Consecutive contest winner talks competition

Danielle Switalski

Pre-heat your ovens Plains and prepare for some fun and food-filled competition at the upcoming Sanders County Fair. 

Plains resident Jean Pinkly has won the baking competition consecutive years in a row for his homemade pumpkin tea-cake and is gearing up for another round this year.

The award winning tea-cake recipe came out of one the Pinkly’s family church cookbooks.  He used to make the cake when his children were in 4-H school many years ago.  The cake, says Pinkly, is a fairly basic pumpkin bread.  The enjoyment he derives from baking is what causes him to enter into the fair each year.

“It’s a fun thing to do,” said Pinkly.  “I do it not necessarily expecting to win, but I do it because I think everyone in this county should enter something.”

Pinkly is an avid supporter of the various competitions held at the fair, which range from baked goods, to vegetables and flowers.  He feels everyone should enter something no matter what it is because the competitions are what really make the fair special each year.  Entries do not have to be elaborate and can still win awards as Pinkly’s pumpkin cake proves.  And if anything, the entries are a good source of fun at the fair. 

“Our little county needs all the help it can get as far as people getting involved, that’s what makes our fair and it has for years,” said Pinkly.  “I’m pretty strong on it.”

Residents of Sanders County or adjacent Montana counties (Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral and Missoula) are welcome to enter into the fair.