Contests for Everyone

Apple Baking Contest

Put your secret family recipe to the test on Saturday at the Seymour Apple Festival Apple Baking Contest! Enter your favorite apple dish or dessert for the chance to be crowned an Apple Festival Favorite. Entry into the contest is absolutely free, with the winning treats being announced and auctioned off in the afternoon. All entries will be sold after submission and judgment, with all proceeds going towards festival expenses.

Contest Rules:

1. You may enter one item in each division, for a total of four entries per person.
2. All entries must be made using fresh apples. Entries using canned or processed fillings will not be accepted. The judges can tell the difference. Do not test the judges.
3. Your recipe and a list of the variety of apples used in your entry must be submitted with the dish itself.
4. Submit your treat in a disposable container or a pan you don’t want returned. Entries will be sold after judging and containers will not be returned, so don’t make your treat in Grandma’s antique pie plate.
5. Bring all entries to the Seymour United Methodist Church on the corner of Business 60 and Main Street on Saturday morning. Entries must be submitted between 9 and 10:30 a.m., with judging to follow at 11.
6. Winning treats will be auctioned off live at 3:15, Saturday afternoon. All others will be sold at silent auction afterwards. All auctioneers are volunteers; all proceeds will go towards festival expenses.

Judging and Divisions

Pies

• All pie crusts must be double-crusted, and must be made from scratch. No processed or store-bought pie crusts will be accepted. Again, the judges can tell the difference.
• Pies are judged based on overall appearance, consistency of the filling, texture of the crust, texture of the apples, and overall taste.
• Pies are judged blindly by a secret panel of five judges. Each pie is judged on a scale of one to five, five being the highest score.
• There are four divisions for pie entries, each with a first, second, and third prize:
  • Apple Seedling Division: boys and girls age 16 and under
  • Apple Blossom Division: women ages 17-49
  • Jonathan Division: men ages 17 and older
  • Granny Smith Division: women ages 50 and older

Jam & Jelly

• Jams and jellies are judged on overall appearance, degree of difficulty and creativity in the recipe, taste, texture, and memorability.
• Jams and jellies are judged blindly by a secret panel of five judges. Each entry is judged on a scale of one to five, five being the highest score.
• There are three prizes available: first, second, and third.

Cake, Bread & Cookies

• Cakes or bread loaves must be of standard size or larger. If you intend to enter cookies, a minimum of 18 must be submitted for judging and auction.
• Entries are judged on overall appearance, degree of difficulty and creativity in the recipe, taste, texture, and memorability.
• Cakes, bread, and cookies are judged blindly by a secret panel of five judges. Each entry is judged on a scale of one to five, five being the highest score.

Cheesecake

• Cheesecakes must be of standard size or larger. No miniature cakes, please.
• Entries are judged on overall appearance, degree of difficulty and creativity in the recipe, taste, texture, and memorability.
• Cheesecakes are judged blindly by a secret panel of five judges. Each entry is judged on a scale of one to five, five being the highest score.

The Grand Champion & The Grand Supreme

Only awarded to the greatest of the greats, these titles will be awarded to the two entries that our judges score the highest. The title of Apple Pie Grand Supreme will go to the contestant with the most esteemed apple pie submission, who will earn a custom pie dish in recognition of their ability and effort. The title of Apple Baking Grand Champion will be reserved for the contestant with the overall highest score in any of the remaining categories, with the recipient receiving a cutting board in recognition of their skill. To the best bakers go the titles!