Sunday, October 18, 2026

Ammon’s 13-Year-Old Pie-Eating Champ Came for Free Pie

At the city’s Pumpkin Walk, Darnell won two rounds by focusing on the filling—and arrived with one very practical motivation.

A 13-year-old named Darnell went home from Ammon, Idaho’s Pumpkin Walk with two pie-eating round wins and a clear explanation for signing up: the pie was free.

The new contest was part of Saturday’s 15th annual Pumpkin Walk at McCowin Park. Six volunteers competed every half-hour, racing for three minutes to eat pumpkin-pie filling while keeping their hands behind their backs. The crust stayed in the pie; Darnell said he first tried to eat the whole thing before judges clarified the target.

His strategy worked twice. Darnell told local station KIFI that he prefers apple or blueberry pie, which makes his two pumpkin victories an especially tidy piece of contest journalism: sometimes the prize is simply being hungry at the right festival.

The park had another headline-sized entry: Brandon Crain of Shelley won the giant-pumpkin contest with a 1,281-pound pumpkin, a record for the Pumpkin Walk. Local families, schools, businesses and nonprofits built the displays, which remain at McCowin Park through Halloween.

The City of Ammon said the free kickoff included more than 40 pumpkin displays, giant pumpkins, train rides, food, vendors and music. The event’s new pie competition was organized with Kneaders Bakery and Cafe.

Sources: KIFI’s Oct. 17 report from the Pumpkin Walk; City of Ammon event announcements.