PIEOWA: A Piece of America

“A documentary in the baking.”

Pie is nonpartisan, symbolizing kindness, comfort, generosity, and unity—all the things we need more of right now, all of which are showcased in PIEOWA: A PIECE OF AMERICA.

How did Iowa become synonymous with pie? Why are Iowans and outsiders alike so obsessed with it? And what lengths will people go to for a slice? More importantly, how can pie unite us?

From church ladies to  nostalgic diners, farmers markets, the competitions of the Iowa State Fair, community service projects, Thanksgiving, and generations old and young, pie is woven into Iowa’s cultural fabric like the threads of a patchwork quilt. There’s even a 500-mile bike ride across the state where people come from all over the world just so they can eat pie every day!

Producer/director of PIEOWA Beth M. Howard is the author of three pie-themed books and the former (and final) resident of the American Gothic House where she ran the Pitchfork Pie Stand. She takes viewers on a mouth-watering journey through her native state exploring pies of all kinds, meeting pie makers of all ages, exploring the history of the “pie-oneers” who brought it to the Midwest, its importance to Iowans, and why it rivals corn and hogs as an iconic part of Iowa’s identity. Howard has experienced first-hand the influence of this association as she once got hired as a pie baker in Malibu, California. When asked “What are your qualifications?” she answered, “I’m from Iowa,” and got the job! In the documentary, Howard’s film expands on the themes of her TEDx Talk, in which she espouses pie’s healing powers, how pie can build community, and how it can make the world a better place.

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