We are making a documentary film called “Pieowa“ about the obsession with pie in Iowa. Really. People are so obsessed with pie they will ride their bikes 500 miles, braving sweltering heat and headwinds over 7 days, just so they can eat it every day! As part of the film we will be covering this event, called RAGBRAI (the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, now in its 50th year!) and the multitude of pies along the route. We’ve identified 37 pie vendors (LISTED BELOW) but surely there are more. Sounds like a lot? Not when you consider there are 30,000 hungry people on bikes to feed. We will be following teams like TEAM NPR (aka No Pie Refused, veteran reporters from National Public Radio riding for their 10th year), TEAM PIE HUNTER (you can spot them by the giant pieces of pie they’re wearing on their heads, each one a different kind of pie), TEAM PIEORITIES (guess what their priorities are), and TEAM CHERRY (sisters paying homage to the cherry tree in their childhood backyard and thus their favorite pie.) There’s also “Dr. Pie,” a veterinarian from Indiana riding for the 14th time whose bike jersey touts “Pedaling for a Piece.” “Six pieces a day is my limit,” he told me. “Seven is too many.”

Want to be in the film? Come find us at the designated locations (highlighted in RED below) to share your pie story on camera. Or go to https://theworldneedsmorepie.com/pieowa/ and follow the prompts to upload your own pie-related video.

If you are participating in RAGBRAI, let us know about other pie vendors you found during the ride. Tell us how many pies you ate, what your favorites were, and how pie enhanced your RAGBRAI experience. Email us at pieowa@campdoughproductions.com

THE LIST: 7 DAYS OF PIE ACROSS IOWADAY ONE: Sunday – Sioux City to Storm Lake – 5 pie locationsKingsleySalem Lutheran church stand, 2 blocks up main street. Proceeds go to the Food  Bank of Siouxland and local schools Packback food programs.WashtaWashta Fire DepartmentQuimby Community Center, 7 organizations uniting to make pies (WE ARE FILMING HERE)Storm Lake United Methodist Church. 212 E 3rd St., serving pie with supperColumbus Club Hall, 1507 E Lakeshore Dr, Storm Lake. Pie served at spaghetti dinner.
DAY TWO: Monday – Storm Lake to Carroll – 6 pie locationsLake ViewAll 3 churches in Lake View (Emmanuel, UCC and Methodist) combining efforts. On Main Street.Wall Lake Lions ClubBredaKay’s Korner, 201 Main St. (WE ARE FILMING HERE)Breda Golf ClubCarrollRenew Covenant Church, 601 N Main Street (on the corner of Main and Hwy 30)Central Church of Carroll, 712 Quint Ave.
DAY THREE: Tuesday – Carroll to Ames – 7 pie locationsGliddenDeAnn’s Sweets & TeesMerle Hay American Legion Post #386 and the Legion AuxiliaryRippeyHome Slice Pie (with Iowa Beer Bus), 310 Main Street, Rippey * (WE ARE FILMING HERE)Pies and Pastries by Lana — in vendor area *Methodist Church, 103 W. Main St.LutherWhatcha Smokin, 403 Iowa Ave.Ames First United Methodist Church, 516 Kellogg Ave. Hamballs dinner with church lady pies (or bars). 4PM – 7PM (WE ARE FILMING HERE)
DAY FOUR: Wednesday – Ames to Des Moines – 7 pie locationsSlaterHelping Hands of Slater, 416 Main St.MadridHome Slice Pie (with Iowa Beer Bus) 2111-330th St. *St. Paul’s ChurchPies and Pastries by Lana *Once Upon an Apple Pie, Flat Tire Lounge, just off high trestle trail *Polk CityCenter Grove Orchards, vendor booths #16 and 17Des MoinesPie Mates Australian Bakehouse at Confluence Brewery, 1235 Thomas Beck Rd., 11AM to 9PM. (Meat-filled hand pies.) *
DAY FIVE: Thursday – Des Moines to Tama-Toledo – 8 pie locationsAltoonaPie Mates Australian Bakehouse at Spring Creek Sports Complex, 7600 NE 38th Ave. from 5AM to noon. (Meat-filled hand pies.) *ColfaxChristian Church, 101 N. Locust St.Newton Gezellig Brewing Co., 403 W 4th St N. — Des Moines Area Community College Culinary Institute is selling hand pies starting at 8AM.KelloggAmboy Grange and First Christian Church, 220 High Street (vendor booth)GrinnellUnited Methodist Church, in Central ParkMontour (10 Miles before Tama-Toledo)Amish piesTama-ToledoSt. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 700 Harmon, TamaThe Iowa Pie Lady, Laura Bru, starting at 2PM, set up in park in Toledo. *
DAY SIX: Friday – Tama-Toleda to Coralville – 3 pie locationsChelseaIowa Fruit Pies vendor (as well as local non-profits) selling pie, 303 Station St.AmanaAmana Fire Dept., 2725 K St.OxfordOxford Fire Station (pies made by St. Mary’s Catholic Church)
DAY SEVEN: Saturday – Coralville to Davenport – 1 pie locationMuscatineCombined churches — Pie concession stand, The Red Brick Building (waterfront)

Look for an article about “The Pie Trail of RAGBRAI” in the Des Moines Register on Sunday, July 23.