JOHNSTON, Iowa—Two statewide Fareway representatives from Iowa and Nebraska, will have the honor of competing at the National Best Bagger Championship in Las Vegas tonight. Elite baggers from across the country will vie for the championship title and a $10,000 cash prize.

Austin Kollasch will represent Fareway for Nebraska. Austin has been with Fareway since June 2023 and is currently employed part-time at the Omaha location. Kollasch enjoys working at Fareway and supporting our Service with Gratitude mission. Kollasch not only assists customers in the front-end, but mentioned he takes pride in ordering and maintaining a full freezer selection for our customers. When not in school, Austin enjoys playing video games with his friends, working out, and has recently taken up golf as a new hobby.

Austin Kollasch

Titus Doak will Represent Fareway for Iowa. Titus has worked part-time at the Oskaloosa location since August 2021. He primarily assists on the sales floor, helping customers, and working the front-end but recently has been assisting in produce. Titus is homeschooled and during his free time, he likes to play sports, go to the gym and church, and hang out with the youth group and his friends. Titus plans to work full-time at Fareway soon.

Titus Doak

Both Kollasch and Doak won their state’s Best Bagger competitions to advance to the finals.

Fareway Stores, Inc. Senior Vice President of Marketing & Advertising, Jeff Stearns, will represent Fareway in the Executive Best Bagger Competition; Stearns won the national Best Bagger competition in 1994 and is a member of the NGA’s Best Bagger Championship Hall of Fame.

Jeff Stearns, SVP Fareway Stores, Inc.

The competitions will be broadcast LIVE at 7:00 p.m. (central) via National Grocers Association Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/NationalGrocersAssn

Since 1986, a Fareway Meat & Grocery employee has won the national competition seven times.
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)
1987: Paul Heffernan (Fareway Stores, Manchester, Iowa)
1986: Paul Heffernan (Fareway Stores, Manchester, Iowa)

(contributed press release, Fareway Stores, Inc.)