Winning a Third Place ribbon in the 2008 N.C. State Fair for his Chocolate Pound Cake left Cleveland resident Dan West beside himself with excitment.

"To be recognized with a ribbon at the N.C. State Fair last year was incredibly exciting," West says. This year he has baked one of the top cakes in the state once again.

West, an employee of NBC17, has won a Third Place Premium (white ribbon) in the 2009 N.C. State Fair with his Plain Pound Cake.

"Receiving recognition this year is even more of a suprise than last year," says West. This year the N.C. State Fair Culinary Premium competitions have seen entries skyrocket. Officials say there were 417 more entries overall in the "Breads, Cakes, and Cookies" category this year, than the year before.

According to West, that alone makes being recognized with a ribbon this year all the more speical. "When you turn your cake in for the competition ... there are just cakes everywhere. So when the fair opens, and you see a ribbon tied to it ... well, it's quite a thrill."

Despite his success, the Cleveland resident and Dunn native is quick to point out he doesn't deserve all the credit for his baking skills and awards.

"I couldn't do it without my mom."

Helen Norris of Dunn, N.C. taught West everything he knows about baking Pound Cakes.

"We're a team. It's like, she's the coach, and I'm just the quarterback. Although she and I compete against each other, we go into the N.C. State Fair competition working together to make the best cakes we can," he says.

With their success, West says he and Norris will keep working hard to make their cakes even better.

"My neighbors and co-workers sure do enjoy it when I bake 'practice' cakes and use them as judges," he said.