Jasper County residents win big at State Fair

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Jasper County residents have been busy this summer entering a variety of contests at the Iowa State Fair. Here is rundown of some of the local winners as reported to the Daily News by readMedia Newswire: • Phyllis Olson of Newton won first place and First Place Overall for her Spritz Cookies in the Scandinavian Desserts competition, judged Aug. 9. • Deana Wright of Colfax took first place in the Pumpkin Pie division with her Pecan Pumpkin Pie in the Cooking with Pumpkin contest judged Aug. 15 at the Iowa State Fair. • Dale Berkenbosch of Prairie City earned third- place honors for his entry in the Elizabeth’s Pie competition, judged Aug. 10. Each pie was required to be a two-crust pie containing apple, rhubarb, strawberries and red raspberries. Entries were judged on flavor, general appearance, consistency of filling and crust. • Ross Hull, 8, of Newton, tied for sixth place in the Children’s Joke Telling contest held Aug. 15 at the State Fair. The contest was part of “Rural Americana Olde Tyme Competitions” at the Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall. • Fay Coulthard of Kellogg placed fifth in the Country Pleasure English 18 and over class in the Society Horse Show at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Aug. 4 and 5. Coulthard also placed fifth in the Country Pleasure English Stake class; fifth in the Country Pleasure Western 18 and over class; sixth in the Country Pleasure Western Stake class; and sixth in the Open Western Pleasure 18 and over class. • Phyllis Olson of Newton earned second place in the Becky’s Morning Muffins competition Aug. 14 at the Iowa State Fair Food Department, with her Oatmeal-Blueberry Teatime Muffins. Entries were judged on flavor and texture, general appearance and ease of preparation. • Myrna Wright of Colfax was awarded second place for her Hidden Valley Ranch Squares entry in the Hidden Valley Dressings Fresh Taste for the Family Contest at the State Fair Food Department. • Kyle Dop of Monroe took first place in the youth division of the Weed Identification contest held Friday, Aug. 8, at the 2008 Iowa State Fair. Contestants were asked to correctly identify weedy plants and seeds found in Iowa. In the youth division ages 18 and under, entrants were offered 25 common weeds and 10 weed seeds to identify. • Bonnie Swalwell-Eilert of Newton claimed second place in the Ladies’ Husband Calling contest judged Aug. 16 at the Iowa State Fair. The contest was part of “Rural Americana Olde Tyme Competitions” in Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall. • Don Relph of Colfax placed fifth in the Dahl’s Fruit, Vegetable and Nut Identification contest held Aug. 14. Contestants were presented with 20 fruits and 20 vegetables, with five nut varieties used in the event of a tie-breaker. The contest was part of the Floriculture exhibit in the John Deere Agriculture Building. • Roger Hershey of Newton received several awards in the Bonsai judging contest at the Iowa State Fair, including second, third and fourth place in the Novice/Intermediate category; fourth place in the deciduous trees category; fifth place in the Tropical Trees category; and first place in the Forest-Landscapes and Rock Plantings category. • Sandy Van Steenis of Monroe took first place in the Ladies’ Bow Saw competition at the Iowa State Fair. Van Steenis also placed first in the One-Woman Crosscut competition, part of the “Rural Americana Olde Tme Competitions” in Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall. • Dale Berkenbosch of Prairie City placed third in the Pies (from years past) category in the Living History Farms Recipes of Yesteryear competition judged Aug. 12. Berkenbosch also placed third in the Old Fashioned Desserts category; took second place for his fruit bread, and second place for his fried cornmeal. • Dale Berkenbosch also received a first place award for his honey blueberry bread in the Yeast Breads, Quick Breads and Rolls category in the Honey Créme Challenge contest, judged Aug. 14. He also received a second place for his honey pecan cookies. • Don Larkin of Newton placed sixth in the longest beard category of the Beard Growing Contest Judged Aug. 12 at the Iowa State Fair. Steve White of Killduff placed sixth in the Best-Groomed category; and Keith Mizell of Newton took third in the Most Unique category, while Larkin took fifth. Mizell placed third and Larkin fourth in the Historic Nature category; while White took first place in the “With Costume” category, and Mizell took fourth place. The contest was part of the "Rural Americana Olde Tyme Competitions" in Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall. • Wesley Desaulniers of Mingo took first place in the 17 and older category of the Piano Playing contest at the Iowa State Fair judged Aug. 11. Sadie Desaulniers of Mingo placed second in the ages 5-16 category of Piano Playing. Jerry Vos of Monroe placed third in the Ages 17 and over for the Harmonica Playing contest. • Michael Rau, 16, of Newton advanced to the semi-final round of Bill Riley’s 49th Annual Iowa State Fair Talent Search with his violin solo. • Deana Wright of Colfax received an honorable mention for her spiced pasta in the Barilla Pasta and Sauce contest. • Phyllis Olson of Newton received a second place for her pie crust in the Make It With Lard competition. Dale Berkenbosch of Prairie City received third place in the Zucchini Bread category. • Phillip Ebert of Lynnville received several awards in the Apiary competition, judged prior to the opening day at the Iowa State Fair, including first place for six cut comb in hard plastic box; fifth place for white extracted honey; second place for combination chunk and strained honey; second place for one frame of empty extracting comb; fourth place for block of beeswax; fourth place for photograph-general beekeeping; and third place for two beeswax candles (all others).

John Jennings can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 425 or via e-mail at jennings@newtondailynews.com.