Several local bakers made the trip to Harrisburg this weekend to compete in baking competitions at the 2025 Pennsylvania Farm Show.

Mackenzie Ackerman, representing the Crawford County Fair, won 3rd place in the Homemade Chocolate Cake Contest.

She was one of several bakers who made the trip down for that contest, as well as the Angel Food Cake Contest. Erie News Now was able to catch up with a sister baking duo from Erie County and a mom from Warren County.

The Link family, who have competing in the Waterford County Fair for several years, goes all in for baking.

Madison Link, aged 14, entered a caramel chocolate cake for this year’s contest—a recipe she researched and perfected.

“If you don't add enough like baking soda or baking powder, your cake isn't going to rise enough,” Madison said, explaining how good cake really comes down to good science. "So it's going to be very flat and very dense. And if you add too much, it's just going to explode."

Madison came this year with a blue ribbon already under her belt.

“In the 2024 farm show, I won first place with my chocolate peanut butter cake,” Madison said, going on to confirm that yes, that meant she beat the whole state at chocolate cake baking at 13 years old.

Lillian Link, the younger Link sister who is 13 this year, won the best in show prize at the Waterford fair for her blueberry lemon angel food cake.

“It kind of started out as, like, I kind of wanted to win like my sister did,” Lillian said. "And then it kind of went on to I liked making them, and it was fun and I really enjoyed it."

She says the farm show has let her connect with other passionate bakers.

“It allows people to have fun and like, enjoy talking to other people who know what they're talking about and stuff,” Lillian said. “And seeing other cakes and what they use to make their cakes so good.”

 

For Megan Vanord of Warren County, the angel food baking contest was a spur of the moment decision— she wanted to spend more time in the kitchen with her son, and was inspired to bake the cake her aunt often makes.

She has only ever baked two angel food cakes.

“I entered the first one for our fair in August, and I won,” Vanord said with a laugh, “And then I baked the second one for this.”

This was her first time visiting the farm show.

“We are already planning a trip for next year. It's so cool down here. People should definitely come down and experience it,” Vanord said. “When we were coming in we got to see the cows walking to be judged. My kids love animals, so that was great. But really there’s so much down here, there’s definitely something for everyone."

In the midst of a farm show with an abundance of live animals and farm specific attractions— the baking contests connects visitors with what this industry goes to support.

Lastly, for those with a sweet tooth who can make it to the farm show— as contestant or visitor— all cake judging contests result in cakes being sliced and distributed to bystanders.

If you ever want free, home made, state fair worthy cake.