SHENANDOAH VALLEY APPLE HARVEST FESTIVAL
REGIONAL APPLE PIE BAKING CONTEST
SATURDAY, SEPT 21, 2024
JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE OUR 50TH YEAR!
The Rotary Club of Winchester is pleased to once again sponsor an Apple Pie Baking Contest open to both students (ages 12-18) and adults (age 19 and up!). Regional contestants will compete in one of these two age categories and both First Place ($100) and Second Place ($50) awards will be presented to the winners in both age categories. In case of a tie in scores, Rotary will duplicate the cash prize so that both winners will receive the full amount.
APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS, WITH A MAXIMUM OF 12 PIES ACCEPTED IN EACH OF THE TWO AGE CATEGORIES.
The contest will take place in Clear Brook, VA, at 12:15 pm on Saturday, September 21st, 2024, in conjunction with Rotary’s Shenandoah Valley Apple Harvest
Festival at the Frederick County Fairgrounds. All pies must be delivered to the pavilion (across from Whitacre Bldg. Look for signage) inside the festival between 11:15 am and noon. Pies will not be accepted before 11:15 am, and pies not received by noon will not be judged. Judges will rate each pie based on its appearance, texture of crust and filling, and flavor.
Every contestant entering the contest will receive free admission to the festival, a gift bag from Rotary, a name badge, and 2 additional complimentary admissions to the festival for family or friends. The gatekeepers have been instructed to allow pie bakers and their two guests through the gates, so please identify yourself at the admissions gate.
The festival is traditionally held rain or shine. Should the contest have to be canceled due to some unforeseen event, contestants and/or parents/guardians will be notified personally at their home phone number or their cell phone number. Please make certain that a number is provided on the OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM so we can reach a contestant or, where appropriate, a parent or guardian to convey this information if needed.
Please fill out the OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM (download below) and email the information to (patriciadstiles@gmail.com). All forms must be received by 3:00 pm on Thursday, September 19th. For more information, contact Tricia Simpson at the email address provided above or call her at 540-878-0802 (cell).
Presented by the Rotary Club of Winchester
Scoring Sheet
Judge’s Initials______ Entry # _______
Max. Pts. Score
Appearance: Even, full, evenly browned and golden in tone, 15 ______
flakey in appearance.
Texture: Crust = Thin and tender with flakey layers 25 ______
Filling = Full; apples should be done, however, 25 ______
they should hold their shape and not be
mushy; consistency should not be stiff
or runny.
Flavor: Good blend of flavors; pastry not starchy or pasty; 35 ______
spices and seasonings should enhance the flavor of
the apples, not overpower them.
TOTAL: _________
Judge’s Comments:
RULES OF PROCEDURE
1. Contestants must bring an apple pie baked and ready for judging. The pie must have been made by the contestant alone, using only fresh apples and a homemade pie crust.
2. Any variety of fresh apples may be used. You may not use canned or frozen apples.
3. The pie must have a homemade double pastry crust. The top crust must be in one piece. Lattice crusts are not permitted. You may not use a mix or a frozen pastry crust.
4. The pie must be baked in a 9”, clear (not smoked or opaque) glass pie dish.
5. The contestant’s recipe must be typed or printed on an 8 ½” x 11” sheet of paper and may not contain the contestant’s name. Pies will not be accepted without an accompanying recipe.
6. Pies must be delivered to the Pie Judging Area under the pavilion across from the Whitacre Bldg. during the festival at the Frederick County Fairgrounds in Clear Brook, VA between 11:15am and noon. Pies not received by noon on the day of the contest will not be judged.
7. Judging will begin at 12:15pm and may be observed by friends, family, and the general public. Awards will be announced no earlier than 1:30pm. The time of the awards announcement will depend on when the judging has been completed and the scores tallied to determine the winners. Monetary awards will be made to the First and Second Place winners in both the student and adult categories.
8. Completed score sheets will be available at the close of the contest for each contestant who requests them. Please make certain that you take only those score sheets identified with your assigned number. This is the contestant’s responsibility.
9. All pie dishes must be picked up at the close of the contest. The Rotary Club is not responsible for dishes that are not retrieved by the contestants or their representatives.