Hello, cookie competitors! Just a quick note to say that, earlier today, the rules and registration link for the 2025 Julia M. Usher’s Cookie Art Competition™ officially posted to Cookie Connection, the competition’s home base! All of these riches can be found under the Competition Overview post on that site.

What exactly does this mean, you ask?! It means that you can now safely start planning and making your entries! Hurrah! But, please, before you jump in headfirst and before you even register, do read every rule. And make sure you understand the various submission requirements for your entry. Again, all of this information – and more – is clearly explained in the Competition Overview.

Before I leave you to explore that post, a few housekeeping notes . . . Though learning is the primary objective of my competition, the prizes are pretty darn wonderful too! Only a few short weeks into the sponsorship drive, I am pleased to report that prizes (a combination of cash and digital certificates) are already topping $10,000 USD, thanks to a handful of extremely generous sponsors! If the rest of the sponsorship drive goes as swimmingly as last year, I hope to see this number become much larger! Of course, I can’t guarantee that it will, but I am working my hardest to make sure you are amply rewarded for your hard work on your entries. 😀 If you’re part of a company that serves the cookie community, I encourage you to join my wonderful sponsor team. My competition welcomes companies big and small, those that sell products, those that offer services like classes and tutorials . . . In other words, everyone is invited to contribute – the only requirement is that you be committed to advancing the state of cookie art and to giving back to our incredible community! Please download the 2025 Sponsor Offering to learn more about the various levels of sponsorship and what the competition offers in return for your contributions.

Entrants, please also remember to register early, even now, before you start designing your entry. By “register”, I simply mean to declare your intent to enter by signing up on my reg platform, Eventbrite. Having an early read on the number of potential entrants helps me immensely with the planning process and in assuring that the competition will be the best possible experience for you and the other entrants. Again, the link to register can also be found in the Competition Overview.

Last but not least, if you’re a newbie to competing, don’t be intimidated by the rules, the challenge of creating an entry, what you think other entrants might be making, or anything else. Competing isn’t about winning or losing; it’s about enjoying the process and learning as much as you can along the way. Please relax and have fun with this competition. All entrants end up winners for having made this investment in themselves. And just by participating, you are assured of achieving your own personal best!

P.S. Don’t forget to spread the word of this competition on social media via this post’s “SHARE” links. I’m also aiming for a record turnout this year! 😀

KEY COMPETITION LINKS: