Wyoming
Scary-Good Wyoming Cake Decorator Is On Food Network’s “Halloween…
A special birthday cake order last year led to an incredible opportunity for Lovell cake designer Shannon Mayes.
Mayes created a cake for a member of Food Network superstar chef Guy Fieri’s crew for the show “Guy’s All-American Road Trip,” and the TV host was so impressed he had producers send her information to Food Network.
Not long after, she earned a spot on “Halloween Wars,” which premieres at 7 p.m. Sunday.
Halloween Wars pits teams of pumpkin carvers, cake bakers and sugar artists to compete against each other and create monster-themed displays for the chance to win $25,000.
The first episode of the new season features four teams in the first of two qualifying rounds of the competition charged with creating a monster from a specific historical period, according to the Food Network. The top three teams will advance.
“Overall, the whole experience was very cool,” Mayes said. “I’m not gonna lie, I almost feel like I have some PTSD from a lot of the things, but I do love the fact that I can say that I did it.”
The opportunity to showcase her talent and Wyoming to a national audience isn’t lost on Mayes.
“It’s not something everybody gets to do,” she said. “It’s an accomplishment for sure, and it’s amazing to have been good enough to be chosen to be on the show.”
Cake As Art
Mayes started designing cakes as a hobby 13 years ago while she was a stay-at-home mom. Interested in art for much of her life, she saw cake decorating as an outlet for her artistic side.
“I thought I’d give it a try, and then I was pretty much obsessed,” she said. “Ever since I tried it, I realized all the different forms of art you can incorporate into cake decorating, like sculpting and painting.”
She made cakes for families and friends, eventually starting SweetArt Cake Co. in 2014 out of her home. Along with her custom cakes, Mayes also offers cupcakes, cookies, French macarons, doughnuts and cake pops.
She was excited when she was contacted last summer to make a cake for one of Fieri’s crew members, who was turning 40 while “Guy’s All-American Road Trip” was filming in Cody.
The two-tier pink and black cake she created for Amber Goerish featured gravity-defying sugar flames between the tiers. It also had a replica of the birthday girl in a referee outfit on top.
“Her nickname is Amber 9-1-1, because she’s always putting out their emergencies on the show,” Mayes said. “She’s also often the referee for when they do competitions on the show.”
Mayes was told they were going to submit her name to Food Network, and just a few weeks later she was contacted about applying to be on a show. She had the option to try for “Halloween Wars” or “Holiday Wars” and chose the former because it’s her favorite holiday.
“We go all-out at our house,” she said. “We have these giant props that we’ve made that are life-size from ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ and make a big deal about it.”
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It’s easy to see what Food Network saw in the cake creations of Lovell, Wyoming’s, Shannon Mayes. (Courtesy Photo) -
Left, Shannon Mayes of Lovell takes a picture with “Halloween Wars” host Jonathan Bennett. Mayes is part of season 14 of the show, which premiers Sunday, Sept. 22. Right, Mayes on the set of “Halloween Wars.” (Courtesy Photo)
Spooky Challenge
Filmed last year from late August to mid-September, there are eight teams on the 14th season of Halloween Wars. In each challenge the teams must capture the essence of iconic and classic Halloween monsters with mouthwatering treats made to impress returning judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira.
“We all have to come together and decide what’s going to be made out of pumpkin, what’s going to be made out of cake and what’s going to be made out of sugar,” Mayes said. “We’re trying to make a cohesive-looking piece with all our different mediums.”
Mayes has done some cake competitions in the past, including the San Diego Cake Show in 2017, where she finished second. However, “Halloween Wars” is on a whole different level.
“It was very stressful,” Mayes said. “I mean, I knew it would be a whole other thing that I’ve never experienced, but it was even more so than I could have imagined.”
Here, You’re On This Team
The biggest challenge was being thrown on a team with people she’d never met before.
Mayes was part of the Delectable Demons along with former “Halloween Wars” champion Briea Nathan and runner-up and “Outrageous Pumpkins” champion Eric Jones. Nathan was the sugar artist and Jones the pumpkin carver. Mayes said she got along well with Jones, but Nathan was harder to work with.
“She was our team leader and definitely made it difficult for us throughout the whole competition,” Mayes said.
Working in a high-stress environment with cameras nearby also was no easy task. While in her everyday life, Mayes can be quite talkative, but it was the opposite on the show.
“When I was in that situation, I was so in the zone just trying to get it done,” she said. “So, it definitely made it hard to try and be fun and personable on TV. They’re always in your face with the cameras, and you’re supposed to be fun and smiley and joking around, which was definitely a huge challenge. So I probably don’t have a ton of air time.”
The cast filmed two to three episodes per week, with days off in between.
During the competition, teams have seven hours to complete their piece. There’s also a tasting element to each challenge.
For example, during season 13, the teams had to create a tasting element using ingredients such as soy sauce, wasabi and miso. In another challenge they had to incorporate garlic.
“At the end of that seven hours, when they say, ‘Time’s up, hands off your piece,’ just knowing that you did it was a huge sense of accomplishment,” Mayes said. “It might not have been pretty, but you did it.”
Filming days were long, up to 16 hours, as after each challenge the teams had to wait to be judged, something that takes much longer than it appears on TV.
“The first episodes were rough because there’s more teams and more pieces for them to judge, so we were sitting around for hours waiting for them to deliberate and judge, and then they called us back in after they’d finished to film the results,” she said.
‘The Most Fun’
Overall though, she enjoyed meeting the people, getting to be on set and seeing how things work behind the scenes.
“I made lifelong friends with a lot of the cast,” Mayes said. “That was definitely the most fun experience, getting to meet like-minded people. They’re all artists in their own fields. It just was really cool to come together with a group of people that very much share my passion for art.”
Meeting host Jonathan Bennett was a highlight as well. She said he added a fun, lighthearted element to the show and was great to work with.
“I have a selfie with Jonathan Bennett,” she said. “It was after the very first challenge and I was just exhausted and so emotional and stressed out. When you watch the show, you’ll see we had a rough go that first episode.
“So, I almost look like I’m not happy to be in the picture with him because it was so stressful. But he was amazing.”
While filming wrapped a year ago, Mayes wasn’t allowed to tell anyone but close family about being on the show until recently when information for the upcoming season was put on the Food Network website.
“It was hard because last year we had to decorate for Halloween in early September and my neighbors were like, ‘Wow, she’s really getting into it this year,’” she said. “That was rough, but I couldn’t say, ‘It’s because I’m on TV. Don’t worry, I’m not crazy.’”
“Halloween Wars” premiers at 7 p.m. Sunday. Before the show kicks off, viewers will see how the competitors, including Mayes, were selected in “Road to Halloween Wars” at 6 p.m.
“It will be weird to see myself, but I can’t really go anywhere locally in my little town without someone mentioning that they can’t wait to watch me,” she said.
In the future, Mayes said she would be interested in competing on other shows, but hopes it will be without the team element. She also is opening a storefront on Main Street in Lovell this month, with the grand opening Saturday.
“I’m super excited,” she said. “We built a kitchen in it, so I’ll do all my baking and decorating down there. I’ll still do my custom orders and we will be open for people to come in and get cupcakes, cookies, French macarons, baked donuts, that kind of thing. We’ll also sell drinks as well, like tea and coffee.”
If you’re planning on visiting Wyoming, for a truly authentic experience, you must include at least one of the state’s awesome downtowns in your travel plans. Positioned at the southern end of the 60-mile-long valley known as Jackson Hole, the character-rich town of Jackson is one such place to consider. A wonderful place to explore on foot, Jackson’s unique downtown, with its Old West vibe, spreads out from the intersection of Broadway and Cache Street. While it consists of just a few blocks, it is jam-packed with fun things to do, no matter what time of year you visit. Its impressive elk arch makes for an excellent photo opportunity, while the charm of its Old West heritage exudes from the historic buildings, cowboy-themed bars, and art installations across town. The wild past also comes to life in Jackson during the Jackson Hole Shootout at the Town Square, a tradition that has endured since 1957.
Town Square And The Elk Antler Arches
Though Jackson’s Central Park is officially known as George Washington Memorial Park, locals and visitors alike prefer to call it Town Square. Dedicated in 1934, this centrally located public space occupies the block at Broadway and Cache and is famous for the elk antler archers set at each of its corners.
Made entirely from naturally shed elk antlers, the first arch was erected by local Boy Scouts and Rotary Club members in 1953, with the other three added a few years later. Each consists of around 2,000 antlers collected from the nearby National Elk Refuge and is among the most photographed landmarks in Wyoming.
For a truly memorable experience, try to time a visit to coincide with ELKFEST. Held in May, this community-wide celebration attracts visitors from across the country for events like the Mountain Man Rendezvous, a reenactment of the state’s early fur trading years.
The main event, though, is the highly anticipated Elk Antler Auction. Bidders from far and wide turn up at Town Square to purchase antlers, which are then used to make everything from furniture to jewelry (proceeds going back to the Elk Refuge).
Jackson’s Cowboy Heritage
From Memorial Day through Labor Day, Town Square becomes the backdrop of the famous Jackson Hole Shootout. This fun (and free) mock gunfight has been entertaining visitors since 1957 and includes several costumed outlaws and lawmen shooting it out (with blanks, of course). You can add to the experience by hopping aboard the Jackson Hole Stagecoach, a ride aboard a century-old coach that loops around downtown.
The Old West theme is evident in other spots around the downtown core, too. Steps from Town Square, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar has been around since 1937 and is set in what was once the town’s first bank in the late 1890s. Highlights include its hand-carved bar top with silver dollars embedded in it, as well as its cool saddle barstools. Live music is regularly scheduled on the stage that has seen such legends as Willie Nelson and Hank Williams Jr. perform.
The Wort Hotel is another downtown landmark you’ll want to include in your Jackson itinerary. A local fixture since 1941, it’s here you’ll find the famous Silver Dollar Bar with its custom-made S-shaped counter inlaid with 2,032 uncirculated (and therefore rare) 1921 silver dollars. You’ll also want to check out its priceless collection of original Western art.
Other Fun Stuff To Do In Downtown Jackson
In addition to its iconic bars, downtown Jackson also boasts a world-class food scene. Highlights include Persephone Bakery, its old-fashioned stone hearth turning out delicious baked goods, including croissants and artisanal bread. Also yummy, Cafe Genevieve occupies an old log cabin and serves breakfast and lunch with a Southern-inspired menu.
Jackson’s art scene is also worth a mention. Art galleries are plentiful in the downtown area, with establishments like Astoria Fine Art and Mountain Trails Galleries, both on Town Square, featuring works by local, national, and international artists. The Center for the Arts is another cultural high point and features performance spaces, visual arts studios, and an outdoor sculpture park.
Snow King Mountain
Another unique feature of Jackson’s downtown is its proximity to some of Wyoming’s best (and certainly most accessible) ski hills. The base of Snow King Mountain is just six blocks from Town Square and has been in use since 1936, and really took off when Wyoming’s first chairlift opened here in 1946.
Dubbed the “Town Hill” by locals, Snow King now consists of 500 skiable acres, 41 named runs, three chairlifts, an eight-passenger gondola, and night skiing. In warmer months, the action shifts to a thrilling Cowboy Coaster, a zipline, a treetop adventure ropes course, and an alpine slide.
The Snow King Observatory and Planetarium is another excuse to head for the hills from downtown Jackson. Located at the summit of Snow King Mountain, in addition to its large telescope, this must-see attraction features a planetarium theater and a rooftop observation deck boasting incredible views over Jackson and the Jackson Hole Valley.
Explore Jackson’s Not-So-Wild Side
Downtown Jackson has so much to offer visitors seeking an authentic slice of Wyoming life. From its unique elk antler arches to its art galleries and cowboy culture, as well as its unique position steps from the ski hills, few towns in the USA’s Mountain Region can match the long list of fun things to do in Jackson’s downtown core.
The expansion would open the spigot for 550,000 barrels per day of crude, the company says. Although the crude would mostly pass through eastern Wyoming, the venture opens opportunities for Wyoming oil producers in the region for more transportation access to U.S. refineries and shipping ports, according to Bridger and local industry officials.“It would be the biggest project in our history, if it comes to fruition,” Bridger Pipeline spokesperson Bill Salvin told WyoFile on Friday. “We are, however, in the really early stages of the project. But we’re very excited about it.”Industry trade groups speculate the Bridger Pipeline Expansion is part of a competitive scramble to fill a gap left by TC Energy’s Keystone XL project. That company, in 2021, abandoned the controversial project in the face of major opposition and protests. It would have transported Canadian tar-sands oil into the U.S. market via a route extending through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. Among many challenges for Keystone XL was acquiring new rights-of-way easements. Though the Bridger Pipeline Expansion proposal requires some new rights-of-way, that’s not the case for the 210-mile Wyoming segment, according to Salvin.“All of that distance is within, or parallel to, existing pipeline corridors,” Salvin said.
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The Wyoming segment would pass through Crook, Weston, Niobrara, Goshen and Platte counties.Bridger Pipeline, a subsidiary of Casper-based True Companies, submitted a notice of intent to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality in January and noted it will formally initiate environmental applications to the agency. Salvin told WyoFile he’s uncertain about the full spectrum of regulatory requirements in Wyoming.However, the company regards the Cowboy State as a great fit for the project, he said. “This [project proposal] just highlights how important the region is and how Wyoming is a very good place for energy projects like this.”Reached for comment, the Petroleum Association of Wyoming said the proposed pipeline only stands to benefit Wyoming producers and the state.“Investments like these, along with continued growth in areas like the Powder River Basin, show Wyoming will continue to play an important role in the nation’s energy markets,” PAW Vice President and Director of Communications Ryan McConnaughey told WyoFile. “Connecting in Guernsey allows product to be transported to refining hubs like Cushing, Oklahoma.” WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
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LARAMIE — Nasir Meyer converted a three-point play with 35 seconds remaining to give Wyoming Cowboys men’s basketball the lead for good, and Wyoming held Air Force Falcons men’s basketball scoreless over the final two minutes to secure a 66-62 victory Saturday night.
The win marked the 13th home victory of the season for Wyoming, which improved to 16-13 overall and 7-11 in conference play.
“Air Force deserves all the credit and let’s talk about a team that has every reason not to fight, but thats why they are Air Force and the cadets and I have a lot of respect for them,” Wyoming coach Sundance Wicks said. “They were not going to quit, and I didn’t drive that message home enough and hats off to Air Force because they deserved to win. We snuck away with a win. Adam Harakow showed when we need him and he was massive for us. Simm-Marten was made big plays and Naz was clutch for us late.”
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Wyoming shot 35% from the field and went 7 of 28 from 3-point range, making just two from beyond the arc in the second half. Air Force shot 49% overall and 44% from 3, hitting eight shots from long distance. The Cowboys made 13 of 16 free throws (81%) and scored 22 points off 15 Air Force turnovers while holding a 39-36 edge in rebounding.
Damarion Dennis led Wyoming with 16 points and three assists, going 7 of 8 from the free-throw line. Meyer finished with 14 points and tied a career best with eight rebounds. Adam Harakow added 14 points off the bench on 5-of-6 shooting, his first double-figure scoring game since the first meeting with Air Force. Simm-Marten Saadi had nine points in 13 minutes, and Kiani Saxon grabbed seven rebounds.
Air Force opened with back-to-back 3-pointers to take a 6-0 lead. Meyer scored Wyoming’s first basket, and Leland Walker added a 3-pointer to make it 8-5 with 16 minutes left in the first half.
Wyoming responded with a 9-0 run over nearly four minutes, with Saadi and Harakow each connecting from beyond the arc to give the Cowboys an 11-8 lead with under 14 minutes remaining. Air Force regained a 12-11 advantage as Wyoming went scoreless for more than two minutes.
Harakow’s second 3-pointer pushed the lead to 22-16 with nine minutes left in the half, and Wyoming used a 6-0 run while holding the Falcons without a field goal for more than four minutes to build a 28-18 lead with six minutes remaining. The Cowboys closed the half on a defensive stand, keeping Air Force scoreless for the final two minutes to take a 35-25 lead into the break. Wyoming scored 15 first-half points off turnovers.
The teams traded 3-pointers early in the second half, and Air Force cut the deficit to 40-31 with under 17 minutes left before trimming it to seven 90 seconds later. Walker answered with a 3-pointer to make it 43-33 with 15 minutes to go.
Air Force used a 9-0 run during a stretch in which Wyoming went more than 3 1/2 minutes without a point to pull within one with nine minutes left. The Falcons later tied the game at 51-51 with 5:30 remaining after forcing six straight missed shots.
A pair of free throws by Meyer and a basket from Saadi gave Wyoming a 57-53 lead with under four minutes to play. Air Force answered with three consecutive 3-pointers from Kam Sanders to take a 62-59 lead with two minutes left.
Meyer scored with 90 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one. On the next trip, he converted an and-one to give Wyoming a 64-62 lead with 35 seconds left. The Cowboys added late free throws to close out the 66-62 win.
Sanders led Air Force with 16 points and nine rebounds, going 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Eli Robinson added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Wyoming closes its home schedule Tuesday against Nevada Wolf Pack men’s basketball at 8 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the Cowgirls.
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