They’re an Iowa State tradition older than Veishea itself. They’re pies with cherries, cherry pies to most.

Beginning today at 9:30 a.m., the ISU Department of Hotel Restaurant Institution Management will begin its annual cherry pie sale in MacKay Hall.

About 7,900 cherry pies are expected to be sold on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until about 2 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. until they’re gone.

Janice Dana, faculty adviser for the student-run bake sale, said the department has been selling the pies for longer than Veishea’s 75 years. She said the event originated in the 1920s during February. The cherry filling was first selected to commemorate George Washington’s birthday.

Today however, the pies are more plentiful and the sale has become one of Veishea’s most marked traditions.

Students began preparing for the sale in late March when they pressed dough and froze the pie crusts. Students donned their aprons on Thursday to begin filling and baking the 4-inch tarts.

Between 75 and 100 students from the HRI department have donated their time to keep the ritual active this Veishea.

Richard Howard, a junior in HRI and a contributor to the sale, said people line the streets when the sale begins so they can grab a cherry pie before they’re gone. He said it is “one of the biggest activities” for Veishea.

“There are always lines,” he said. “Everyone goes for a cherry pie. It’s something you must do if you want a true Iowa State experience.”

The treats sell for 90 cents each, and the money raised will be used for student scholarships within the department.

Everyone is invited to enjoy the cherry pies and contribute to the scholarship fund, Dana said.

“It’s a tradition that has evolved over the years, and it’s a worthy cause,” she said. “I have to say the pies are quite good, too.”

“You have to have a Veishea pie or you’re not a Cyclone,” Howard joked.

The cherry pies will be available on the ground floor of MacKay Hall and near the back door of the Tea Room in 16 MacKay.