sweet, sliced horizontally or circular

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

3) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Cucumber Pickles - Sour, sliced horizontally or circular

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

3) Abigail Boring, Ankeny

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Cucumber Pickles - Sweet, sliced horizontally or circular

1) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

2) George Antolik, Urbandale

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Cucumber Pickles - Sweet, whole

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) None

3) None

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Cucumber Pickles - Cucumber Pickles Other Than Named, pint or quart jar

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) none

3) None

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Vegetable Pickles – Asparagus

1) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

2) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Vegetable Pickles - Beets, sliced

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) George Antolik, Urbandale

3) Martha Kunkle, Carlisle

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Vegetable Pickles - Beets, whole

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

3) George Antolik, Urbandale

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Vegetable Pickles - Carrots

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

3) None

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Vegetable Pickles - Dilled Green or Yellow (Wax) Beans

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Matthew Greazel, Boone

3) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Vegetable Pickles - Green Tomatoes

1) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Vegetable Pickles - Hot Peppers

1) George Antolik, Urbandale

2) Kara Norris

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Vegetable Pickles - Mild to Medium Peppers

1) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

2) Martha Kunkle, Carlisle

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Vegetable Pickles - Mixed Vegetables, without cucumbers

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

3) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Vegetable Pickles - Squash Bread & Butter

1) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Vegetable Pickles - Zucchini

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

3) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Vegetable Pickles - Vegetable Pickles Other Than Named, no cucumbers

1) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

2) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

3) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Fruit Pickles - Spiced Apple Rings

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) None

3) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Fruit Pickles - Spiced Peaches

1) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) None

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Fruit Pickles - Watermelon Rind

1) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

2) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Fruit Pickles Other Than Named, pint or quart jar

1) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

2) None

3) None

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Overall Winners

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

3) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Famous Dave's Canned Pickles - Sweepstakes/Reserve Sweepstakes

Sweepstakes – Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Reserve Sweepstakes – TIE – Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines and George Ellerbach, Iowa City

The Iowa State Fair Food Department is the largest of any state fair in the country. There are 128 divisions, 615 classes and nearly 6,300 entries at this year’s Fair. Food Department judging is held in the Elwell Family Food Center sponsored by Urban Air Adventure Park.