News : Cattle Congress releases Home Arts & Horticulture results

Home arts and horticulture entries were up significantly at the 2023 National Cattle Congress. New baking competitions contributed to the increase, and one baking contest helped raise funds for Friends of NCC, a non-profit that supports the National Cattle Congress' mission.Many area residents received awards and best-of-show recognitions.In the Horticulture Division, Jan Jefferson, Dunkerton, was awarded Best of Show Flower; Chris Van Auken, Waterloo, exhibited the Best of Show Fruit; and Bob Durrwachter, Waterloo, received the Best of Show Vegetable recognition.

Pumpkins were a renewed theme in the Ag Building this year. A pumpkin decorating contest was added, and Best of Show was awarded to Angie Wittmer, Vinton. Five entries in the biggest pumpkin competition garnered a lot of attention; and Jameson Lichty, Waterloo, topped the scales with his 150-pound entry.

Youth Photography Division Best of Show honors went to Paige Messmore, Grundy Center. Special Recognition honors were awarded to Emerson Lichty and Evelyn Schmitz, both of Cedar Falls; Brady Greiman, Hudson; Amrie Wittmer, La Porte City; and Paige Messmore.In the Open Photography Divison, Angie Wittmer, Vinton, received Best of Show honors. Special Recognition honors were given to Makenna Lichty, Cedar Falls; Chelsey Fischer, Waterloo; and Angie Wittmer.Home Arts Best of Show Youth honors were awarded to Rachel Mullinex, Waterloo. Creative Arts Youth Best of Show went to Landan Meyer, Cedar Falls; and Creative Arts Open Class Best of Show honors went to Barb Campbell, Vinton. Floriculture Best of Show was awarded to Deb Pullin-Van Auken, Waterloo. In quilting, Best of Show was given to Pat Edler, Cedar Falls.

A new division for National Cattle Congress memorabilia and collectables was added this year to celebrate and display the fair's rich history. Best of Show was awarded to Deb Pullin-Van Auken for a 1986 Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier article covering the sheep lead line competition. Other entries included fair posters, photographs, pennants, metal buckets, buttons, awards, and stock certificates.

New baking competitions were added in 2023 and were a huge success.Pat Lichty, Waterloo, won the new and very competitive $1,000 Cinnamon Roll Challenge, with second place going to Erin Hall, Inver Grove Heights, MN, and third place to Ann Meyer, Cedar Falls.

A third King Arthur Baking Contest class was added this year. The Youth Kids' World's Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Challenge was won by Harper Lichty, Waterloo. The open division classes of Easy Pumpkin Bread and Cinnamon-Streusel Coffee Cake were won by Robin Abraham, Cedar Falls, and Eleanor Meyerhoff, Waterloo, respectively.

Overall championship honors in the Mayors' Cookie Jar Contest went to Lisa Ames-Kruse, Waterloo; and her entry brought $500 in the auction. A new team division was added to allow clubs, organizations, friends and relatives to enter together and was won by the Johnson Team of Waverly.

Best Individual Cookie honors went to Lisa Ames-Kruse; Best Jar Decoration was awarded to Pat Lichty; and Most Visually Appealing Display went to Janet Nie, Jesup. All cookie jars were auctioned off; and all proceeds went to Friends of NCC, a non-profit that supports the National Cattle Congress' mission. Judging the cookie jars were Evansdale Mayor DeAnne Kobliska, Cedar Falls Mayor Rob Green and foods judge Jean Schmidt, Van Horne.