4 competitors rise to the top in Westmoreland Fair's specialty baking contests

Four competitors at the 2024 Westmoreland Fair had the right ingredients to take home top honors in specialty baking contests.

Shelia Suhan’s warm apple crumble pie with raisin sauce led the field of 25 entries in the Blue Ribbon Apple Pie Contest. The judges found that the apples in the scrumptious pastry were cooked to perfection.

The Scottdale resident took home a $100 cash prize sponsored by the Hayes family in remembrance of their mother.

Teen exhibitor Summer Pavlik of Latrobe impressed with her entry in the Incredible Angel Food Cake Contest. The judges commented on the texture and height of her cake.

Her $100 award was sponsored locally by the Hilltop Farm and Apiary.

A combination of chocolate and peanut butter was the winning combination for the Homemade Chocolate Cake entered by Tiffany McKlveen of Ligonier. She also received $100 for her rich cake featuring peanut cream and buttercream filling and icing.

The PA Preferred Junior Bar, Brownie or Cookie competition is designed for the youth bakers of Pennsylvania. The young entrants are challenged to use Pennsylvania agricultural products to create an award-winning bakery product.

This year’s winner was Benjamin LaFoose of Latrobe with his Strawberry and Cream Cookies. He used all-purpose flour from the Saint Vincent Gristmill in Unity and Hillandale Eggs to make his sweet treats.

The fair’s specialty baking categories drew nearly 10,000 entries. The winners are eligible to recreate their baked goods to vie for additional prizes at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, slated for January in Harrisburg.