Competitors test their baking skills

Friday, August 16, 2002
Peggy Fitzke of Imperial slices a rolled cinnamon bread for judges. Fitzke and Becky Bernard, also of Imperial, coordinated the contest.

IMPERIAL -- The senior center in Imperial smelled like Grandma's kitchen, as bakers entered and judges tasted the competition in the whole wheat bread baking contest at the Chase County fair.

Each entry could win up to 40 points, 10 each for taste, texture, smell and appearance.

Judge Christy Boggs of Imperial tasted a braided loaf, "Man, can I take this loaf home?" She was looking for a loaf with good taste and texture. "Some are more doughy. The texture's good on this one."

Christy Boggs of Imperial licks the gooey caramel from her fingers after judging cinnamon rolls in a whole wheat bread baking contest at the Chase County fair.

Boggs said she could tell one entry was slightly burned. "A good, wheat smell is appealing to me," she said.

Boggs and fellow judges Jill Moline, Dirk Hill and Sid Bartels sampled 13 entries, in "Scratch" and "Machine-Made" categories. The winners in each division were mother and daughter, Lou Hegwood and Lynn Meyer, both of Imperial. Each wins $100 for first place.

Other winners were:

Scratch

1. Lynn Meyer, German coffee cake; 2. Lou Hegwood, whole wheat bread; 3. Arleene Kunneman, Imperial, cracked wheat bread; 4. Lynn Meyer, cinnamon rolls.

Machine-Made

1. Lou Hegwood, whole wheat bread.

The baking contest was sponsored by Strand Farms, in memory of Henry Strand, and Sargent Irrigation.

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