Food: Decorated Cakes

Top Cake Decorators Claim State Fair Awards

Top professional and amateur cake decorators vied for top honors in the Decorated Cakes competition judged Monday, August 5, prior to the start of the 2024 Iowa State Fair.

Entries were judged on execution, appearance and neatness, difficulty, originality and edible decorations.

Additional results follow:

Professional - Sculpted Cake

1) Brandy Gosselin, Pleasant Hill

2) Linda Schneider, Madrid

3) Ashlynn Cakerice Hy-Vee, Ames

Professional - Single Cake

1) Janae Lansink Hy-Vee, Nevada

2) Alisa Woods, Des Moines

3) Elizabeth Watnem, Ford Dodge

Professional – Tiered

1) Madison Dicus, Altoona

2) Jessica Carhill, Madrid

3) Eva Handy, Des Moines

Professional - Cookies, Cupcakes, Petit Fours, Cake Balls

1) Brandy Gosselin, Pleasant Hill

2) Elizabeth Watnem, Fort Dodge

3) Katie Storr, Ankeny

Professional - Sugar Artistry

1) Nicole Funke, Pleasant Hill

2) Alisa Woods, Des Moines

3) Elizabeth Watnem, Fort Dodge

Professional - Wedding Cakes (traditional, modern or alternative)

1) Cassy Benedict, Ankeny

2) Madelyn Colby, Indianola

3) Earlham Baking Co. Shelley Gittins, Earlham

Adult Open - Sculpted Cake

1) Katie Guisinger, Stuart

2) Brooke Mickelson, Clive

3) Lynn Kumagai, West Des Moines

Adult Open - Single Cake

1) Katie Guisinger, Stuart

2) Karen Hardisty, Waukee

3) Brooke Mickelson, Clive

Adult Open - Tiered

1) Katie Guisinger, Stuart

2) Milly Ortiz, Clive

3) Tanya Jackson, Scranton

Adult Open - Cookies, Cupcakes, Petit Fours, Cake Balls

1) Katie Guisinger, Stuart

2) Lauren Probst, Windsor Heights

3) Brooke Mickelson, Clive

Adult Open - Sugar Artistry

1) Brenda Klyn, Pella

2) Katie Guisinger, Stuart

3) Kristin Becker, Greene

Adult Open - Wedding Cakes (traditional, modern or alternative)

1) Katie Guisinger, Stuart

2) Monica Walz, Marion

3) Kristin Becker, Greene

Sweepstakes – Katie Guisinger, Stuart

Reserve Sweepstakes - Brandy Gosselin, Pleasant Hill

The Iowa State Fair Food Department is the largest of any state fair in the country. There are 140 divisions, 726 classes and over 6,400 entries at this year’s Fair. Food Department judging is held in the Elwell Family Food Center.