Scouts bake up a frenzy

Heather Hasty

Valley Press

The Plains Cub Scouts tested their baking skills last week and came out on top. The scouts worked hard baking cakes for their annual Feller’s Cake Bake and Blue and Gold Banquet. There were cakes of all shapes and sizes all created without any female assistance. The scouts were allowed to utilize their fathers, brothers and uncles, anyone male, to help with the cake baking process.

Josh Connolly, age 9, sold his cake for $20. Although he said that he enjoyed making the baked good he added that he did not foresee a career as a baker in his future.

Connor Sampson, age 7, won the Best Theme award for his cake. He father, Ted, not only helped create the cake, but also ended up purchasing it. Sampson said that a lot of work went into his cake.

"We had to make the frame, bake it in the oven and frost it," Sampson said, then added after a reminder from his father, "Oh yeah we had to freeze it too."

This is the second year Sampson has participated in the cake bake and said that it was a lot of fun; he added that after taste testing his creation he was very happy with the results.

Don Damschen, Cub Scout leader said that the cake bake saw fewer cakes than usual; nine cakes were submitted this year.

"I would say that [participation] is way down this year," Damschen said, "We have fewer scouts, then only about two thirds of them showed up."

The scouts that did choose to bake up a frenzy this year shared their cakes and ice cream after the awards and auction was finished. The families shared pieces of the award winning cakes and spent part of the evening taste testing.

Sam Rehbein, age 10, just joined the scouts this year. Although the chariot races are his favorite activity so far, he said that he had a good time creating his cake and eating it afterwards.

"My mom and dad helped me," Rehbein said, "We went to the store and bought everything, we got crust mix and green food coloring. It took two days altogether but it was fun."

Rehbein also does not see much more baking in his near future, Ty Cummings, however has quite a bit experience in the kitchen.

Cummings, age 11, has been in Cub Scouts for four years now and said that no one helped him make his cake.

"My dad gave me some ideas on how to do the frosting but I did it all," Cummings said.

He added that he really liked cooking and had about a week of experience before this cake bake. Overall, he really enjoyed the event and wouldn’t mind baking again soon.

The money raised by the event goes back to the Cub Scouts to help fund things like pizza or badges among other things. Damschen said that he really like the idea of combining the cake bake and the Blue and Gold Banquet.

"I really liked the format this year," Damschen said, "It was much more of a social event this time."