DOWNIEVILLE — The Sierra County Arts Council hosted its annual Ice Cream Social on Saturday. The event is a fundraiser for the North Yuba River Hall, and this year, it garnered over $1,000 in donations. The Social is also a competition in which eleven entrants competed for the vote of tasters with their homemade ice creams.

Bella Fehringer won with a tasty Sour Cream Strawberry ice cream. Sarah Folsom placed second with Stinson Beach Lemon made, of course, with fresh Stinson Beach lemons. Earlene Folsom came in third behind her daughter with Gingerbread. Danielle Williamson won the coveted Berry Bear, a stuffed bear handmade by Ingrid Larson, in the concurrent raffle, which also benefitted the North Yuba River Hall.

The most unique entry was Tessa and Rudy Jackson’s “It’s Corn!” which tasted undeniably like corn. Though the team nailed the effect, we can only assume that the unexpected flavor profile held them back from success in the votes. Other notable flavors included “Triple Chocolate Carmel Double Cream Crunch,” a “Mexican Vanilla” that featured several exciting self-serve toppings, and “Monkey Puke,” a distastefully named combination of Bananas Foster, “Custer Ice Cream,” and chocolate syrup.

Participation in the Social was high again, partly due to visiting Gold Rush Days participants. Though a bit of summer rain fell in the morning, the day was warm enough to keep ice cream appetites high.