In 1997, the Homemade Kolacky Baking Contest was added to the festival lineup to allow for amateur bakers to bring their kolackys to the heart of Minnesota Czech Country for an opportunity to gain the bragging rights for the best kolackys around. Now people from around the state and Midwest converge on the City of Montgomery with their kitchen's best on Saturday morning. Individuals bring in their best kolackys to see if they will be known as a Minnesota State Champion of Kolacky Baking.

State Champions

Best Tasting Traditional Kolacky

2013 - 4th Generations/Severns, Scheel, Scheel, Baldwin
2014 - Linda Korbel, Webster
2015 - Bernice Zelenka, New Prague
2016 - Mary Stanke, Montgomery
2017 - Cesky damy, New Prague
2018 - Cesky damy, New Prague
2019 - Pam Edel, Montgomery
2020 - No Contest
2021 - Cesky damy, New Prague
2022 - Cesky damy, New Prague
2023 - Cesky damy, New Prague
2024 - Janell Franta, Montgomery

Best Tasting Non-Traditional Kolacky

2013 - Mary Holtz, Montgomery
2014 - Linda Korbel, Webster
2015 - Cesky damy, New Prague
2016 - Brianna Skluzacek, New Prague
2017 - Ceske damy, New Prague
2018 - Dawn Gardner, Chanhassen
2019 - Cesky damy, New Prague
2020 - No Contest
2021 - Cesky damy, New Prague
2022 - Cesky damy, New Prague
2023 - Cesky damy, New Prague
2024 - Janell Franta, Montgomery

Most Perfectly Shaped Kolacky

2013 - 4th Generations/Severns, Scheel, Scheel, Baldwin
2014 - Janell Franta, Montgomery
2015 - Marge Sticha, New Prague
2016 - Shannon Wick, New Prague
2017 - Pam Edel, Montgomery
2018 - Katie Scheel, Montgomery
2019 - Katie Scheel, Montgomery
2020 - No Contest
2021 - Cesky damy, New Prague
2022 - Cesky damy, New Prague
2023 - Cesky damy, New Prague
2024 - Cesky damy, New Prague

Youth Division

2018 - Leelynn Baldwin, Montgomery
2019 - Leelynn Baldwin, Montgomery
2020 - No Contest
2021 - Leelynn Baldwin, Montgomery
2022 - Harper Brockway, Montgomery & Leelynn Baldwin, Montgomery
2023 - Harper Brockway, Montgomery
2024 - Grace Worm

Contest Rules

To enter one needs to meet the following rules:

Any non-professional baker is eligible to enter.
All entries must be baked.
One entry form needs to be filled out for each class entered. Limit of two entries per class.
One-half dozen of the same flavor kolackys are required for each class you enter.
Entries will be judged by the criteria listed below each class. It will be a blind judging event. Decision of the judges is final
Entries are accepted from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. at City Hall, 201 Ash Ave. SW with judging at 10:00 a.m.

An award presentation is done following the judging. Contestants are welcome to stay during the judging and many take their entries after the contest concludes. The following are classes one may submit their homemade kolackys for:

Class #1 - Best Tasting Traditional Kolacky

Must be made with a traditional filling - either poppyseed or prune.
Will be judged on looks, smell, taste, and texture

Class #2 - Best Tasting Non-Traditional Kolacky

May be made with any type of filling - other than prune or poppyseed.
Will be judged on looks, smell, taste, and texture

Class #3 - Most Perfectly Shaped Kolacky

Can be any variety of filling. Will be judged on color, shape, and appearance

Class #4 - Youth Entries (17 and Younger)

Can be any variety of filling. Will be judged on knowledge, color, shape, and appearance.

Prizes for winning entries are as follows for each class:

1st Place - $50 | 2nd Place - $25 | 3rd Place - $15