Food - Wowing It with Dried Beef

Pleasant Hill Cook Named Dried Beef Cooking Crown

Connie Schaffer-Sherman of Pleasant Hill won first place and a $175 cash award in the Wowing It with Dried Beef competition judged Wednesday, August 16, at the 2023 Iowa State Fair.

Pamela Lang of Johnston earned second place and $75. Susie Jones of Winterset claimed third placed and $50.

Contestants were challenged to create an award-worthy dish that featured dried beef.

Entries were judged creativity, presentation and taste.

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.