How Do You Judge a Cupcake Contest? (Video)

On Friday, Sept. 16, hundreds of people came to the Orange Fairgrounds to submit their most prized fruits, vegetables, plants, artwork, photographs, baked goods and crafts to the dozens of volunteer workers in the tents and barns for a variety of contests.

One of the new contests this year was the Orange You In the Mood for Cupcakes contest which attracted 13 entries in the last 6 days before the fair.

Baking Contest co-chairmen Jillian Gagel and Shelby Wilson chose six well-known "celebrities" — First Selectman Jim Zeoli, Zoning Board member Judy Smith-Morgan, Judge Richard Arnold, Fire Chief Charlie Gagel, Town Attorney Vin Marino and to my surprise yours truly, Patch Editor Terri Miles — to sample and judge the entries on appearance, consistency and taste.

The process took about 28 minutes with each judge consuming about 2 1/3 cupcakes.

After it was over Wilson had a list of each judge's favorite looking/tasting cupcake and an overall favorite, all of which received ribbons at the fair.