Food - Homemade Ice Cream "Freeze-Off" Championship

Homemade Ice Creams Win State Fair Awards

Homemade ice creams were the focus of competition in the Homemade Ice Cream “Freeze-Off” Championship judged Friday, August 18, at the 2023 Iowa State Fair.

Joshua Peterson of Knoxville was the overall winner and received the Sponsor’s Personal Choice Ice Cream Award. Analisea Patterson of Des Moines claimed second place. Daniel Hodges of Ames earned third place overall.

Entries were judged on taste/flavor, texture, appearance and written story.

Complete results as follows:

Vanilla Ice Cream (with or without mix-ins)

1) Joshua Petersen, Knoxville

2) Michael Kephart, Carlisle

3) Daniel Hodges, Ames

Chocolate Ice Cream (with or without mix-ins)

None awarded

Fruit Ice Cream (with or without mix-ins)

None awarded

Other Ice Cream (Neapolitan, coffee, etc.; with or without mix-ins)

1) Daniel Hodges, Ames

Topping for Ice Cream - Pairings for above classes

1) Analisea Patterson, Des Moines

2) Daniel Hodges, Ames

Overall Winners

1) Joshua Petersen, Knoxville

2) Analisea Patterson, Des Moines

3) Daniel Hodges, Ames

Sponsor's Personal Choice Ice Cream Award

1) Joshua Petersen, Knoxville

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.