Fareway's Brady Diercks wins 2025 Iowa Best Bagger at State Fair

Diercks finishes first at the Iowa Grocery Industry Association’s 38th annual grocery bagging competition.
 
DES MOINES, Iowa – In a contest to find the best grocery bagger in the state, Brady Diercks, who works at the Fareway store in Marion, Iowa, finished first. The Iowa Best Bagger contest was held Friday, August 8, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, where Diercks claimed the Iowa Best Bagger title, a trophy, a $500 cash prize and a trip for two to Las Vegas to compete in the National Best Bagger Competition that will be held in February of next year.

 ​“The Iowa Best Bagger Contest is such a fun event that the Iowa Grocery Industry Association is proud to host each year at the State Fair,” said Michelle Hurd, president of the Iowa Grocery Industry Association (IGIA). “It’s an opportunity to showcase the skills and dedication of Iowa’s talented grocery baggers, and it brings a spotlight to the grocery industry’s ethic of hard work and community values.”

“Iowa’s grocery stores play a crucial role in their communities, and baggers are an essential part of that role,” Hurd added. “All of the competing baggers did an excellent job.”

Aliciah Vasquez from the Des Moines Park Avenue Hy-Vee secured second place and a $250 prize. Daven Peterson of the Fareway in Boone earned $150 for his third-place finish, while Tanner Eisentrager from the Fareway in Ankeny took fourth place and $100.
 
Diercks, 21, who is from Marion, IA, has been bagging groceries for six years. This is his second time competing in the Iowa Best Bagger Contest. Last year, he placed second at the Iowa contest.
 
Diercks will represent Iowa at the National Grocers Association Best Bagger Contest in February. The reward for winning in Las Vegas includes a $10,000 prize. Once there, he will attempt to bring home an eighth national title for Iowa. Iowans have a proud tradition of winning at the national contest – only one other state, Utah, holds as many national titles as Iowa.
 
A total of 15 individuals from around Iowa qualified to take part in the 2025 Iowa Best Bagger event, which celebrated its 38th year at the Iowa State Fair. Contestants bagged identical grocery orders consisting of no more than 40 commonly purchased items into three reusable grocery bags. They were scored and ranked primarily on weight distribution among bags, speed and proper item arrangement.
 
The top six finishers winnowed from three preliminary heats competed in the final round.
 
Members of the crowd had a chance to win one of many gift cards for answering grocery industry trivia questions.

A celebrity bagging competition took place while the scores for the final round were being tallied. Local 5’s Iowa Live host Lou Sipolt won the contest and received $250 for the charity of his choice. Sipolt selected Iowa Wildlife Center. Calyn Thompson, Today in Iowa co-anchor, and Ben Kaplan, KCCI 8 anchor, also competed in the celebrity competition.
 
Companies sponsoring the 2025 Iowa Best Bagger Contest include the Iowa Grocery Industry Association, Coca-Cola, Cylinder Express, Dupey Equipment, Frito-Lay, Iowa Food & Family Project and Neva’s. Prize sponsors include Hiland Dairy, Keurig Dr Pepper, Cookies Food Products, Fareway Stores Inc. and PepsiCo.
 
All non-perishable food items used in the competition were donated to the Food Bank of Iowa.
 
The Iowa Grocery Industry Association is a nonprofit association that conducts programs in education and public affairs on behalf of its members, which are independent and chain grocery stores, convenience stores, food wholesalers servicing Iowa, food brokers and manufacturers. The Association's approximate 1,600 retail and supplier members are responsible for providing close to 100,000 jobs in Iowa.

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About the Iowa Grocery Industry Association
The Iowa Grocery Industry Association is a state trade association that represents the food industry, including chain and independent supermarkets, convenience stores, suppliers, wholesalers, brokers, manufacturers and distributors. Founded in 1899, the IGIA has long served as a resource to its members, the food industry and the general public through education, legislative, partnership and philanthropic programs. Headquartered in Urbandale, Iowa, the IGIA can be found online at www.iowagrocers.com.
 
National Best Bagger Champions from Iowa
2021: Ben Miller (Hy-Vee, Waukee, Iowa)
2019: Dwayne Campbell (Hy-Vee, Des Moines, Iowa)
2018: Trevor DeForest (Fareway, Maquoketa, Iowa)
2000: Mike Mechura (Fareway Stores, Boone, Iowa)
1997: Allen Weimerskirch (Fareway Stores, Creston, Iowa)
1996: Mike Dahm (Fareway Stores, New Hampton, Iowa)
1994: Jeff Stearns (Fareway Stores, Boone, Iowa)

 
Iowa Best Bagger Champions (Since 1995)
2024: Titus Doak (Fareway, Oskaloosa, Iowa)
2023: Harrison Dahm (Fareway, Denison, Iowa)
2022: Nolan McGregor (Fareway, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa)
2021: Ben Miller (Hy-Vee, Waukee, Iowa)
2019: Dwayne Campbell (Hy-Vee, Des Moines, Iowa)
2018: Dwayne Campbell (Hy-Vee, Des Moines, Iowa)
2017: Trevor DeForest (Fareway, Maquoketa, Iowa)
2016: James Armstrong (Hy-Vee, Ankeny, Iowa)
2015: Dallas Lehman (Hy-Vee, Johnston, Iowa)
2014: Tyler Miller (Hy-Vee, West Des Moines, Iowa)
2013: Matthew Munstermann (Hy-Vee, Altoona, Iowa)
2012: Tim Hannan (Fareway Stores, Des Moines)
2011: Jacob Laursen (Fareway Stores, Cresco, Iowa)
2010: Jeremy Mescher (Fareway Stores, Sheldon, Iowa)
2009: David Kistenmacher (Fareway Stores, Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
2008: Brian Beneke (Fareway Stores, Cresco, Iowa)
2007: Aric Reicks (Fareway Stores, Sioux City, Iowa)
2006: Brenda Wygle (Fareway Stores, New Hampton, Iowa)
2005: Dan Klinkenberg (Fareway Stores, Eagle Grove, Iowa)
2004: Tony Haisman (Fareway Stores, Waterloo, Iowa)
2003: Kevin McCormick (Fareway Stores, Ottumwa, Iowa)
2002: Jim Westphalen (Fareway Stores, Clinton, Iowa)
2001: Jeff Kessler (Hy-Vee, Iowa City, Iowa)
2000: Keith Voss (Fareway Stores, Vinton, Iowa)
1999: Mike Mechura (Fareway Stores, Boone, Iowa)
1998: Steve Tielbur (Fareway Stores, Boone, Iowa)
1997: Roger Wirtz (Fareway Stores, Cherokee, Iowa)
1996: Allen Weimerskirch (Fareway Stores, Creston, Iowa)
1995: Mike Dahm (Fareway Stores, New Hampton, Iowa)