John Milton, who was blind, concluded his poem “When I Consider How My Light Is Spent” with this memorable phrase: “They also serve who only stand and wait.”

I thought of this the first day of the Kiwanis Coweta County Fair when I, along with a courageous few, attempted to judge the Coweta County baked goods competition. I guess the line could be amended to proclaim, “They also serve who only stand and eat.”

Several years ago, Stephanie, our newly minted Coweta Extension agent, corralled a few of us into the Exhibit Hall of the Fairgrounds. She opened the double doors revealing four lunch tables laden with 50 baked goods submissions. Fifty. Fifty. Our job was simple: Taste 50 and pick a slate of victors — winner, place and show.

I had never seen so many gorgeous baked goods in my life:

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