This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

In Utah, one should never underestimate the force of Jell-O.

That's true on Thanksgiving and when it comes to The Salt Lake Tribune's annual Jell-O haiku contest.

It's the ninth time we've asked readers to wax about Utah's official state snack. And in 2015, Utahns were particularly poetic.

In all, we received 335 entries in our adult and two students categories, nearly 100 more than last year. And the entries just keep getting more competitive: We had a three-way tie for first place. (Really, we liked all three and just couldn't pick a favorite.)

Many poems poked fun — or showed disgust — at this wobbly dish that is often mixed with fruit or vegetables and placed on the holiday table right next to the turkey and mashed potatoes.

But plenty of writers were quite clever, using their three lines to make a statement about current events. Topics ranged from our national parks and college football teams to the ups and downs of the stock market and a particular presidential candidate with one-of-a kind hair. These poems earned extra points with our judges from the Utah State Poetry Society and Tribune staff .

So on this food-filled holiday, enjoy our 2015 list of award-winning Jell-O haiku and keep the force of Jell-O with you until next Thanksgiving.

ADULT

1st (three-way tie)

Dare you add carrots?

I am no vegetable dish.

Away vile shredder

— Mark Fotheringham

Our Arches and Bryce

are nature's pearls of great price,

and our Jell-O's nice.

— Patricia Mead

Cloying conundrum:

No nutritional value,

Cultural icon

— Penny Smith

2nd

Becker, Biskupski,

Cougars and Utes can agree,

Jell-O is jiggly

— Justin Calder

3rd

Slick globules of green

posed shivering and ashamed

clothed in shaved carrot

— Spencer Clark

Grades 7-12

1st

Arches, Bryce Canyon

But what represents Utah?

Green Jell-O instead

— Luke Glissmeyer

2nd

When I eat Jell-O

Memories of yesterday

Blossom in my mind.

— Joseph Bingham

3rd

Trump could win it all

If he would ditch the toupee

For a Jell-O wig.

— Emma Calvert

Elementary

1st

GOP Jell-O

yes it is Republican

bouncing and voting

— Carly McAleer

2nd

Watching the debate

Don Trump's hair caked like Jell-O

New hair style: Gel-Oh!

— Dillon Bush

3rd

End of the rainbow

Pot of gold? I don't think so

Just lots of Jell-O

— Jack Goodman

Honorable Mention

Adult

Mr. Dow tumbles

in Chinese handcuffs — we watch,

our knees now Jell-O

— Shelley Blundell

A balancing act,

Translucent Jell-O swaying

Dangerously spooned

— Greg Erickson

Soft, cold and famous

Utah snow? No, green Jell-O

Good to have them both

— Teresa Panushka

Utah vote results,

Like Jell-O, often have a

Little wiggle room

— Mary Richer

Trembling green tower

Cool carrot shavings entrapped

My dog turns away

— Celia Wiscomb

Shimmering beehive

Bouncing mound of Zion bliss

Giggles in my mouth

— Tara Anderson

One scoop of lime green

Beside au gratins puts the

fun in funeral

— Jeff Richards

No green Jell-O here.

My wife is a jack Mormon.

I am a jack Jew.

— Aharon Shulimson

If only Utahns

Loved Medicaid expansion

As much as Jell-O

— Kim Smart

Church denies gays' kids

But allows gay scout leaders.

Is church Jell-O spiked?

— Dirk Sprunt

At the Jell-O zoo

Beasts wiggle to kids' delight

In rainbow colors

— Virginia Hall

Green Jell-O salad

Funeral potatoes, ham

Family, goodbyes

— Leland Sevy

7-12

The only way I

Would eat a carrot is if

Jell-O embraced it.

— Sarah Calvert

Jell-O is the base

Memories are built upon

Meaningful stories

— Jon Evans

Water found on Mars

Changing life as we know it

But is there Jell-O?

— Hailee Hansen

Jell-O sways in wind

Yet still is a masterpiece

Like Donald Trump's hair

— ­Micah Black

Take a picture now

Before your Jell-O crumbles

And the truths are found

— Sami Hallows

The economy

Wobbles side to side, up and

Down just like Jell-O.

— Robert Steagall

K-6

Jell-O all around

from the rooftop to the ground

try not to get stuck

— Lilly Occon

A Jell-O pillow

Sinking into fast. Oh no!

Just a silly dream

—Brigitte Davis

Jell-O is so fun

A big earthquake on a spoon

And really good too

— Logan Brown

Hulk want the Jell-O

It fun to play with and eat

squish through teeth, fun, fun

— Joshua Johnston

When I get hungry

I just eat the wall, it is

Made out of Jell-O

— Wyatt Pennell

Yummy Jell-O worms

Making trails of Jell-O juice

Crawling up my leg

— London Saiki

The Jell-O Judges

The best way to handle 335 Jell-O haiku is to bring in the experts from the Utah Poetry Society. These eight members pored over the gelatinous gems looking for proper style and originality: Bob Bader, Vera Bakker, Gary Christian, Paul Ford, Barbara Funke, Cyndi Lloyd, Kolette Montague and Eric Reed. Salt Lake Tribune reporter Kathy Stephenson, joined them on the panel. For more information about the poetry society or to join a chapter, visit utahpoets.com