2012 Hy-Vee Cake Designer Challenge

 Twenty-seven Hy-Vee cake decorators from Iowa and Minnesota competed against each other at the Southbridge Mall of Mason City, Iowa February 23, 2012. Each designer chose their own theme and created a table display consisting of cupcakes, cakes, and cookies. Each designer had to decorate a 3-tiered cake, a 1/2 sheet of cake, a 1/4 sheet of cake, a 24 count cupcake cake, as well as 1 dozen 5" sugar cookies using their theme as their inspiration. I chose the theme, "Birds of a Feather" and in the 3 hour time restraint, this is what I created.

Decorating my 1/2 sheet of cake to look like owls in birch trees.

Frosting my 3-tierd wedding cake.

Decorating my flamingo, 5" sugar cookies (1 dozen).

Decorating my 1/4 sheet cake with a peacock feather and the script; 'Birthday Wishes'.

Here is my peacock cupcake cake, made of 24 cupcakes.

With 1/2 hour left and my required designs complete, I decided add to my table display by decorating the extra mini cupcakes to look like owls.

Adding the finishing touches to my table with ten minutes to spare.

Me and my finished display.

After judging, the winners were announced. I had placed 4th out of the 27 designers. I was named the alternate for the finals which will took place in Des Moines, Iowa in of March 2012. 

http://globegazette.com/news/local/cedar-rapids-designer-wins-hy-vee-cake-designer-s-challenge/article_ad3ceae0-5e81-11e1-84ca-0019bb2963f4.html

The competitors