Meet the humans of Hebron's Pie Festival

Hebron Mayor Valerie Mockus

“Most people love pie. So that's easy. But really, what this is about is building community and reminding each other why we live here, or why we grow here. We still live here. The whole point is to come together and create community.” 

“In Hebron, we value hard work. We value people taking care of their neighbors. We all know our neighbors, and if somebody has a problem, they will literally call you at any time and knock on your door. And I think people who value that love living in small towns, because the whole point is to be close and connected, but not be overwhelmed.”

“Breaking bread is a very human tradition, right? And so for us to do it around a food item, and people can get whatever kind they like and sit down and listen to someone singing with their friends and their family and enjoy this gorgeous weather…I mean, that's why we have green space, using that to bring people together.”

Randy Wolf and Jason Figgins

Randy: “It makes you think about when you're growing up and you had Thanksgiving dinner and you had apple pie. It's a tight-knit community. Everybody seems to know everybody and everybody else's business…. Everybody looks out for everybody and helps. If there's something that needs done, everybody will pitch in and help.”

Jason: “Pie just makes people happy. ... I started working for the town back in the '90s, and coming again from Zanesville, this town welcomed me with open arms. So this place is like my second home.”

Mike Prince, Mindy Kester and Brigette Rose

Kester works for the village of Hebron and has lived there her entire life. Last year she entered the pie contest and won third place. She feels the Pie Festival “is about [people] coming together and having a good time.” The pie contest requires participants to submit two pies each: one for the judges and one to be auctioned off. The proceeds go to the Hebron Historical Society to help fund the festival.

Brigette:“Community is very important, it’s an extension of your family. It’s needed for being balanced and for good well-being. The pie festival is fun. A lot of people smile when they eat pie, so it’s fun.”

Brittany Misner, Hebron's economic and community development director

“It’s been a big day for our community, we’ve been really focused on opportunities to bring everyone together and I don’t think there is anything we’ve done that quite accomplishes what today accomplishes. Not only are we bringing people of all ages together, we have our youth sports, we have our nonprofits, we have so many young people here being recognized. It’s just an exciting day for our community.”

“I would absolutely say this is what community looks like in Hebron. It’s celebrating our youth, it’s being proud to be from Hebron and America and celebrating the talents of all kinds of different people.”

“I definitely can’t take credit for the selection of pie, but I was just saying to my coworker earlier that I’m so glad that pie is our thing. There is nothing more American than a good slice of pie. The funny story, how it all came to be, is our previous mayor wanted to host something like this and was pitching it to our current mayor and said 'what do you think is something everybody loves?' And she’s like 'potatoes!' And they are like 'no, pie.' I think pie was the right choice. There is a little bit of something for everyone.”

Brent Jones

This is Jone’s first time at the Pie Festival, and he attended to support his daughter who performed in the Lakewood High School band. When it comes to describing the Pie Festival, Jones said, “[It’s a] simple event that brings people together to smile, talk and laugh. It seems to be a good recipe for a community.” 

Clark Corum

Clark Corum was dressed as the pie festival mascot, “Home Slice.” He is a student at Lakewood High school and says he finds community in Hebron. “Community is a group of people that you can fall on in hard times,” Corum said.

Stephanie and Scott Bambenek

Stephanie Bambenek: “For me it means community and history and comradery with everybody and delicious pie, of course. You can’t forget about the pie. The competition, the spark of local people making pies, not knowing who made them. ... I just think that that’s really fun. It sparks really good competition. I’m hoping to win one. I put a really good bid in so finger’s crossed.”