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Entering (and not winning) My First Baking Contest

Published on August 18, 2015 By Emily. Updated on August 20, 2015

A few years ago, I went to the Adams Agricultural Fair for the first time.  I’ve been to a lot of fairs over the course of my life; I’m a big fan of exhibit halls, vendors and animals (but not rides).  But the Adams Aggie Fair was the first one where I’d seen exhibitor entries featuring names I knew.  I immediately wanted to enter.

Aggie Fair produce entries

It took me a year or two to figure out how to get my name on the mailing list for the premium book, but it finally happened this year.  My book arrived early in the summer and I looked through it.  I had lots of choices for contests – there were categories for jam and jelly, apple pie, muffins, brownies, fudge and more.  The contest that caught my eye, however, was the one with the biggest prize.  I decided to enter the King Arthur Baking Contest, with a grand prize of a $75 gift certificate to King Arthur Flour.  The entry required that I present an opened bag of King Arthur Flour and 2 mini-loaves of Sweet Potato Cinnamon Bread.

Adams Agricultural Fair booklet

From the beginning of my baking, things were off to a rough start.  I didn’t have enough sweet potatoes (apparently it takes more than I thought to make two cups), so I had to run to the supermarket.  When I finished making the batter, it seemed like I had a ton and it almost filled all of my mini-loaf pans to the brim.  But I checked the ingredient list several times, and it seemed like I’d done everything right.

King Arthur flour for baking contest

My loaves took forever to bake; probably half an hour longer than the recipe called for.  I knew it wasn’t a good sign, but I figured it was better to cook my loaves through than submit something underdone.

baked loaves of Sweet Potato Cinnamon Bread

As planned (hey, something had to go according to plan!) I dropped my loaves off for judging on Friday morning; the day of the official fair start.  I kept my expectations pretty restrained.  My loaves seemed okay, but they ended up huge and I expected others would have better luck.  Sure enough, when I arrived Saturday morning to actually explore the fair, I had not placed.  It’s all good though – there were 15 entries for the King Arthur Baking Contest this year.  The volunteers told me that the first place winner had entered 7 times and never won.  That definitely made me feel better.

King Arthur Flour baking contest entries

The Adams Agricultural Fair is not the biggest or the most well known place to showcase one’s skills, but I’m really glad I took the opportunity to participate.  I’ve never pitted my creations against other bakers and it was really fun to do so.  And, in the end, I’m still getting my prize, in a way.  Brian has said that we can head to Vermont next month for my birthday and spend some time at the King Arthur Bakery + Café and Baker’s Store.  I’m really looking forward to it.

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Filed Under: events Tagged With: Adams, baking, contest, fair

« Trying to Make the Most of What’s Left (CSA Menu Plan #34)
My Favorite North County Ice Cream Shop: Rainbow Shack »

Comments

  1. pat says

    August 19, 2015 at 5:13 pm

    Yours look pretty good in the photo! Try again next year!

  2. Veronica says

    August 19, 2015 at 5:14 pm

    That sounds like so much fun! My son enters the 4-H cooking contest every year and won at regionals last year with two recipes. He was so proud!

Trackbacks

  1. Celebrating 31 at King Arthur Flour | Relishments says:
    September 29, 2015 at 8:23 pm

    […] $8 to ship.  And that just seemed silly.   In an attempt to offset this annoyance, I entered the King Arthur Flour baking competition at the Adams Agricultural Fair (spoiler alert: I didn’t win).  But my awesome husband Brian […]

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Emily
Despite the cool temperatures and wet weather, we Despite the cool temperatures and wet weather, we had another fantastic year at @freshgrassfestival. I can never get over how, in addition to all the incredible music, the event features a great venue (@massmoca), delicious food from mostly local vendors, a great local beer tent and bar stocked with @berkshiremtdist and a kid-friendly atmosphere including a @kidspacemm art tent.
Shout-out to some of my favorite acts of the day @ajleebluesummit, @cj_field with @gregcaproni and @theblacklegacyproject.

Looking forward to next year!
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#WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #NorthAdams #NAmazing #FreshGrass #FreshGrassFestival #bluegrass #MassMoCA
I am literally weeks behind in my work life and my I am literally weeks behind in my work life and my blog posts, but I just hit publish on my end of August/beginning of September meal plans! Some blogging progress is better than none! Click the link below or visit my profile to see how we used these 2 CSA pick ups from @mightyfoodfarm.
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https://www.relishments.com/blog/august-slipped-away-csa-meal-plan-153/
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#MightyFoodFarm #EatLocal #EatSeasonal #VermontGrown #CSApickup #CSAshare  #KnowYourFarmerKnowYourFood #MenuPlanning #MealPlanning #igers413 #igers413_food #BerkshireFoodies
It's always a beautiful day at the @coastalmainebo It's always a beautiful day at the @coastalmainebotanicalgardens.
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#Maine #CoastalMaineBotanticalGardens #Boothbay
We made our annual trip to @thebistrobox in Great We made our annual trip to @thebistrobox in Great Barrington today, bringing along our 6 year old for the first time. 
Pictured: onion rings, pressed Cubano, BOX burger, raspberry mint iced tea/ (huge) side of fries, grilled hot dog, strawberry lemonade. Everything was delicious and my daughter especially enjoyed trying out the lawn games.
Until next year!
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#igers413_food
#igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #EatLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #GreatBarrington #TheBistroBox
New on the blog: a list of everything I made for d New on the blog: a list of everything I made for dinner this week. A double @mightyfoodfarm CSA pick up plus hosting my in-laws for dinner resulted in me actually planning quality meals.
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Get the recipe links at https://www.relishments.com/blog/twice-as-good-csa-meal-plan-152/ or click the link in my profile.
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#MightyFoodFarm #EatLocal #EatSeasonal #VermontGrown #CSApickup #CSAshare  #KnowYourFarmerKnowYourFood #MenuPlanning #MealPlanning #igers413 #igers413_food #BerkshireFoodies
I had the opportunity to visit the Bridge of Flowe I had the opportunity to visit the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls this morning. It was as beautiful as I remembered and a great morning for hanging out with some friends.
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#igers413 #ShelbourneFalls #BridgeOfFlowers #WesternMass #WesternMA
Brian and I finally made it to @ the week before w Brian and I finally made it to @ the week before we went on vacation. I loved the atmosphere, decor, location and, of course, the beer. All eight beers we tasted were delicious and I'm looking forward to going back soon. 
More thoughts on the blog at the link in my profile or at https://www.relishments.com/blog/hot-plate-brewing-in-pittsfield/
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#PittsfieldMA #MassachusettsBrewery #igers413_food #igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #DrinkLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires
I made my first ever trip to @seconddropfarm in La I made my first ever trip to @seconddropfarm in Lanesborough this morning to pick blueberries with my daughter. We had a lovely time at the farm, and especially enjoyed the short walk to the lush blueberry bushes, and the beautiful flower and lavender fields. We didn't participate in pick-your-own flowers today, but it's definitely on my radar for the future.
We are looking forward to some muffin baking soon! 🫐
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#igers413_food
#igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #EatLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #LanesboroughMA #SecondDropFarm #PickYourOwnBlueberries
It's good to be home, but we had a great time with It's good to be home, but we had a great time with Brian's side of the family in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina last week.
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#WrightsvilleBeach #NorthCarolina #WilmingtonNC
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