Fulmer proves to be ‘Ace of Cakes’

VILONIA — Kim Fulmer of Vilonia has an alias — she’s the “Ace of Cakes.” 

Fulmer earned the overall winner title Saturday for a made-from-scratch Devil’s Food Cake topped with chocolate icing and chocolate covered strawberries at the Cakes for a Cause Benefit and Bake-Off held in the Vilonia High School Cafeteria. On the modest side, Fulmer referred her win as “beginner’s luck,” especially since it was her first time to bake the cake. She joked with those inquiring about the recipe, however, that it is a family favorite and that she bakes it all the time. 

“Well, I’m just telling everyone it’s an old family favorite. I’m sure it was someone’s family favorite,” Fulmer said, smiling. “No, I can’t really say much about it. I just adapted a recipe. It’s just crazy, and I just lucked out. This was just pure beginner’s luck.”

The fundraising event was sponsored by the Vilonia cheerleaders and the high school volleyball players. Proceeds were to benefit Vilonia student Angela Payne and Jerry Roberts, a member of the Vilonia School District Board of Education. Both have been battling life-threatening illnesses for some time. Both were also in attendance for the event.

While there was no entry fee for the bakers, adults attending were charged $10 which including sampling. Also, a silent auction was held with donated items and services from the community.  

The cheerleaders decided on the project following a summer camp where a service project was encouraged, according to Judy Cox, cheerleading sponsor. 

“We thought it would be great to serve someone in our community,” Cox said. “Angela (Payne) is one of our students, and she’s an athlete. She’s a volleyball player. Jerry (Roberts) attends every school event. There is not a bigger school supporter in this community.”

Professional, amateur, semipro and made-from-scratch bakers all joined in the mix to help out with the event. The majority of the professional bakers were representative of Hendrix College in Conway, Cox said. A majority of the amateur bakers were students from Vilonia High School. There were at least 50 cakes including sheet cakes, Bundt cakes and designer cakes featuring a variety of themes including Elmo, the Razorbacks, a circus, a Bible, Barbie, a golf cart and a soccer ball. The flavors were just as varied including chocolate, lemon, strawberry, banana, peanut butter, carrot, Italian crème cake and three-milks. 

Modestly speaking, Fulmer said she didn’t enter with thoughts of winning but instead because she is friends with both the Payne family and the Roberts family. 

“I didn’t enter to win it,” she said. 

It seemed several others entered because of a family or friendship connection. Ada Sanderson, Payne’s great aunt, entered her angel food cake. 

“I chose angel food because I thought Angela and angel went together,” Sanderson said. “Angela is just such a sweetie.”

A retired school teacher, Sanderson made the trip from Greenwood to participate. Payne’s grandmother, Alice Day, also entered the competition.

“I think this is just an awesome thing for a school to support,” Sanderson said. 

Winners from the professional category were Kelly Hepner, first place; Gail Truhe, second place; and Ina McGrail, third place. Semi-professional winners were Teri Oliger, first place; Delila Reed, second place and Karla Ault, third place. Amateur winners were Daniele Bolden, first place; McKenzie Gray, second place; and Hannah Fulmer, third place. Made-from-scratch winners were Nancy Oliver, first place; Alice Day, second place; and Ada Sanderson, third place. 

Judges were Woody Powell, a professional chef at Pulaski Technical College; Suzanne Campbell, a professional chef and also an instructor for Pulaski Technical College; and Kelly Brant, Arkansas Democrat Gazette food editor.