Food - O Come All Ye Cookies

Holiday Cookie Exchange Awards Won at State Fair

Meredith Willey of Norwalk claimed the Overall Winner award and a $50 cash award in the O Come All Ye Cookies competition judged Sunday, August 13, at the 2023 Iowa State Fair.

Contestants were challenged to create at least two types of cookies appropriate for a holiday cookie exchange.

Entries were judged on taste, appearance and creativity.

Additional results follow:

Christmas Cookie Plate

1) Heather Collier, Des Moines

2) Lynn Kumagai, West Des Moines

3) Lauren Petersen, Knoxville

Hon Mention – Joseph Barsetti, West Des Moines

Other Holiday Cookie Plate

1) Meredith Willey, Norwalk

2) Brenda Klyn, Pella

3) Belinda Myers, Osceola

The Iowa State Fair Food Department is the largest of any state fair in the country. There were 138 divisions, 695 classes and over 6,800 entries at this year’s Fair. Food Department judging was held in the Elwell Family Food Center.