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 The
cake judging was the predecessor to the Cake Classic bake off and
auction that would be held on Sunday of the fair. The purpose is to
judge the top cakes in each of seven to eight categories with the
first place winner being offered the opportunity to bake on Sunday.
If by chance one baker entered multiple cakes and won first place in
all of them on Friday, then the baker had the option to choose one
cake to bake on Sunday. In the remaining categories the option for
Sunday would be passed down to the second place winner.
If a baker from the Friday judging was qualified to
bake on Sunday but chose not to, then it was the duty of Cake
Classic program leader Samanth Danosky to reach out to potential
bakers who would be willing to bake.
This year there was no Red Velvet cake in the Friday
Competition. Donosky secured Jeanne Runyon to bake that cake. In
addition, Alex Bergin was sought out to bake in the competition on
Sunday.
Other competitors for Sunday included newcomer Shannon Carter,
veteran baker Dana Oltmanns, and Friday competitors Mary Johnson,
Carlene Carter, Tracy Bergin, and Rose Harrold.
The Friday judging began with judge Jamie Jones
sitting down in front of a large array of candies. Judging was done
in several sub-categories within the candies including the always
hard to make divinity and the equally as complicated Peanut Brittle
and caramels. Other candies included fudge made with and without
marshmallow fudge, and peanut clusters.
Janet Estill and Marcia Greenslate kept the judging
moving along with assistance from three young helpers, Alex and
Sophia Cook and Olivia Wrage. When Jones was finished with a
category, the dishes were passed over to Linda McCuan and Ron Estill
for tagging with the appropriate ribbon. Ron Estill then announced
the results from each category.
In most categories there were multiple entries with the largest
category, cereal treats having a “bakers dozen” or 13 entries.
Divinity was the smallest category with only one entry. The winner
of the cereal treat category was one of the helpers for the day,
Olivia Wrage. The Logan County Fair queens were on hand at that
time, and were happy to take a photo with Olivia as well as other
winners.
In the cake competition, the categories are pretty
well defined except for the “Bakers Choice” category where
obviously, the baker can make their favorite cake regardless of the
flavor. That category featured unique cakes such as a Peanut Butter
cake, Dream Sickle, and Tweed. The Tweed cake was one that went on
to the Cake Classic.
The Friday judging this year held multiple entries and left judge
Jones making some pretty tough decisions, including, new this year a
Best of Show in each category and a Best Overall for the day.
Greenslate explained that the Purple Rosettes were
new this year for the culinary judging. Several had been given out
on Wednesday along side special gifts such as a cookie jar for the
Best Show Cookie given in honor of Marian Haseley and a very nice
plaque for the Best of Show Yeast Bread given in honor and memory of
Margaret Osborn.
On Friday there were best of show rosettes given out
again, including a Best of Show that came with an amazing crystal
cake plate given by “Friends of the Fair” for the best cake. That
prize went to Lauren Dahmm for her chocolate cake with chocolate
frosting. Laren was not at the judging on Friday, but the queens
were pleased to stand in for her for a photo of her rosette and
plate. Lauren was perhaps the youngest competitor in the field, and
in the interest of full disclosure, is the granddaughter of Ron and
Janet Estill. Janet became quite emotional when her granddaughter
was announced as having baked the best cake of the show. She was
quite proud of her granddaughter who is in her early teens.
The final award given out was for the Best Overall
from all categories in the Friday judging. Karen Sandel was named as
the winner of that rosette with her entry in the snack food
division.
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First place winners from all Friday categories are as
follows:
Peanut Cluster
Brooke Harnacke
Peanut Brittle:
Carelene Carter
Fudge NO marshmallow cream
Brooke Harnacke
Caramel
Rose Harrold
Divinity
Carlene Carter
Fudge with marshmallow cream
Kathleen Buse
Candy – All Other
Patty Huffer
Best of Show Candies
Carlene Carter with her Peanut Brittle
Pretzel Treat
Patty Huffer
Caramel Corn
Darlene Crider
Trail Mix
Karen Sandel
Cereal Treat
Olivia Wrage
Best of Show Snack Food
Karen Sandel with her Trail Mix
Cakes
German Chocolate
Rose Harrold
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting
Lauren Dahm
White Cake with White Frosting
Karen Sandel
Yellow cake with Chocolate Frosting
Carlene Carter
Bakers Choice
Jamie Wibben
Angel Food not frosted
Carlene Carter
Chiffon Cake
Mary Johnson
Best of Show Cakes
Lauren Dahm
Best Overall for the day
Karen Sandel from the snack category
On Wednesday the day of judging went long and some of the
competiotrs left for the day before their category was judged. On
Friday some of those competitors opted for a photo after the fact.
From Wednesday
Patty Huffer
Best of Show Cookies
Darlene Crider
Champion Yeast Bread
Margaret Osborn Memorial Award
[Nila Smith]
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