Chapman sweeps contest with first of firsts
Sharry Chapman, who has competed in the pie and cake auction at the Coshocton County Fair for many years, accomplished a rare feat and a first of a new kind at this year’s fair by placing first in each pie category and taking first place in the specialty cake category. She is pictured with her brother Terry Thomas and her best of show peach pie. Thomas had the winning bid of $90 and has supported the auction for many years. The auction was held on Monday evening, Sept. 30 at the fair with Greg Rice auctioneering.
COSHOCTON – Sharry Chapman placed first in each pie category and the specialty cake category at this year’s Coshocton County Fair. The specialty cake was a three layer chocolate cake and bakers had to follow the recipe as published in the 2019 Premium Fair Magazine. Chapman also won the best of show prize with her peach pie, which was bought by Terry Thomas for $90 at the pie and candy auction held on Monday evening, Sept. 30 at the Rotary Pavilion with Greg Rice auctioneering.
Pie flavors were: peach, pecan, black raspberry, pumpkin, apple, sour cherry and apple crumb topping.
Chapman said, “I’ve been doing this now for 40 to 45 years and I met Michelle (Carpenter) probably 20 years ago and then Pam (McMorrow) came in around then too – we’ve been friends throughout, we share ideas, we share recipes, and we learn from each other.”
Chapman said her favorite, “Is the peach, I make more of those. My brother Terry loves peach pie. He likes it with everything and has been an amazing supporter for me for many, many years. The berry pies are a little more difficult because you never know if you are going to get a runny one or it will set up nice – it depends on the juice of the berries. That is the hardest one for me because I never know. It’s kind of like a pig in a poke.”
Chapman said she learned to bake from her mother, grandmother and her aunts. “My grandmother was a great baker. Back when I was young, that’s what people did. They didn’t go to the store and buy it. So I learned from then and was baking bread when I was 5 years old. Mom would let me – mainly – play in the flour; I don’t think I actually baked bread.
Chapman talked about what it means to her to have people come out and support the cake and pie auction, “It’s wonderful. It shows that the community pulls together, they come out and they support us. I think it’s wonderful. We do it for the fun of it mainly. And we’ve met some nice people – like the three of us – we look forward to it every year. It’s not about the winning or the money; it’s the friendships that you make. We had some new bakers this year and that’s wonderful. I had one come up to me today and ask for some pointers and I love to share that.”
Category: People & Places
