Throughout the fairgrounds, there are exhibits showcasing our community’s talents and the time they put into their projects. Every entry is eye-appealing; only some contain sugar, eggs, milk and other yummy ingredients.

One young lady and her cream cheese brownie recipe will go onto the baking contests at the Pennsylvania Farm Show this January in Harrisburg. She and others from all county fairs in the state will compete.

“This means a lot because we as a family bake a lot, and now I will get to bake for the Farm Show like my mom did years ago,” said Blair Rockwell, a sixth-grade student in the Pleasant Valley Bears Academy.

This was her first time entering anything at the fair.

“Blair feels very excited and grateful,” said Jamie Rockwell, her mother.

Also in the junior baking competition, where entries include cookie bars and brownies, Madison Dorshimer received a red ribbon for second place; London Haley received a white ribbon for third place; and Konnor Krauth, Paris Haley and Kaylee Hertzog received green ribbons for participation.

“I encourage people to do the Pennsylvania contests, because it’s a rewarding experience,” said Kyle Strohl, coordinator of this year’s Pennsylvania baking contests at the fair and a supervisor of the baking department at Lafayette College in Easton.

An avid baker professionally and as a hobby, his chocolate cake won third place at the Farm Show one year.

Three judges are the taste-testers for the Pennsylvania and Junior Pennsylvania contest entries, he said. First-place winners in each contest move onto the state competition.

Adults can enter the Homemade Chocolate Cake, Blue Ribbon Apple Pie, and the Incredible Angel Food Cake contests.

“People put their hearts and souls into baking and presentation of these desserts,” said Strohl.

The chocolate cake contest winners are Gloria Gallerie, first place; Lisa Buzzard, second place; and Veronica Anderson, third place.

The apple pie contest had two entries Pat Doyle, first place; and Veronica Anderson, second place.

The angel food cake contest winners were Constance DeStefano, first place; Ruby Jones, second place; and Veronica Anderson, third place.

“We receive more entries in the regular fair baking contests than the state competition,” Strohl said. “We have two judges that are taste-testers for those entries.”

Gwen Kaiser entered five flavors of bread, including white, herb and rye. She received first place and Best of Show ribbons for her bread.

Angela Saathoff also received first place and Best of Show for her French vanilla cupcakes with decorator’s frosting.

This was her second year entering the fair baking contest. Last year, she won Best of Show for her ginger people.

Susan Dengler’s caramel candy and Kaylee Hertzog’s sponge cake also placed first and earned them Best of Show ribbons in their respective categories.

Strohl and Brenda Hawk, a fair director, supervise the baking contests.