BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Junior-division participant Ava Lynn Thomas earned the best-overall award in the Bradford County 4-H Very Berry Bake Off, which was held March 3 at the county’s Extension office.
The event, which is held prior to the official opening of the Bradford Agricultural Fair, allows participants to create pies/cakes, cupcakes, cookies, candies/dipped or breads, with the requirement that the item contains strawberries.
Thomas earned first place in the junior division (ages 8-10) with a strawberry pound cake. Judges selected her cake as the top overall entry regardless of age division.
Kierstyn McKenzie earned first place in the intermediate division (ages 11-13) with strawberry cheesecake cookies and strawberry cheesecake-stuffed strawberries. Kaitlyn McKenzie earned first place in the senior division (ages 14-19) with strawberry shortcake and chocolate-covered strawberries that were decorated to look like cows and pigs.
The junior division consisted of two participants in all, with Mattilyn Kerce earning the second-place rosette and a red ribbon for red-velvet cupcakes with strawberries and cherries.
Five besides Kierstyn McKenzie competed in the intermediate division. The second-place rosette went to Hailey Griffis for a vanilla cake with strawberry icing and strawberries on top. Cayman Brown earned the third-place rosette for a strawberry pie.
The division also consisted of Landon Brown (strawberry jam shortbread cookies), Ethan Kerce (strawberry bread with cream cheese) and Natalie Thames (strawberry shortcake).
Kaitlyn McKenzie was the senior division’s only participant.
Ansley Smith and Callie Smith participated as Clover Buds — 4-H members who are 5-7 years old. Their entries weren’t judged, but being allowed to participate as Clover Buds gives them experience that will benefit them in the future when they’re old enough to begin competing in the junior division.
Ansley Smith made strawberry shortcakes, while Callie Smith made strawberry bread.
