Published July 09. 2021 06:15AM
By LOU WHEELAND
Special to The Press
Though the Schnecksville Fair had to be canceled this year due to COVID-19, all six annual competitive baking contests ran during what would have been “fair week.”
Amateur bakers from Lehigh, Carbon and Northampton counties did indeed show up with their specialty pies, cakes, brownies, cupcakes, and cookies June 22, 23 and 24 at the Schnecksville Fire Company pavilion.
Two of the six contests, the PA Preferred Cookie, Brownie and Bar Junior Baking Contest and Youth Cupcake Contest were limited to junior bakers age 8 to 18.
Cash prizes were awarded for the top three judged entries in each competition.
Four of the six winners are eligible to represent the Schnecksville Community Fair in the statewide competition at the PA Farm Show in January 2022, where winners will receive $500 for first prize.
One difference of this year’s event, was the prohibition on visitors being able to sample the entries, once again due to COVID-19 considerations.
Otherwise, it was an excellent event with nearly as many entries as when the Schnecksville Fair is in full swing.
Volunteer judges from the New Tripoli National Bank, Beverly Schantz, Lori Croneberger, and Tim Trach, look over brownies and cookies submitted by junior bakers at the Schnecksville Fair Baking Contest.
PRESS PHOTOS BY LOU WHEELAND Schnecksville Community Fair Board member Kevin Minnich delivers the goods to judges Lori Krnoeberger and Tim Trach.
Winners of the PA Preferred Cookie, Brownie and Bar Junior Baking Contest are Hailey Heleva, 11, second place; Ben Weslosky, 9, first place; and Hazel Heleva, 9, third place. All three young bakers are from Schnecksville.
PRESS PHOTOS BY LOU WHEELAND And the Blue Ribbon Apple Pie Contest winners are: Lorraine Rauch of New Tripoli, second place; Deb Gruber of Slatedale, first place; and Connie Wentz of Lehighton, third place.
Judges Jeff and Janet Mohring, Salisbury, eye up cupcakes for the Youth Cupcake Contest June 24. The Youth Cupcake Contest was sponsored by Houser Auctioneers.
Winners of the Youth Cupcake Contest are Michael Peters, 9, of North Whitehall, second place; Ben Weslosky, 9, of Schnecksville, received by neighbor Madison Stettler, first place; and Wyatt Landis, 17, of North Whitehall, received by girlfriend Brianna Peters.
An insider's view: This chocolate peanut butter cake took third place in the Homemade Chocolate Cake Contest at the Schnecksville Community Fair.
Winners of the Homemade Chocolate Cake Contest are Jayne Wenger of Adamstown, second place; Connie Wentz of Lehighton, first place, and Ali Okoh of Easton, third place.
