I’m announcing the 3rd Annual Apple-Palooza a bit earlier than normal.  It’s because I have something exciting to announce! 
When?  Sunday, October 27th
Where?  Lapacek’s Orchard
What:

Apple Pie Contest

The Apple Pie Contest is an event that is here to stay at Lapacek’s Orchard.  The first year, 20 pies were entered and the second year our judges had to try 24 pies.  We’re hoping for even more pies this year!

2012 Pie Winner – Brenda Endres
2011 Apple Pie Winner – Melissa Walsh
The judges will decide winners for – Best Pie Overall and three runner ups, Most Creative Pie, and Prettiest Pie.  The entire event is meant to be fun so I hope you decide to ‘throw your pie’ in the ring and give it a go!

If you ware interested in baking a pie for the contest please send me an email: {lapaceksorchard at gmail dot com} with your name and pie baking story (if you have one – if you don’t have a story, no worries). Plan on arriving at the orchard by 12:45pm with your pie. Pie viewing and photo’s will take place at 1:00pm and judging will start at 1:30pm.

Once judging is complete - I'm guessing around 3:00ish... we'll be cutting all the pies up into slices and selling them for $1 a slice.  100% of the money made from the apple pie slice sales will go to the PAD Parent Group towards the new playground in the Poynette School District.  Food Fight Restaurant Group is once again sponsoring our Pie Contest!  More details to come!

Old-Fashioned Cider Pressing Demo:

“Come Squeeze Our Apples”

Jared will once again be demonstrating how we used to press our apples to make cider with an old fashioned wood cider press. These demo’s will take place at 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm and will take approximately 30 to 45 minutes.
We were unable to have this as part of our event last year due to the poor apple crop but it’s a definite go this season.

Carved Pumpkin Contest

During the first Apple-Palooza, in 2011, we discovered that there’s quite a bit of standing around while the pies get judged.  We’re going to have a ‘Carved Pumpkin Contest’.  People of all ages can bring their carved pumpkin – anytime before 12:45, put it on display and then we’ll all walk by and vote for our personal favorite!  I’ll have a prize for the best carved pumpkin – still to be determined.  If you come in costume – you’ll get a treat!  (My biggest sadness about living in the country is that no one trick-or-treats out here…we go and steal a neighborhood so my kids can though…).

Rock 'N' Wool Acres: A Wisconsin Winery

Our cousin, Shaun Lapacek, will be talking a bout the winery he and his father have opened up in Poynette - Rock N Wool Acres.

Hard Cider Info Booth

Our good friend Jay Walters will have a booth set up from NOON to 3pm to talk about and answer your questions on how to make hard cider.  Jay has been doing this for years and we have helped drink and enjoy many of his products for years - this guy knows what he's talking about!

Below is a rough itinerary for Apple-Palooza.  I will update it as necessary so keep an eye on the blog for any changes or additions to the day that may occur.

Preliminary ITINERARY:

10:00—Store Opens for Business
10:30—Old Fashion Cider Pressing Demo
11:30 - Rock N Wool - A Wisconsin Winery Arrives
12:00 - Hard Cider Info Booth Open until 3
12:30—Old Fashion Cider Pressing Demo
12:45—Deadline for Contest Pies & Carved Pumpkins to be Delivered
1:00—Viewing of the Apple Pies
1:30—Apple Pie Contest Judging Starts
1:30 – Voting starts for the Carved Pumpkins -
2:30—Old Fashion Cider Pressing Demo
3:00 - Hard Cider Info Booth Closes
3:00-4:00 – Pie and Pumpkin winners are announced
5:00—Store Closes

Pie Judges WANTED!

So…the big news with this post is that we’re looking for some apple pie judges to fill in a few vacant spots.  A couple of our previous judges have prior obligations for October 27th and will be unable to judge again this year.  That’s where you come in…Do you want to be an apple pie judge?  Here’s your chance!  You must be able to commit to be at the orchard from 1:00pm until the judging is complete.
I’m now accepting applications for judges.  I will then post your answers online and we’ll let our followers decide who they want to judge the pies!  I’m not 100% sure how many judges I need yet but I know at least two spots our open. 
To get your name in the hat for being an apple pie judge email me at lapaceksorchard{at}gmail{dot}com with answers to the following questions:
Name:
Contact Info (phone number, email):
Have you ever judged a pie and/or food contest before?
Why do you think you’d be a good apple pie judge?
What is your favorite thing about eating pie?
How many years have you been enjoying pie?
What qualities do you look for in a good pie?
Do you believe you could be a ‘fair and unbiased’ pie judge?
Anything else you’d like to share with the voters about your pie judging dreams?