To say he was shocked would be an understatement, but when Cleveland resident Dan West saw a third place ribbon beside his entry, he couldn't believe his eyes.

"Out of all the cakes, all the entries, just to place is an honor," said West. "I was so excited I asked one of the fair officials to check and make sure it was mine!"

It was West's cake, placing third and winning a white ribbon in the State Fair Premiums Chocolate Pound Cake category.

West credits his success to his Mom. According to West, friends and family had encouraged his Mom (Helen Norris of Dunn, NC) to enter her pound cake into the fair for decades. Three years ago while visiting the State Fair the two were looking at the entries and both decided to why not give it a shot.

"My Mom taught me how to bake pound cakes. Her cakes are still better than mine in my opinion, but I guess Mom's cooking is always the best."

This is their third try in the State Fair competition. They say the first two attempts were really learning experiences.

"There is just so much competition and learning how to present the cake is a real challenge. You also take the input and critiques from the judges and try to make next year's entry better" West said.

Whether or not West and Norris win ribbons in the future for their culinary baking skills, West says it doesn't really matter.

"We just enjoy the competition, being a part of the N.C. State Fair, and it's something my Mom and I look forward too all year long. It's something she and I can do together, and that kind of quality time with Mom...well, that's worth all the ribbons in the world."