The sweet scents of apple, peach and vegetable pies filled the Farmers Market in downtown Bethesda for the second annual Bake Bethesda A Pie Contest Sept. 4.

A large crowd of spectators gathered to watch the contest, sponsored by the Bethesda Central Farm Market. A panel of judges, including the Washington Post’s deputy food editor Bonnie Benwick, tasted and critiqued over 30 pies to determine the best homemade pies.

Kids competed for the first time this year in the amateur baking contest. Judges declared 11-year-old Alexis Russell, who baked a peach pie, and 6-year-old Maya Grayer, who baked a strawberry pie, the two youth winners.

Adults competed in two categories, sweet pies and savory pies. After the judges deliberated, they awarded the first place in the sweet division to Victoria Lai, whose fig and almond pie wowed the judges’ taste buds.

“I was so excited,” Lai said. “I just woke up early this morning and made the pie, and I was thinking about how crazy it would be if I won.”

Second place in the sweet division went to Tita Monroe for her square pecan pie. For the savory pies, Meghan Giardello’s onion and cheese pie won first place, and Maria Stechschulte’s country veggie pie won second place. Winners received gift certificates to Bethesda restaurants.

Cathy Barrow, who won last year’s inaugural contest, said she knows exactly how this year’s winners felt after winning. Barrow’s sour cherry pie took the grand prize last year, which surprised her because she felt her pie was simple.

“I was very nervous,” Barrow said. “There were so many beautiful pies, and I had no idea how mine would stack up.”

After the judges announced the winners, the eager crowd got a chance to sample the wide assortment of pies. From fig and peach to apple cinnamon, there was a pie  for everyone.

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