ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — The meeting room behind Alfa Insurance on Highway 59 was filled with the smell of fresh pie. Apple, peach, Key Lime and “Pretzel Mud” were all represented, with their bakers watching carefully.

The event was the Alabama Farmers Federation Women's Committee baking contest, and the first place winner in this contest would be heading with her pie recipe to the state competition in Montgomery.

Jean Fontaine of Silverhill entered her “Mile High Key Lime Pie,” Diane Sopr of Silverhill offered her “Pretzel Mud Pie,” Sarah Lazzari of Belforest had Apple Custard. Fay Fiddler of Silverhill had her “All Season” peach pie.

The women tried to hold their meeting while keeping an eye peeled on the judges, retired Family and Consumer Science teacher Theresa Johnson of Daphne and Extension Agent Cindy Knowlton.

The contest keeps a tradition alive, Knowlton believes. “Agriculture is a part of life, where food comes from.” She added that seeing what skilled cooks can do with those ingredients is a way of connecting people to agriculture.

For Johnson, the reason for the contest was simple: “Southern people love to eat.”

The judges took their time, and took several sample of pie. When all was tasted and discussed, the pies were ranked in the following order:

First place, the Apple Custard; second, All Season Peach Pie; third, Mile High Key Lime Pie; fourth, Pretzel Mud Pie.

“They were all very good,” said Johnson.

“It was a hard choice,’ said Knowlton.