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Soo Line: Knox It Out of the Park

Michaela Knox and her daughter, Paisley, celebrate their award-winning entries at this year’s Hudson Lions Club Pie Baking Contest.

Mother and daughter claim three division titles at Hudson Lions Club Pie Baking Contest

by Soo Greiman

The ovens have cooled. The pies have been eaten. The crumbs have been swept away. But the memories from this year’s Hudson Lions Club Pie Baking Contest are still as sweet as ever.

Thirty-three homemade pies filled the judging tables, making the annual Hudson Days tradition one of the tastiest competitions of the summer. Entries were divided into four categories — All-American Classic, Other Fruits, Nuts & Puddings and Youth — with volunteer judges sampling every pie before selecting the day’s champions. When all was said and done, one Hudson family had plenty to celebrate.

Mother and daughter share a sweet victory

Michaela Knox captured two of the four adult divisions while her 9-year-old daughter, Paisley, claimed top honors in the Youth Division, making it a memorable day for the Knox family.

Michaela and her husband, Jason, moved to Hudson five years ago with their children, Paisley, Elias, 7, and Noelle, 4. Since arriving in town, Michaela has faithfully entered the Hudson Lions Club Pie Baking Contest each year.

This year, persistence paid off.

“I’ve been baking since I was about 9 years old after being inspired by my Aunt Kathy,” Michaela said. “She taught high school home economics for 40 years and was my baking and cooking role model.” Like every experienced baker, Michaela admits not every recipe has been a success.

She laughs remembering a custom birthday cake that didn’t turn out as planned.

“I ended up baking another one at 3 a.m. that morning.”

Her championship-winning Brown Butter Toffee Pecan Pie is a recipe she has spent years perfecting. Paisley’s Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Pie has also been refined through plenty of practice in the family kitchen. “Everyone enjoys pie,” Michaela said, “but my chocolate chip cookies disappear the fastest.” Fortunately, baking has become a family affair.

“All of the kids love learning to bake and make things,” she said. “I loved taking every home economics class I could. Maybe that paid off.”

Judges faced a delicious challenge

Judges Jake Taylor, Carey Slominski and Ben Smiley had no easy task.

Judges Jake Taylor, Carey Slominski and Ben Smiley sampled 33 homemade pies before selecting this year’s division winners at the Hudson Lions Club Pie Baking Contest.

Lions Club volunteers carefully sliced each of the 33 entries into tasting portions before numbering the samples for blind judging.

“When I was asked to judge, I never dreamed it’d be this delicious — or this hard,” one judge was overheard saying.

After selecting the top pie in each division, the judges chose an overall champion and reserve champion. During the discussion, one judge suggested auctioning all four division-winning pies instead. The idea proved to be a success.

The winning pies generated nearly $500 during Friday night’s Pie in the Park auction.

Teen auctioneer energizes Pie in the Park

The auction of the championship pies was another first for this year’s event.

Mac Schrader kept the bidding lively during Friday night’s Pie in the Park auction. Assisted by ringman Alyvia McIntosh of Jesup, the first-time auctioneer helped raise nearly $500 by selling the contest’s championship pies.

Hudson High sophomore Mac Schrader, who will soon turn 16, volunteered as auctioneer and quickly won over the crowd with his fast-paced chant and enthusiasm.

Although he has never attended auction school, Mac taught himself by listening to professional auctioneers and practicing their rhythmic style.

Joined by four classmates serving as ringmen, Mac helped keep the bidding lively as pie lovers competed for the day’s top entries.

LEO Club lends a helping hand

Helping keep the contest running smoothly were Hudson High LEO Club members Maya Fish, Kaylea Greenwood and Nova Ertl.

Hudson High LEO Club members Nova Ertl, Kaylea Greenwood and Maya Fish assisted Lions Club volunteers during the annual pie contest. Standing behind them are Elwin Lee, Jane Jones, Bruce Johnson, Stacy Lee, Tom Jones, Wanda Birdsong, Jamie Dewitz, Jan Madson, John Charley and Bert Strayer.

Between delivering pie samples to judges, the students shared stories about other volunteer projects they participate in throughout the year, including filling May baskets, volunteering at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank and organizing the club’s annual community can drive.

Like so many Hudson Days traditions, the Lions Club Pie Baking Contest was about much more than ribbons and recipes. It celebrated neighbors sharing their talents, volunteers giving their time and a community gathering around homemade pie.