Food: Famous Daves Canned Pickles

Iowa City Cook Shows Off State Fair Pickle Prowess

Rod Zeitler of Iowa City won First Place Overall and the Sweepstakes Award in the Famous Dave’s Canned Pickles competition judged Tuesday, August 6, prior to the start of the 2024 Iowa State Fair.

George Antolik of Urbandale earned Second Place Overall and George Ellerbach of Iowa City claimed Third Place Overall.

Jacqueline Riekena of West Des Moines earned the Reserve Sweepstakes Award.

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

Additional results follow:

Cucumber Pickles - Bread & Butter

1) Martha Kunkle, Carlisle

2) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

3) Julie Coy, West Des Moines

Cucumber Pickles - Kosher Dill, whole, pint or quart jar

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

3) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Cucumber Pickles – Quick Fresh-Pack Dill (not fermented), whole (quart jar) or sliced horizontally or circular (pint jar)

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

3) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

Cucumber Pickles - Reduced Sodium Sweet, sliced horizontally or circular

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) George Antolik, Urbandale

3) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Cucumber Pickles - Sour, sliced horizontally or circular

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

3) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Cucumber Pickles - Sweet, sliced horizontally or circular

1) George Antolik, Urbandale

2) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

3) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

Cucumber Pickles - Sweet, whole

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Cucumber Pickles - Cucumber Pickles Other Than Named, pint or quart jar

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

Vegetable Pickles – Asparagus

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

3) Margaret Farmer, What Cheer

Vegetable Pickles - Beets, sliced

1) Martha Kunkle, Carlisle

2) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

3) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Vegetable Pickles - Beets, whole

1) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

2) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Vegetable Pickles – Carrots

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Martha Kunkle, Carlisle

3) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Vegetable Pickles - Dilled Green or Yellow (Wax) Beans

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

3) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Vegetable Pickles - Green Tomatoes

1) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

2) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Vegetable Pickles - Hot Peppers

1) George Antolik, Urbandale

2) Martha Kunkle, Carlisle

Vegetable Pickles - Mild to Medium Peppers

1) George Antolik, Urbandale

2) Martha Kunkle, Carlisle

3) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Vegetable Pickles - Mixed Vegetables, without cucumbers

1) Martha Kunkle, Carlisle

2) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

3) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Vegetable Pickles - Squash Bread & Butter

1) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

2) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Vegetable Pickles - Zucchini

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

3) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

Vegetable Pickles - Vegetable Pickles Other than Named, no cucumbers

1) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

2) Martha Kunkle, Carlisle

3) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

Fruit Pickles - Spiced Apple Rings

1) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

2) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Fruit Pickles - Spiced Peaches

1) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

2) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

3) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

Fruit Pickles - Watermelon Rind

1) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

2) George Ellerbach, Iowa City

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

Fruit Pickles Other Than Named, pint or quart jar

1) Jacqueline Riekena, West Des Moines

2) Robin Tarbell-Thomas, Centerville

3) Rod Zeitler, Iowa City

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.