Several local residents won contests at the 2023 Iowa State Fair.

Diane Shaw of Pella won first place and a $250 cash award in the Bud Elwell’s Old Fashioned Fudge competition. Brenda Klyn of Pella won first place in the Gingerbread Historic Grain Elevator contest and claimed second place in Build-A-Cake. Contestants were tasked to construct a gingerbread replica of an Iowa grain elevator, with components of the elevator being edible.

The following also earned top prizes:

Harmonica Competition:
Warren Place, Pella – 2nd; Greta Place, Pella – 3rd — Ages 5 to 16 division

Horseshoe Pitching:
Ava Sinnott, Pella — 1st – Iowa Amateurs; 1st – Class A Midwest Doubles; 1st – Class C Open Singles; 3rd — Class D; 3rd – Class B Iowa Seniors
Olivia Davidson, Pella — 2nd – Iowa Amateurs; 1st — Class B Iowa Seniors; 3rd – Class C Open Singles
Steve Hatch, Knoxville — 1st – Class A; 1st – Class A Iowa Seniors; 3rd, Class B Midwest Seniors and Open Class A; 4th – Class A Open Doubles
Bert Logsdon, Pleasantville — 1st – Championship Class Midwest Seniors
David Brent, Pleasantville — 4th – Class A Open Doubles
Cash Ebelsheiser, Pella — 2nd – Class B Midwest Doubles

Prospect Calf Show:
Blueprint Cattle, Otley — 1st – MaineAnjou Class 1 and Commercial Breeding Heifer Class 2; 2nd in three other categories
JVM Cattle, Pella — 2nd – Purebred Breeding Heifer AOB Class 2

Maine-Anjou Cattle Show:
Blueprint Cattle, Otley — 1st – MT Junior Bull Calf, M-Ang Spring Heifer Calf; 2nd – Summer Heifer Calf and Spring Heifer Calf; 4th – MT Spring Heifer Calf; Reserve in Best Four Head
Van Vliet Farms, Pella – 7th in Spring Yearling Heifer

Handmade Fly Fishing Flies:
James Barnhart, Indianola — 1st – Open (Expert); 2nd – Streamer; 3rd – Wet Fly/Nymph
Larry Niday, Knoxville — 1st – Wet Fly/Nymph (Expert); 2nd – Dry Fly
Andy Hunsinger, Pella — 1st – Open (Adults); 2nd – Dry Fly; 3rd – Wet Fly/Nymph and Streamer
Mark McConnell, Pella — 1st – Wet Fly/Nymph (Adults); 2nd – Streamer