Parsing pies a judge's dream at Great N.H. Pie Festival

Rochester Voice President Martha Soto Galicia raises a fork prior to beginning her duties as a judge in Sunday's Great New Hampshire Pie Festival at the N.H. Farm Museum. Looking on is Milton Selectman Ryan Thibeault. (Rochester Voice photos)

MILTON - They came forks in hand from far and wide, all walks of life, with one mission in mind: to fill up their pie hole, with what else, pie.

The 10^th Annual Great New Hampshire Pie Festival was held at the New Hampshire Farm Museum on Sunday with hundreds of pie lovers turning out on a gorgeous day perfect for pie eating.

About a dozen judges sat at a long table sampling the homemade offerings of amateur bakers, while pies from local restaurants were judged under a separate tent by festivalgoers.

Donna Manning of Milton spreads whipped cream on top of her oreo mousse pie while at the entrants' table. At right, volunteers Christa Capella, far right, and Susann Foster Brown.

When it was all over the grand prize winner in the amateur division was from the savory category, a Easter Meat Pie made by Noel Lyons Baker of Rochester. Her trophy-winning entry was made with many layers including prosciutto and cheese. It was her first time winning a contest and her first visit to the Farm Museum, she said.

To the delight of Farm Museum Executive Director Kagen Weeks, Baker actually became a member of the Farm Museum on Sunday, too.

John Hotchkiss,

Pies made by amateur bakers line a table under the judges' tent.

president of the Farm Museum Board of Trustees, said the festival is a great outreach for the museum and an important fund-raiser.

"This is a good fund-raiser for us, plus it exposes us to people that don't ordinarily come out to the museum," he said.

Susann Foster Brown, a volunteer who checked in all the entries, said 41 pies had been submitted by amateur bakers for judging.

Judges, including Rochester Voice President Martha Soto Galicia, were each restricted to one pie category so as not to confuse or overrun the taste buds.

Jen Knight of Somersworth feeds toddler Charlie Scholtz of Middleton a piece of rhubarb pie during the Great N.H. Pie Festival on Sunday.

"I've been training all my life for this," quipped Soto Galicia between bites.

The list of winners is below:

Apple 1^st Place: Sheryl Olstad

Apple 2^nd Place: Elise Britton

Apple 3^rd Place: Denise Laroche

Fruit, Non-Apple 1^st Place: Elise Britton

Fruit, Non-Apple 2^nd Place: Jennifer Sullivan

Fruit, Non-Apple 3^rd Place: Lisa Marie Horne

Non-Fruit 1^st Place: Janet Barron

Non-Fruit 2^nd Place: Holly Noones

Non-Fruit 3^rd Place: Kenneth Markin

Savory 1^st Place: Noel Baker

Savory 2^nd Place: Judy Parisi

Teen 1^st Place: Jordan Krisanaz

Child 1^st Place: Addy & Alice Anderson

Child 2^nd Place: Aroara Govoni

Child 3^rd Place: Hannah Carter

The People's Choice award for commercial bakers went to Lino's Restaurant of Sanbornville.