How to Organize a Pie Baking Competition

Organizations try have fun events that can be used as fund-raisers. Food competitions, especially pie baking contests, provide a good source of income. They tend to be popular events, as well. Usually, most organizations will have these competitions in conjunction with another fund-raiser, such as a fair or social. Organizing a pie bake-off is simple, but time consuming.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Select the date of your competition. You should select a date at least two months away, but not more than a year. Be sure you have a large enough location available to host the event. Many clubs have their own buildings, in which they can house such an event, but otherwise, you'll need to rent a banquet hall or possible a building at your local fairgrounds.

2. Line up your judges for the event. Depending on who you ask to judge, you want to give them plenty of notice for the event. Finding judges tends to be easy. You may decide not to use judges at all, if you go with popular voting for the competition.

3. Advertise the contest. Include an entry form on the advertisement, so people can commit to bringing pies. Suggest that contestants bring a couple of pies for people to taste. Advertise in your organization's newsletter, the local paper and around town at local businesses.

4. Talk about the contest. Word-of-mouth advertising generates the most interest. Ask contestants to invite other people to compete or to taste.

5. Create a variety of awards for the contest such as "Best of Show," "Best Fruit Pie," "Best Cream Pie" or "Most Unique Pie." This allows more people to walk away having won. If it's a charity event, ask local businesses to donate prizes. Make sure to advertise for them at your event, though.

6. Accept and organize your pie baking competition entries. Obviously, you won't want to accept entries before the actual date of the contest, so arrange a time prior to the start of the event for entrants to bring their pies to cut down on confusion. Be sure to already have areas including tables set up for each section of judging. For example, one area for cream pies and a separate one for fruit pies, etc.

Tips & Warnings

• A simple way to use a popular voting system is to place a canister next to each pie and ask people to put money in the jar to vote. The pie with the most money wins. Many people give generously at fund-raisers. Also, you might choose to do this for a "People's Choice" prize.
• If you give too much time, people will lose interest in the competition, but some organizations plan one year in advance. If your organization plans this far in advance, wait until closer to the event to announce it.