Melissa Spurlock from Blanchard, Oklahoma, in McClain County, recently placed first in the Whole Wheat Bread Category of the Senior Division at the State “Best of Wheat” Bread Baking contest held at the Oklahoma State Fair. Her entry of Whole Wheat Bread topped the class and won her the title of Grand Champion for the Senior Division.
Dixie Evans from Medford, Oklahoma, in Grant County, placed first in the White Bread Category of the Junior Division. Her entry of White Bread topped the class also winning her the title of Grand Champion for the Junior Division with his entry.
The contest is an annual event sponsored by the Oklahoma Wheat Commission and State Fair of Oklahoma. “We had 127 entries from 44 counties this year, all champion or reserve champion winners in the county contests,” said David Gammill, Chairman of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission. “We had great attendance and always enjoy the opportunity to award the top bread bakers in the state.”
The contest consists of 12 classes, six in the senior division and six in the junior division. Senior division classes include white bread, whole wheat bread, dinner rolls, other wheat breads, sweet breads and bread machine. Junior division classes include white bread, dinner rolls, other wheat breads, sweet breads, specialty shape breads and bread machine.
State Champions in the Senior division include: Jaymi Thompson, Noble County, white bread; Melissa Spurlock, McClain County, whole wheat breads; Phyllis Hill, Choctaw County, dinner rolls; Tawny Keith, Beckham County, other wheat breads; Nancy Barth, Harper County, sweet breads and Melody Thorn, Woodward County, bread machine.
State Champions in the Junior division include: Dixie Evans, Grant County, white bread; Tayley Robedeaux, Noble County, dinner rolls; Jacob Merkle, Rogers County, other wheat breads; Sarah Walker, Payne County, sweet breads; Colton Tripp, Kay County, specialty shape breads and Korben Gossen, Washita County, bread machine.
The Oklahoma Wheat Commission promotes greater utilization of wheat in both domestic and international markets through research, market development and public education. Five wheat producers representing designated districts across the state serve as the Oklahoma Wheat Commission’s board of directors. Current officers are David Gammill, chairman, Chattanooga; Don Schieber, vice-chairman, Ponca City; Kenneth Failes, secretary-treasurer, Cherokee; Tom Stephens, member, Guymon and Michael Peters, member, Okarche.
