“Do I hear 70, 75? … Sold at $70 to buyer No. 19.”

Sounds of an auction filled the air at the Farm Bureau Livestock Pavilion in Kildee Hall late Thursday afternoon as Block & Bridle, an ISU animal-science club, hosted its third-annual cake auction.

About 100 people were in attendance.

“The cake auction was organized three years ago in order to give out scholarships to incoming freshmen,” said Tim Keegan, chairman of the event. “Last year, enough money was raised to give out three scholarships to freshmen in the College of Agriculture, each amounting to $500 apiece.”

Organizers said the cake auction was a success, raising close to $3,255 this year. The 27 cakes were baked by clubs that make up the ISU Agricultural Student Council, as well as animal science faculty, staff and students, said Keegan, sophomore in animal science.

“Agricultural businesses from around central Iowa come to buy the cakes, along with different students and clubs,” he said. “The cakes ranged from a five-piece totally edible train cake to a cake shaped like a Berkshire hog, and everything in between.”

The highest bid for a cake was $400 from Daiichi Fine Chemicals, headquartered in Lincolnshire, Ill. The cake, named “Berkey the Hog,” was baked by Helen Kepler, secretary for the animal science teaching office.

“In terms of why in part we bought the cake … we believe there is a role we have to play to support the future of the livestock industry,” said Dan Bear, central region manager for Daiichi Fine Chemicals. “One of those ways is to support organizations such as Block & Bridle. It’s those activities that are the future of agriculture, and we think it is important that we support those activities.”

Other top supporters included American Protein Corporation, Optimum Quality Grains, Inc., Pharmacia and Upjohn, Zeneca, the Meat Science Club and Pfizer.

Block & Bridle gave out five awards to the cakes entered in the auction:

* Best Faculty and Staff — Helen Kepler with “Berkey the Hog.”

* Best Student — Melanie Hjelm, junior in agricultural education, and Kendra Nelson, sophomore in agronomy, with “Nelson-Hjelm Show Stock.”

* Best Club — The Dairy Science Club with the “Old Red Barn.”

* Most Creative — Horticulture Club with “Digging in the Dirt.”

* Best Name Given — Agronomy Club with “Non-GMO Corn.”

Other original cakes ranged from “This Boot was Made for Eatin'” to the “Crown Royal Cake.”