WEST MEAD TOWNSHIP — “They are really yummy!” said a wide-eyed Breanna Barnhart, a half-eaten cupcake in her hand.

She wasn’t the only one digging into the goodies during what is accurately described as the sweetest day of the Crawford County Fair — Saturday’s baked goods auction.

An eager, standing-room-only crowd of more than 100 packed into Exhibit Building One well before the 5:30 p.m. start of bidding.

Upturned faces ranging from babies to great-grandmas greeted auctioneers Dan Trace and Bill Green as they took up their positions at the front of the crowd. A table groaning under piles of Crawford County’s best baked goods, including a plate of brown and white fudge and red apple-shaped cookies, stood to their right.

Green belted out the auctioneer’s staccato as Trace let loose with a sharp “hup!” every time a hand flashed among the crowd. First place bread and cookies. “Hup!” $5. First place fudge and cookies. “Hup!” $6. The brown and white fudge and red apple-shaped cookies. “Hup!” $6.

Crinkling noises start coming from the audience as winning bidders are delivered their goods and they begin sampling.

Trace gives himself a “hup!” as he buys a lot of cupcakes and hands them to Breanna and her friends. “These girls look hungry!” he announces.

The excitement builds as Trace and Green unveil a German chocolate cake on a glass dish. Not only did it win first place in its class, it is also the best in show overall. Bidding comes fast and furious, then just fast and then slows.

“Hup!” $50. The best of the best will be enjoyed at an upcoming birthday celebration, says its new owner, Doug Gordon.

On to the next lot and the next and the next. Before the night is over nearly 300 baked good entries will be purchased, and it’s a safe bet that not many lasted long enough to see the light of this morning.

All the proceeds from the auction provide supplies for the operation of the baked goods and other home economics displays, explained baked goods Chairperson Jeanne Hills.

Earlier Saturday, Hills, who has led the department since 1989, and Assistant Chairperson RoseAnn Gordon were choreographing 31 volunteers as they accepted, sorted and judged the entries. The process has to run like clockwork because the entries, many of them literally hot from the oven, arrive between 3 and 8 p.m. Friday and 8 and 11 a.m. Saturday.

Fortunately, they have cultivated a cadre of dedicated volunteers. In many cases it is a family affair. For example, three generations of Hills were doing their part. Jeanne’s husband, Alden, who is a Vernon Township supervisor, her son, Bruce, and three grand-daughters were hard at work.

Others bring special expertise, like Joan Lindenmoyer, a retired PENNCREST School District home economics teacher who has served as a baked goods judge for close to 50 years.

She explained that winning entries are far more than what meets the tongue.