Taste of Texas Food Show results 2023

Abigail Manley (center with ribbon) won Berry Best of Show with her Strawberry Delight Cake, which sold for $5,400 at the 2023 Taste of Texas Food Show at the Poteet Strawberry Festival. She is pictured with top buyers, Michelle Ramos, Ramos Tire; Tiffany Sanchez, H-E-B; Mark Biediger, Pure Party Ice; Danielle Howell, Poteet Grange; Sarah Tulk, Cliff Stahl and Glen Tulk, Meritage Homes; Raye Arlitt, Best-1 Hummingbird Feeders; Abigail Manley (holding ribbons); Bill Arlitt, Best-1 Hummingbird Feeders; John Shipley, Poteet VFW; Dr. Ron Mixon, Eye Care for Texans; Lance Schultze, Tank Hollow Fisheries; Rosie Cruz, Poteet Lions Club; Dicki Sparks, Sparks on Fire and Brenda Young. NOEL WILKERSON HOLMES | PLEASANTON EXPRESS

The Taste of Texas Food Show showcased some of the best salsa and dessert makers and bakers during the 76th Annual Strawberry Festival. There were a total of 188 entries. Of those 188 entries, 73 went through the auction, where they brought in $76,000. Because of the amazing support, the Taste of Texas Food Show committee was able to award five high school seniors with $5,000 scholarships. This year, the Taste of Texas Food Show was an all-youth event.

The top winners are as follows:

Abigail Manley won Berry Best of Show with her Strawberry Delight Cake, which sold for $5,400.

Best of Show was Dax Brown and his Strawberry Italian Cream Cake that sold for $1,700.

Kendal Crouch’s Zesty Poteet Strawberry Jam won Best of Show Jelly and sold for $1,925.

Best of Show in the Salsa category was Presley Crouch’s Aunt Jo’s Famous

Salsa which sold for $2,325.

Grand Champion Junior Division went to Laney Marie Stanush and her Mom’s Strawberry Pie that sold for $1,200.

Dax Brown (center) is holding his Strawberry Italian Cream Cake that sold for $1,700 at the Taste of Texas Food Show during Poteet Strawberry Festival. He is pictured with top buyers, from left, Brooke Bartek (holding Laney), Bartek Construction; Sarah Tulk, Meritage Homes; Luis and Michelle Ramos, Ramos Tire; John Shipley, Poteet VFW; Tiffany Sanchez, H-E-B; Wendi Brown; Dr. Ron Mixon, Eye Care for Texans; Rosie Cruz, Poteet Lions Club; Bill and Raye Arlitt, Best-1 Hummingbird Feeders; Norma and Miguel Ramos, Mmm Strawberries. NOEL WILKERSON HOLMES | PLEASANTON EXPRESS

Anthony Badillo won Reserve Champion Junior for his Crumble Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies which sold for $1,700.

Reserve Champion Preteen was Kenzie Rakowitz’s Banana Split Brownie Pizza that sold for $1,450.

Katelyn Smith won Reserve Champion Teen for her Strawberry Oreo Cheesecake Bars which sold for $2,500.

The Taste of Texas had a total of 68 businesses and individuals support our youth at the auction. The top buyers were Darr Built LLC, Meritage Homes, H-E-B, Ramos Tire, Bartek Construction, Bryan and Codi Crouch, Best-1 Hummingbird Feeders, Larry and Janet Bartek, Poteet VFW Post 6970, Jeff and Sue Ann Smith, Poteet Rotary Club and D & D Cantina.

Kendal Crouch (center) holds her award-winning jams. She is pictured with top buyers, from left, Mark Biediger, Pure Party Ice; Michelle Ramos, Ramos Tire; Danielle Howell, Poteet Grange; Brooke Bartek (holding Laney), Bartek Construction; Rusty Fisher; Tiffany Sanchez, H-E-B; John Shipley, Poteet VFW; Darrell Polasek, Darr Built LLC; Dicki Sparks, Darr Built LLC; Larry Bartek, Bartek Construction; Raye and Bill Arlitt, Best-1 Hummingbird Feeders; Dr. Ron Mixon, Eye Care for Texans; Carolyn Liska, Poteet Country Winery; Layne Vrien, Okay Corral; Hallie Bates, Five Cousins Strawberry Patch and Joann Mosley. NOEL WILKERSON HOLMES | PLEASANTON EXPRESS

Presley Crouch (center) holds her ribbons and salsa. She is pictured with top buyers, from left, Mark Biediger, Pure Party Ice; Luis Ramos, Ramos Tire; John Shipley, Poteet VFW; Brooke Bartek (holding Laney), Bartek Construction; Larry Bartek, Bartek Construction; Rusty Fisher; Joann Mosley; Bryan Crouch; Tiffany Sanchez, HE B; Darrell Polasek, Darr Built LLC; Presley Crouch with her award-winning salsa; Dicki Sparks, Darr Built LLC; Dr. Ron Mixon, Eye Care for Texans; Rosie Cruz, Poteet Lions Club; Walt Rakowitz, Rakowitz Engineering; Raye and Bill Arlitt, Best-1 Hummingbird Feeders; Carolyn Liska, Poteet Country Winery; Hallie Bates, Five Cousins Strawberry Patch; Layne Vrien, Okay Corral; Roxie Goss. NOEL WILKERSON HOLMES | PLEASANTON EXPRESS

Laney Marie Stanush (center) received Grand Champion at the Taste of Texas Food Show during Poteet Strawberry Festival. She is pictured with Michelle Ramos, Ramos Tire; John Shipley, Poteet VFW; Tiffany Sanchez, H-E-B; Sarah Tulk, Meritage Homes; Darrell Polasek, Darr Built LLC; Dicki Sparks, Darr Built LLC; Dr. Ron Mixon, Eye Care for Texans; Carolyn Liska, Poteet Country Winery; Rosie Cruz; Poteet Lions Club. NOEL WILKERSON HOLMES | PLEASANTON EXPRESS

Anthony Badillo (center) holds up his Reserve Champion ribbon. He is pictured with top buyers, Norma Ramos, Mmm Strawberries; Darryl Polasek, Darr Built LLC, Kylie Sparks, Dicki Sparks, Darr Built LLC; and Dr. Ron Mixon, Eye Care for Texans. CADE ANDREWS | PLEASANTON EXPRESS