In Partnership with Becker County Fair
In 2023, Project 412 and the Becker County Fair collaborated to sponsor the first annual food contest open to the community, held during the fair. The contests have been a hit at the Becker County Fair since! Special thanks to Karla Lindquist and Mary Ann Jorgenson for making the contest possible!
Since then, the following food contests have been held during the Becker County Fair:
- 2023 Chocolate Chip Cookie Contest
- 2024 Salsa Contest
- 2025 Sugar Cookie Contest
The Becker County Fair takes place annually during the last week of July. In 2025, the fair was held from July 23rd to 26th.
Judging Criteria
- Decorative Sugar Cookie Category
- Creativity & originality
- Use of a Minnesota theme
- Technique & neatness in decorating
- Taste & texture
- Plain Sugar Cookie Category
- Use of ingredients & flavor combinations
- Taste & aroma
- Ease of preparation
- Overall appeal & crowd pleaser
The Judges: Grandmothers, Bakers, and Teenagers
- Grandmothers: Pat Hochgraber and Roxann Daggett
- Bakers: Jenny Lafaunte and Carissa Markuson
- Teenagers: Brayden Sjoblom and Anna Ullmer
The Winners
Plain Sugar Cookie Category
1st Prize: Carol Okeson, Detroit Lakes, MN
2nd Prize: Barb Schlauderaff, Detroit Lakes, MN
3rd Prize: Cara Bjornlie, Detroit Lakes, MN
Decorative Sugar Cookie Category
1st Prize: Leigh Harper, Ponsford, MN
2nd Prize: Anne Braseth, Lake Park, MN
3rd Prize: Barb Schlauderaff, Detroit Lakes, MN
Prizes (for both categories)
- 1st Prize: $100, champion ribbon, engraved rolling pin, and champion apron
- 2nd Prize: $50, ribbon, and engraved rolling pin
- 3rd Prize: $25, ribbon, and engraved rolling pin
By the numbers:
- 34 sugar cookie entries
- 6 judges
- The Becker County Fair has been a summer tradition for over 130 years.
- The Becker County Fair typically sees an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 fair-goers each year, according to the Detroit Lakes Tribune.
- The four-day Becker County Fair event is known for its family-friendly atmosphere with food vendors, rides, exhibitors, and various attractions.
Fun Facts
Judging was a fun experience! We divided the judges into groups of three, consisting of one grandmother, a baker, and a teenager. Judges consumed many bottles of water while judging and were able to use saltines as their palate cleansers between the sweetness of each entry. Everyone left on a sugar high!
Memorable Stories
Many contestants submitted the cookies for which they have long been known. One grandmother included pictures of her family gathering to make and bake her Christmas sugar cookies for over 50 years.
Another contestant shared she is asked to bring these cookies to every family event, and two mother-daughter duos baked and submitted their own entries.
Secret Ingredients
Secret ingredients: Lemon, almond, and peppermint extract. Sour cream, cream of tartar (secret ingredient to the champion), and sourdough discard.
Want to learn more about the Becker County Fair?
2025 Gallery
