Pictured, from the left, are youth baking winners Graysen Young, Karly Holtkamp, William Johnson,
Marley Young and Julianna Meddings. (EXAMINER PHOTO | MANDY LOEHR)
Staying up until 4 a.m. Wednesday morning, July 10, to finish prepping their youth baking entries for the Logan County Fair was a welcome and fun occasion for the Young family of West Liberty.
Getting to spend this dedicated time together was even more meaningful for the three sisters, their mother and grandmother after oldest daughter, Marley, has overcome some tremendous health difficulties this year.
The 16-year-old Calvary Christian School student spent nearly 50 days in three separate hospital admissions at Nationwide Children’s Hospital earlier this year following complications with gallstones that went awry and caused much more serious issues, leading to both of Marley’s lungs collapsing, diabetes and other compounding problems.
Her mother, Kristy, said during certain points of their time at the Columbus hospital, her daughter was in critical condition.
“We almost lost her; it was very scary,” she said. “They were very close to putting her on a vent.”
Now Marley is enjoying being back at home, and this summer, she has lots of school work to catch up on that she missed.
Her mother said spending time baking together was “good therapy” for the CCS student, enabling her to gain strength back and also brightening her spirits with this favorite hobby.
A veteran youth baking exhibitor, Marley fared well again in this year’s contest, pulling in a best of show candy award for her buckeyes, and a reserve best of show rosette for her chocolate cake, decorated with tulips on top created with the back of a spoon.
Her sister, Graysen, 5, who will be a kindergartner at CCS this fall, also garnered reserve best of show in cookies for her no bake cookies that included marshmallows and Rice Krispies. She made a decorated cake as well featuring Disney princesses.
Middle sister Raina, 10, also enjoyed trying the new category of tie-dyed sugar cookies, for which she earned first place. She also received first place in decorated cakes.
The girls enjoy baking alongside their grandmother, Shirley Haymes, who attended the contest with them as well.
Incoming Bellefontaine Middle School sixth-grader William Johnson won the best of show award in cakes for his yellow cake with chocolate icing. The 11-year-old had lots of entries he wanted to try, and baked with his grandmother, Karla Johnson.
“We baked our three cakes for the contest last week and then froze them,” she said. “Then this week, we pulled them out and decorated them.”
Fellow incoming BMS student Karly Holtkamp, 11, received the best of show in cookies for her peanut butter chip entries.
In candies, Julianna Meddings received reserve best of show for her fudge.
Wednesday’s open class pie contest featured perennial winners as well, with Karen Wisse sweeping both of the reserve best of show awards. Her peanut butter pie featuring an Oreo crust and Reese’s cups throughout and topping the pie garnered the single crust award. Her Dutch apple pie made with Granny Smith apples received the double crust award.
The Bellefontaine resident said she has participated in baking contests at the fair ever since she was part of the youth baking contest. Similarly, best of show double crust winner Barb McKeen of West Liberty said she first entered as a 20-year-old, “who only knew how to make raspberry pie.”
Now 25 years later, McKeen said she has a “few more pies” under her belt.
“That raspberry pie received first place a few years later. It was tough competition, with 20 or 30 pies entered per class.”
McKeen’s peach pie won the double crust contest. In the single crust category, a butterscotch pie made by Rebekah Smithers captured the top award.
Results from the open class home products contest includes:
Adult Single Crust Pies — Lemon pie: Mary Smith, first; Sidney Larson, second; Butterscotch: Rebekah Smithers, first; Barb McKeen, second; Peanut butter: Karen Wisse, first; Bonnie Staley, second Key lime: Anita Green, first; Mississippi mud pie: Karen Wisse, first; Chocolate pecan: Mary Smith, first; Esther Tyler, second.
Grand Champion — Butterscotch pie, Rebekah Smithers; Reserve Champion, Peanut butter pie, Karen Wisse.
Adult Two Crust Pies – Dutch apple: Karen Wisse, first; Barb McKeen, second; Raspberry: Anita Green, first; Kensley Lacher, second; Strawberry rhubarb: Mary Smith, first; Anita Green, second; Pineapple: Mary Smith, first; Anita Green, second; Peach: Barb McKeen, first; Ann Wildermuth, second.
Grand Champion — Barb McKeen, Peach; Reserve Champion — Karen Wisse, Dutch Apple.
Youth show
Cakes – Chocolate: Marley Young, first; Karly Holtkamp, second; William Johnson, third; Yellow cake:
William Johnson, first; Karly Holtkamp, second; William Holtkamp, third; Confetti cake: Karly Holtkamp, first; Sawyer Elliot, second; William Johnson, third; Cake pop: Marley Young, first; Karly Holtkamp, second.
Grand champion —William Johnson, yellow cake; Marley Young, reserve champion — Marley Young, chocolate.
Cookies – No bake: Graysen Young, first; Julianna Meddings, second; Raina Young, third; Peanut butter chip: Karly Holtkamp, first; Gia Kuba, second; Raina Young, third; Peanut butter blossoms: Karly Holtkamp, first; Marley Young, second; Claire Tidwell, third; Tie dye sugar: Raina Young, first;
Grand champion — Karly Holtkamp, peanut butter chip; Reserve champion — Graysen Young, no bake cookies.
Candy – Fudge: Julianna Meddings, first; Gia Kuba, second; Raina Young, third; Buckeyes: Marley Young, first; Julianna Meddings, second; Layla Stone, third.
Grand champion — Marley Young, buckeyes; Reserve champion: Julianna Meddings, fudge.
Decorated cakes 4-6: Lincoln Stone, first; William Holtkamp, second; Grayson Young, third.
Decorated cakes 7-10: Raina Young, first; Ryder Filio, second; Sawyer Elliott, third.
Decorated cakes 11-17: Marley Young, first; Karly Holtkamp, second; Hazel Rutan, third; Layla Stone, fourth; Iris Mister, fifth.