Baked goods sold at auction
CONNOQUENESSING TWP — More than 50 sweet tooth enthusiasts gathered at the Butler Farm Show on Monday night to bid on cakes, cookies and pies at the annual baked goods auction.
Bids went as high as $37.50 for a few loaves of zucchini bread and $42 for a couple dozen cookies, but it was all for good causes. Proceeds go to the 4-H association and to maintain the farm products building, where vegetables, plants and baked goods are displayed each year.
Auctioneer John Huey II took bids for hundreds of baked goods, while several children took turns walking around showing the items to potential bidders.
Nicole Enslen, bidding with friends, had a pile of goodies stacked high with cinnamon buns, muffins, bacon coffee cake and the $42 cookies.
The auction is an event she tries not to miss.
“It's very good and very nice to see the differences in the food,” said Enslen, a longtime Butler resident who is a Switzerland native.
“You guys are going to eat good,” the auctioneer quipped to her. A roar of laughter followed.
Others attended the auction for the first time.
Rosa Lee and her husband Lee Watson of Cabot went to the farm show with their grandchildren. They had been passing by when they saw the auction being set up. They had come to the farm show in the past, but they hadn't been aware of the auction.
“I didn't know they did that. I thought they threw it all away,” she said, holding a first place cherry almond cake she bought for $18.
Her husband, standing beside her, held an iced coffee cake. They hadn't tasted their winnings yet, but were looking forward to it.
Some of the bidders also had entries in the baked goods contest. Longtime neighbors Isabelle Stephens and Bernice Nicklas have participated for many years. They're always curious about how much others will pay for their baked goods.
“We always come to the auction to see how high it goes,” said Stephens of Butler.
Both women made “heavenly” angel food cake. Stephens placed second this year. Last year she received a first place ribbon for the same cake.
The cake is heavenly because of “the way it tastes. It's nice and spongy, no holes,” Stephens said.
Last year, the auction brought in more than $500.
The farm show on Route 68 west of Butler continues through Saturday. Events today include the lamb market show at 6 p.m., a log pulling contest at 6:30 p.m. and a tractor pull at 7 p.m.
The county gospel singing group No Back Road performs at 7 and 9 p.m.
Rides open at 1 p.m.
Daily admission is $8 per person.
