Iowa State Fair paying over $1K for the top cinnamon roll

• Winners are judged on taste, appearance and creativity.

Catch up fast: This is a new cinnamon roll contest, similar to some that were corporately sponsored about a decade ago.

• The fair's traditional "yeast roll" entries are still in play this year.

What's happening: Jamie Buelt, owner of the local "en Q Strategies" marketing agency, put up $2K of her own cash to incentivize competition.

• She's doing it "in support of Chuck Offenburger and his travels across Iowa looking for the perfect cinnamon roll."

State of play: Offenburger is a former Des Moines Register columnist who was the state's "self-appointed czar of cinnamon rolls" in the '80s.

• He's among five judges at this year's contest, which includes two former state fair food contest winners, a retired culinary scientist and Alex Carter, owner of Black Cat Ice Cream.

Of note: Buelt is ineligible to compete in the cinnamon rolls contest.

• And, sorry: Entry deadlines for most food contests, including this one, were last month.