Judging for the ugliest cake contest was standing room only at the Iowa State Fair .

Cakes of all sizes, shapes, colors and textures decorated the sides of the judging room in the Elwell Family Food Center on Friday, Aug. 8. Strollers crowded the aisles as families vied for a seat to watch the drama unfold. Some onlookers even opted to sit on the floor.

A sea of cellphones snagged picture after picture of the not-so-sweet looking treats.

Cakes were presented to a panel of judges one by one. Each cake came with a packet detailing its ingredients — cakes must be edible to be eligible — as well as the inspiration behind the design.

As Amy Doerring, one of the event's sponsors, said in her opening remarks: the contest is really all about the story.

"All the cakes are ugly, but sometimes

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