MANSFIELD — Two men made fair history Wednesday night. For the first time at the Richland County Fair, the top two pies in the annual pie competition and auction were baked by men.

Gene Esbenshade’s “shady peach” pie — peach and cherry — won him the grand champion ribbon. Tim Denis was runner-up with mince meat pie.

“I was just shocked. I didn’t expect that,” Denis said, recalling the moment his name was announced.

The three-time competitor made four pies — mince, peach, lemon meringue and red raspberry — Tuesday after working a 10-hour shift. He didn’t get to sleep until after 2 a.m.

He’s always enjoyed baking and cooking, even as a child, but he’s made just one mince pie before this week.

Last year, his lemon meringue pie was a first-place winner. The judges pick first-place winners from 10 categories. Two of those titlists — a grand champion and a grand champion reserve — are then selected from this group.

“I just wanted to win one of the categories,” Denis said. “This is better.”

Grand champion, Esbenshade only started baking pies a few years ago. Wednesday night’s win was his second overall first-place finish since he began competing four years ago.

He baked two pies — the award-winning “shady peach” and a maple syrup pecan — at Esbenshade’s Concessions early Wednesday morning.

“I came up with these because we sell them at our food stand,” he said.

Pies were judged Wednesday afternoon, but winners were named in the evening when the homemade desserts were auctioned off. Some sold for more than $200.

Early into the auction, Jan Kuhn and her 8-year-old granddaughter Zoe bought one berry pie. But, Kuhn also planned to purchase peach, apple and cherry pies. The cherry was specifically for Zoe, who occasionally helped Kuhn bid.

“It’s to support your community,” Kuhn said.

Later, she left the auction with boxes of pies — seven in total.

“I think I’m at my limit,” Kuhn joked, while balancing the boxes.

Co-chairs of the pie auction, Kathi Cutlip-Mills and Carolyn Toms, said this year’s event included 74 pies.

“I’ve seen a pie go for $600 before, and the least I’ve seen a pie go for is $25,” said Cutlip-Mills. “You get people in a bidding war and they keep going.”

A portion of the proceeds are used to improve the arts and crafts building at the Richland County Fairgrounds, where the auction is held.