CHEROKEE VILLAGE, Ark. – Bentonville’s own Lisa Sohl celebrated a hometown victory at the Arkansas Pie Festival when her tart cherry pie captured the event’s top honor. The win comes with a coveted Golden Ticket, granting her a place among the nation’s best bakers at the World Food Championships, scheduled for Oct. 15‑18 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center.
From Nebraska farm to Arkansas bakery
Sohl grew up on a dairy farm in rural Nebraska, learning to cook and bake for her family. After a career in sales and marketing, she founded Piehouse Bakery, a family‑run shop that crafts pies, cakes, pastries and other desserts from scratch. Her dedication to traditional recipes and quality ingredients helped her stand out among a field of professional and home bakers at the festival.
Festival’s mission and community impact
Festival co‑founder Jonathan Rhodes said Sohl’s story embodies the spirit of the Arkansas Pie Festival. “We love pie, but the festival has always been about something bigger. It gives us an opportunity to celebrate talented bakers, support small businesses, and showcase the culinary traditions that make Arkansas special,” Rhodes said in the release.
The Arkansas Pie Festival, held the last Saturday in April in Cherokee Village, serves as an official qualifier for the World Food Championships. The event draws both professional and home bakers for competitions, tastings, live entertainment and family activities. Proceeds support science, technology, engineering, arts and math education as well as entrepreneurship through the Spring River Innovation Hub.
Golden Ticket sponsors and political support
The Golden Ticket this year was sponsored by state Representatives Steven Walker, Trey Steimel, Bart Schulz and Stetson Painter, along with Walmart Inc. Their backing underscores the importance of local entrepreneurship and the role of small‑business owners in strengthening Arkansas’s economy.
Former festival champion Jean Freitas of Community Bakery in Little Rock will also return to the World Food Championships, highlighting the festival’s track record of producing competitors who excel on the national stage.
What’s next for Sohl and Piehouse Bakery?
With the Golden Ticket in hand, Sohl will travel to Indianapolis to compete against top bakers from across the country. The exposure promises to bring new customers to Piehouse Bakery and further cement Bentonville’s reputation as a hub for quality, family‑owned food enterprises.
As the Arkansas Pie Festival continues to celebrate culinary heritage and support local businesses, residents can look forward to future events that blend tradition, community spirit, and economic opportunity.
Original reporting: NEA Report (Jonesboro) — read the source article.
