2024 PA Preferred® Junior Baking Contest Cookies, Brownies and Bars
1. Open to any individual amateur baker (ages 8 through 18 at the time of the fair’s contest) who is a Pennsylvania resident. One entry per person.
2. Entrants may NOT have won 1st place in this PA Preferred® Junior Baking contest at any other fair in 2024.
3. Entry must be six (6) individual sized portions of the baked entry item. (cookies, brownies or bars)
4. The cookies, brownies or bars, and any fillings and frostings, must be made from scratch with edible ingredients. No pre-packaged ingredients may be used (ex: pre-made mixes, cookie dough, pie crust, frosting, etc.). Any decorations must be edible.
5. At least two (2) PA Preferred® or locally purchased ingredients must be used in the recipe. Some examples of qualifying ingredients include grains (such as oats or flour), butter, milk, eggs, fruits and/or vegetables.
6. A PA Preferred® logo is not required because not all PA Preferred® products carry the label. The name of the ingredient and the source is sufficient (example - 1/2 cup butter (PA Preferred, Lapp Valley Farm; 4 cups apples (Smith Farm Orchard). Contact RA-AGPAPreferred@pa.gov for any assistance with qualifying ingredients.
7. Entry must be submitted for judging on a food safe disposable setting. (All pans, plates and dishes are considered to be disposable and will not be returned.)
8. Recipe(s) must be submitted with the entry, printed on one side of 8-1/2” x 11” sheets of paper. Recipe must list all ingredients, quantities, and the preparation instructions. The name of each PA Preferred® ingredient or locally purchased ingredient must be clearly listed along with the source that made/grew the product (ex: PA Preferred Milk – Galliker’s brand or Apples - Smith Farm Orchard). Entrant’s name, age, address and phone number must be printed on the back side of all the pages. (All recipes and cookies-brownies-bars will become the property of the fair or PA Farm Show and will not be returned.)
9. Refrigeration is not available at the fair or PA Farm Show. Entries that require refrigeration after baking must indicate so in the recipe. Those entries will not be sold, auctioned or otherwise distributed for consumption after judging for food safety reasons.
10.
Judging criteria:Flavor (aroma, taste, good balance of flavorings) - 30 points
Texture (appropriate for the type of cookie, brownie or bar) - 25 points
Inside Characteristics (even grain, evenly baked; free from air pockets) - 20 points
Outside Characteristics (uniform size, shape, appearance; overall appeal) - 15 points
Creativity - 10 points
TOTAL 100 points
First Place Winner is eligible for the 2025 PA Farm Show competition.
Premiums for the 2025 PA FARM SHOW Competition: 1st $500, 2nd $250, 3rd $100, 4th Rosette, 5th Rosette.
SPONSOR: PA Preferred TM