Apple Pie Eating Contest
The Seward Rotary Club’s annual “Seward Fourth of July Celebration” Apple Pie Eating Contest takes place at the Seward Bandshell.
Apple Pie Recipe for the Famous “Perfect Apple Pie”
This homemade apple pie was featured at the Seward Fourth of July Seward Rotary Club Apple Pie Eating Contest every year and has gained national attention. Dozens of these pies have been given to various dignitaries that have visited Seward.
Perfect Apple Pie by Seward Rotary Club Chef, Della Miers of Seward, Nebraska
5 to 7 tart apples ¾ to 1 cup of sugar
2 T. enriched flour 1 tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. nutmeg Dash of salt
Pastry for (2) 9” pies 2 T. butter or margarine
Pare apples and slice thin. Combine sugar, flour, spices and salt. Mix with apples. Line 9-inch pie plate with pastry, fill with apple mixture, dot with butter, adjust top crust, and sprinkle with sugar. Bake 400 degrees 50 minutes or until done.
(Red Hot Apple Pie-omit cinnamon and nutmeg in Perfect Apple Pie. Combine 3T. Red cinnamon candies with sugar, flour and salt.)
Della’s Flaky Crust
2 cups flour 1 tsp. sugar
2/3 cup Crisco 2 T. melted butter
5 T. cold water 2 T. vinegar
Mix flour and salt. Cut in Crisco and butter until mixture is like coarse crumbs. Add water and vinegar. Mixing with fork, form into balls and chill. Roll out to form two crusts. This is fool proof.
Serve pie with homemade ice cream while watching the wonderful Seward Fireworks display!
2021 Apple Pie Eating Contest Winners
Over-all Grand Champion
Noah Arneson – Omaha, NE (Was also Grand Champion in 2015!)
Division Champions
Pre-Teen (Under 12) – Owen Jest – Denver, CO
Teen (13-17) – Rylan Doering – Lincoln, NE
Adult Male (18-40) – Alex Chmiel – Fort Worth, TX
Adult Female (18-40) – Kayla Arneson – Lincoln, NE
Mixed Group/Men and Women (All Ages) – Noah Arneson, Omaha, NE
Adult Men (Over 40) – TIE – John Bauer – Memphis, TN and Brian Keller – Lincoln, NE
Bubble Gum Blowing Contest
The Seward Rotary Club’s annual “Seward Fourth of July Celebration” Bubble Gum Blowing Contest takes place at the Seward Bandshell.
2021 Bubble Gum Blowing Contest Winners
Overall Grand Prize Winner – State Champion
Peter Seger – St. Louis, MO
Division Winners
Pre-Teen Division – Noel Neujahr – San Francisco, CA
Teen Division – Jakob Gray – Seward, NE
Women’s Division – Lena Hughes – Seward, NE
Men’s Division – T.J. Chmiel – Fort Worth, TX
Mixed – Men and Women (Over 50) – Peter Seger – St. Louis, MO
The annual Apple Pie Eating Contest and Bubble Gum Blowing Contests are sponsored by the Seward Rotary Club and have been for over 40 years. There is no entry fee-just volunteer! The pies are all made fresh and locally that morning. Judges for the Apple Pie and Bubble Gum Blowing Contest were Rotarians Dr. Russ Sommerfeld and Dr. Matt Dominy. Assisted by Rotarians Zane Francescato and Rick Gray with Rotarian Clark Kolterman serving as Emcee and Rotarian Jessica Kolterman as the Scribe.
Linda Kolterman, Sue and Rick Brockhoff of Lincoln and Riley Nuttleman and Decker Mattimoe assisted with the bubble gum distribution and pie cutting and serving to the contestants.
The Seward Rotary Club also sponsors the annual Fourth of July Children’s Essay Contest on the topic of “Why I Like to Live in Seward” to select the Royalty for the annual Seward Fourth of July Celebration, the Rotary Club sponsors annual Holiday Home Decorating Contest and the winners of the Seward Rotary Club’s annual “Service Above Self” award – Gail Brand and the Seward Rotary Club’s Wayne Tanderup Awardee – Marla Jisa were honored and rode in the Grand Parade.
