| The Calhoun County Farmers' Market held their third annual Wild Foods Potluck Dinner yesterday at the Upper West Fork Park at Chloe.
It was a sampling of a bountiful harvest mixed with wild meats.
(L-R) Janet Siers, Jim Labaw and Cedar English
The highlight of the dinner was the Apple Dessert Contest. First place winner of $50 was Cedar English of Chloe for his Applesauce-Huckleberry cake. Jim Labaw of Chloe placed second, winning $25 with his Cran-Apple pie. Janet Siers, also of Chloe, was awarded third place and $15 for her French Apple pie.
Only locally grown apples were used in the recipes. Entries were judged on taste, appearance, ease of preparation and nutritional value.
Fourteen delicious offerings were entered in the contest. Judges were Chloe Post Master, Paul Drennen, Calhoun Chronicle reporter, Lisa Minney, and Dianne Weaver, co-editor of the Hur Herald.
Some of the mouth-watering wild food dishes included venison stew, buffalo liver and onions, potato soup with Puffball mushrooms, roasted wild turkey, bean stew with lambs quarters (wild white spinach), sautéed milk weed greens, and elderberry bread and jam.
Traditional fare was offered for the less daring, including, salads, fried chicken, roasted potatoes, calico beans, squash, and assorted casseroles.
The event was free and open to the public with the Calhoun County Kitchen Band providing entertainment. Homemade and handcrafted items were raffled and a "food to art" demonstration was a crowd pleaser.
The Calhoun County Kitchen Band
(L-R) Melanie Degen, Lynn Degen and Maggie Volkwein
Chloe resident George Roth amazed folks with his talent
for turning fruits and vegetables into artistic garnishes
Jim Labaw's handcrafted vase was one of several items raffled
The Farmers' Market expressed thanks to the Farm Bureau for providing prize money for the Apple Dessert Contest.
Sue Cosgrove said the market was held 24 days this season and offered a wide variety of fruit, vegetables and other homegrown items.
"It was a great year, for growers and buyers, alike," she said.
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