Each June the Glen Arbor Sun publishes the winning poem and recipe from the annual Empire Asparagus Festival, which was held this year on June 7. This year’s Asparagus Poetry contest winner was third grader Caroline Smith for her poem, “I’ve Been Eating Asparagus.” The recipe contest winner was Empire resident PJ Ehalt for her “Asparagus Cheesecake” recipe.
The Empire Asparagus Festival’s “Ode to Asparagus Poetry Competition” on June 1 attracted 25 entries and 100 attendees at the Glen Lake Community Library. The winning poem, as selected by the audience, was “Astrological Asparagus” by Joseph Povolo. Meanwhile, one Empire family swept the Asparagus Recipe Contest held at the Town Hall. Don Cunningham won the People’s Choice Grand Prize for his “Asparagus Benedict” recipe. Carol Cunningham finished second for her “Spargelsalat” (German asparagus salad). Carol’s brother Duane Schmidt won third place for his “Asparagus Peppers” recipe.
Here are the winners from the 2023 Empire Asparagus Festival poetry and recipe contests. This year’s festival was held on Saturday, June 3.
The Empire Asparagus Festival— once lovingly dubbed one of the world’s weirdest festivals by MSN.com—returns for its 20th year on June 3. The fête includes local asparagus eats, great music, and fun activities for all generations. Read the story for the full lineup.
Here are the winners of this year’s Empire Asparagus Festival recipe contest, held earlier this month in Empire.
Free to enter, this year’s Empire Asparagus Festival recipe competition on Saturday, May 19, is open to anyone who loves asparagus. Participants create asparagus dishes for the public to sample while competing for cash prizes.