January 29 NEIA Pie Championships to benefit area veterans

Pie buffet, pie eating and pie judging contests part of the fun

The 2017 Northeast Iowa Pie Championships are scheduled to be held Sunday, January 29 in the community room of Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank in Waukon. The event is in its third year and is being held as a fundraising measure to benefit Veterans of America at the local level.

Activities will begin at 11 a.m., when interested individuals can bring in a pie of their own creation to have judged until 12:30 p.m. The event will also feature a "Pie Buffet" at 1 p.m. where people can pay a $5 fee - $3 for veterans and children - to sample as many of the pies as they wish.

A "Celebrity" Pie Eating Contest will take place at 2 p.m., with local "celebrities" battling for supremacy. The past two champions, Sandy Halverson of S&D Cafe in Waukon from 2015 and Erik Kelly of KNEI Radio from last year, will be back to try and lay claim to another title.

Awards from the pie judging contest will be distributed at 2:15 p.m. An auction of any remaining pies will then begin at 2:30 p.m.

Awards will be distributed to the top three placewinners in each pie category. For rules and pie categories, call 563-568-5275. Local organizers are also asking individuals to donate pies to the event, for judging or eating or both. Those who are willing to donate pies or who may be seeking more information are asked to contact the telephone number above.