in the kitchen with…
Soups On At The Fair
Our Souper Soups contest keeps on winning year after year.
Story by Carol McGarvey
Featured in Autumn 2026
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Chili Soup by Olivia Smith of Winterset
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It wasn’t exactly a “soup day” for judging Welcome Home Des Moines magazine’s Souper Soups contest at the Iowa State Fair, but the hot weather did not stop us. Bottom line: All the soups were wonderful in texture, color, and, of course, flavor.
The judging is never an easy task. Copy Editor Gretchen Kauffman and I have been judging the contest for a long time and know what to look for. Sometimes it’s a cold soup winner and sometimes it is a thick soup that is chock-full of veggies.
A lovely touch for this fair: Tina Dibbs of Clive took second-place honors for her Sausage Tortellini. She moved to Iowa from Illinois earlier this year and now has taken home a ribbon, too. Welcome to Iowa, Tina. We are glad you came. •
This Year’s Winners:
- First Place: Amy’s White Chicken Chili Soup by Olivia Smith of Winterset
- Second Place: Sausage Tortellini by Tina Dibbs of Clive
- Third Place: Italian Orzo Spinach Soup by Dawn Shaw of Pella
- Honorable Mention: Loaded Campfire Chili by Kyle Barton of West Des Moines
