Courtesy of Ruston Farmers Market
The Ruston Farmers Market and Drew Jones Teaching Kitchen were full of energy and excitement on Thursday, June 5, as community members gathered for the annual Peach Cookery Contest, a beloved tradition held in conjunction with the Louisiana Peach Festival.
Sponsored by Park Haus, the event celebrated local culinary talent with a delicious array of pies and cobblers featuring the region’s favorite fruit, peaches.
Participants dropped off their peach dishes at 5:00 p.m. at the Ruston Farmers Market, with entries judged on taste, texture, appearance, peach flavor, and creativity. Judges faced a tough decision as they sampled each homemade dish.
After careful deliberation, judges awarded the top prizes in two age categories: adult and youth. Winners were announced at noon on Saturday, June 7 during the market.
Adult Division Winners:
- 1st Place: Mary Wilson
- 2nd Place: Laurel Nerren
- 3rd Place: AnnaGrace Hale
Youth Division Winners:
- 1st Place: Kara Robertson
- 2nd Place: Willow Tingle
- 3rd Place: Milly McDonald
The Drew Jones Teaching Kitchen, now in its second year as the contest’s home, provided an ideal setting for both participants and judges. The Ruston Farmers Market extends heartfelt thanks to all contestants, judges, volunteers, and community members who made the 2025 Peach Cookery Contest a success. A special thanks goes to Park Haus for their continued support and sponsorship, which helps make this event possible each year.
To continue the summer fun, Ruston Farmers Market is hosting a craft meet up for the community to engage in crafting activities while supporting local vendors from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, June 26. Weekly cooking classes are also available each Thursday at the Drew Jones Teaching Kitchen. More information about the Ruston Farmers Market, classes, and upcoming events can be found at www.rustonfarmersmarket.org.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Caitlin Lawrence, Market Coordinator
Email: info@rustonfarmersmarket.org
Phone: (318) 957-1305
About the Ruston Farmers Market
Since 2008, the Ruston Farmers Market has been a vital part of the community, offering exclusively Louisiana-grown and produced goods. Operated by North Louisiana Farm Fresh (NLFF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit since 2014, the market has grown into a year-round destination for fresh food and community programming.
The mission of NLFF is to provide direct producer-to-consumer sales opportunities, support the development of a local food network, and conduct educational outreach of sustainable agriculture, health, and nutrition throughout North Louisiana.
