Clinton County Woman Wins Baking Contest at 2026 PA Farm Show!

  The 2026 PA Farm Show is underway this week at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, and a Clinton County woman has already made Farm Show headlines. Nikki Bechdel of Mackeyville took home a blue ribbon first-place award in the Incredible Angel Food Cake Contest!

     Bechdel, an eight-grade English teacher at Jersey Shore Middle School, won a blue ribbon at this past year’s Clinton County Fair, making her eligible to compete at the state level. Competing Sunday against contestants from across Pennsylvania, Bechdel’s raspberry coconut angel food cake – a recipe handed down from her mother – came out on top.

     “I’m on cloud nine – best day ever,” said an excited Bechdel Sunday night after spending the day at the Farm Show with her family. 

     “Persistence pays off,” she added, explaining that she has been participating in the baking contests at the Clinton County Fair for almost 30 years, starting right after she and her husband Jay got married.

     “I’ve baked angel food cakes, chocolate cakes and apple pies and have won locally at the Fair about 20 times over the years, and always then went on to compete at the Farm Show – mostly with angel food cakes – but had never placed before.

     “I don’t ever even stay to watch the judging,” says Bechdel with a chuckle. “We just drop off my cake entry and then go enjoy other Farm Show activities. My daughter Emily and I were watching a Farm Show cooking demonstration by Ade (Adelaide) Miller (another local resident and current president of the Clinton County Junior Fair Board) when I got the phone call that I had won.”

     Bechdel describes her cake as a simple angel food cake flavored with coconut extract. She drizzles on a raspberry glaze and decorates with fresh red raspberries, then sprinkles coconut flakes on top.

     “I always make two cakes, and the kids (daughter Emily and sons Jason and Thompson) are the ones who pick which cake I use for the competition. The other one, they eat!”

     Bechdel said her mother used to make the angel food cake, but turned that task over to her years ago, saying, “your cake is really good, so you need to be the one making it.”

     She stopped by her mother’s house on the way home from the Farm Show to share the news of her win, saying of her mother, “I think she was just as excited about it as I was.”

     Also on cloud nine is Ruth Toner, who chairs the baking contests at the Clinton County Fair.

     “I’m just so excited that Nikki won – it’s great,” says Toner, who notes that Bechdel’s Farm Show blue ribbon is the first time anyone locally has won a state-wide first-place in at least the past seven years, since she has served as local baking contest chairperson.”

     While the winning entry comes with a blue ribbon and state-wide recognition, it also comes with a $500 monetary prize.

     “I’ve been wanting a pair of cowboy boots, but was having a hard time justifying them,” laughs Bechdel. “But I guess persistence paid off, so I’m thinking I might just treat myself to those boots!”

     The PA Farm Show runs through this Saturday.

     The 53rd Clinton County Fair is scheduled for August 1-8, 2026 at the Fairgrounds in Mackeyville, and there will again be opportunities to participate in baking as well as other contests. Fairgoers can also look forward to entertainment, great food, exhibits and agricultural displays, 4-H animal shows, and more.

     For more information on the Clinton County Fair and other Fair Association-sponsored events, visit www.ClintonCountyFairPA.com.