FARM SHOW: Potter County was well-represented at the 101st Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, with several residents placing in competitions.

It’s no surprise that a couple of Potter County in the maple syrup competition.

Best of Show winner Larry Hamilton of Ulysses, as well as Glenn Dunn II of Coudersport, each won several awards. These include first place awards for Larry in the categories of Grade A golden syrup in glass, maple cream and gift packs with at least three maple products; and for Dunn in the categories of ½ gallon of syrup in plastic and Grade A dark syrup in glass.

The Potter Tioga Maple Producers took fourth place for their maple exhibit.

In the family living competition of the show, Lauren Fair of Coudersport earned Best of Show in the youth crafts category, and Rebekah Fair of Coudersport earned Best of Show for 4-H crafts.

Lauren and Rebekah received other honors, along with fellow Potter County residents Sarah Fair of Coudersport, Sheri Greene of Roulette, Ayden Reese of Coudersport, Alyssa Reese of Coudersport and Anna Fair of Coudersport.

Among their award-winning crafts were peanut butter, stuffed figures of animals, holiday ornaments, a babysitter’s tool kit, crocheting, knitting, puppets and other art and craft projects.

THUMBPRINTS: Ok, we like any recipe that allows us to showcase our homemade strawberry jam…

This is the winning recipe from the Farm Show’s thumbprint cookie contest by winner Catherine Ache of Bethlehem, Northampton County.

Thumbprint cookies

Yield: two dozen

Ingredients

1 cup butter, room temperature

½ cup sugar

2 eggs, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

2 cups flour

1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

¾ cup of favorite jam

She suggests using parchment paper to bake the cookies, too.

“Thumbprint cookies are made by pressing an indent in the center of the cookie with your thumb and filling with jam or preserves,” according to the Farm Show media representatives.

There’s no recommendation for what temperature or for how long the cookies should be baked, but here’s what we’d suggest: preheat the oven to 350 degrees, then combine the ingredients except the jam and nuts.

Follow the above instructions for filling with jam, then roll the cookies in the chopped nuts and bake them. Check your first pan of cookies after 10 minutes, but they may need more like 12 to 15 minutes to bake.