Hi everyone! I'm entering our county fair in August, and was wondering if anyone had any advice as to what types of cake the judges at fairs look for. I'm entering the wedding, birthday, and baby shower categories. The wedding and birthday, I know what cakes I'm doing, but I'm stumped on the baby shower cake. I was something girly. A good friend thinks I should do a tiered cake that looks like it fell on the stork like in the galleries, and I love the idea of it, but I'm wondering if this is too non traditional for a fair entry. The birthday cake will be a 3D/sculpted cake, and the wedding cake will be contemporary. Should I go more traditional with the shower cake, or do something fun and different which os more my style?
Jen,
I have not done any fair competitions, but have done a few cake competitions organized by cake clubs. I always look at them as an opportunity to do whatever you can imagine, but what a customer would never pay for! I can't wait to see what you come up with! Good luck!
Are the cakes being judged soley on the decorating? I would go all out. The judges are typically going to be experts and/or professionals. They know what they are looking for and they know what took time and effort.
Of course I am going on my experience with our local county fair, having worked in the home arts department for the last several years. We hire judges from all over the state to judge all of the different categories of entries, and the baked goods judges are typically professional bakers and bakery owners.
I'm entering my first Fair competition this year also....... Mine will be in the Best Decorated, and I found out today you can use cake dummies instead of real cake..... I want to do a mechanical carousel in the center, so I think it will be MUCH easier with a dummy.....
This is a first for me too - I'm going to enter our fair as well. I didn't even realize they had this type of thing at our fair - shows you how much I was paying attention. Last year when we went, there were only two cakes entered. So, I thought, hey, I could do something for it next year.
I found the information about entries on the website for our fair grounds. I wish they had more categories, but they just have decorated cakes and fondant, that's all they offer. And ours have to be true cakes, as they will be sampling them, even though they are really judging on the decorations. Weird!
Good luck to everyone!!
I have entered a few, but I live in an area that has a small county fair and the judges, judge all the food items. They are not professionals in cake decorating. So I think it will depend on the fair as to how much the judges will actually know. If your fair only had a couple of cakes last year you can probably do most anything, but if your fair has a large selection you may want to do something different than what you saw last year. County Fairs tend to have different judges from year to year, maybe a mix of old and new ones.
Good Luck with your entry.
Good luck to all of you. This is my first year in the county fair. Actually my first competition ever. I decided to only enter the wedding category because I have never done a wedding cake and thought it would be a good time to try. I finished it this past weekend (it's in my photos). My fair starts on the 23rd so I'll let you know how I do.
I want to know how you all do in yours also.
I have only entered one competition, and it was a cake club contest, not a fair. I anticipated that what would get me noticed and win would be some technique or thing they hadn't seen before. I decided to recreate a painting and sculpture on the SIDE of a cake (my "Best of Show" cake in my gallery)... I guess I was right.
I would try to come up with something that makes them think twice about your cake. Not "Oh, how pretty"... but "How did she DO that?!?!"
Good luck! 
If they use 'professional decorating judges' they are extremely picky about the details. The board must be 2" larger than the base of the cake. It must be covered perfectly, no smears or dust over-blow.
I saw a beautiful gumpaste rose decoration with a criticism that one of the leaves was back side out, and not veined.
If what every you try isn't perfect, take time to do it over, if you can.
I would call and find out from someone on the fair board.
I was on the phone all day yesterday trying to find out about ours. The cakes have to be scratch, whole cake..duh!, and they will be eaten. I don't feel like I need to do anything with fondant, since it's not the best tasting thing. Also, it can't have any non edible items on it. After all that information, I think my judges will be looking for taste not decoration. Throws a wrench in my whole plan!!
Good Luck to you!! 
I am planning on entering in our county fair in the "Death By Chocolate" category. I am working on my recipe. Something like my grandma's chocolate mayonaise cake with chocolate ganache and mocha buttercream. Our fair is the first part of September so I have some time to work on it. I have always said I was going to enter cakes but never do, but this year I am going to make it happen.
I too am entering a few local fairs this yr, first time. Make sure you call and ask questions. I know my cakes have to be scratch and can NOT be dummies. They are judged on looks, taste, flavor combos! And has to have a recipe card with it! Good Luck to everyone.
I'm entering the county fair for the first time too! Ours is the 3rd week of august and I believe they can be dummies. I'm planning on entering the wedding and kids birthday categories... if I have time I may do a baby shower cake as well.
Jen1977~ what fair are you entering? I see you're in OH too! Mine's the Portage County (Randolph) Fair.
~Erica
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