Benjamin Fowler’s neighbors and friends savor the days leading to Hamilton County’s 4-H Fair.

They never know what surprises may await them — conjured up by the 12-year-old Noblesville boy, who keeps busy baking goodies and trying out recipes for the fair, which starts today and runs through Monday at the 4-H Fairgrounds, 2003 E. Pleasant St.

“I came home and had pineapple upside-down cake, with cherries on top, at my door. Yum,” said Jennie Thomas, 48, a friend and neighbor. (The microwave cake took a champion ribbon this week.)

Another time, Benjamin brought over some of his chocolate pretzels on his bicycle, which Thomas’ daughter, Casey, 23, really liked.

“We just look forward to the surprises. We never know what’s going to come to our door,” Thomas said.

It’s Benjamin’s fourth year to show his creations in the foods contest, his second year competing in food preservation, and his first to go for a ribbon in the microwave project.

This year, he’s made about 1,000 chocolate pretzels, of which he showed six in Wednesday’s judging.

Benjamin bakes daily during the weeks leading up to the fair. Some of the recipes he bakes 10 to 12 times — just to get them right before baking them “for real.”

Paula Fowler likes the positive difference she’s seen in her son since he has taken part in 4-H. At first, Benjamin just helped measure recipe ingredients; now he does everything on his own — only hollering for her help if he has a problem in the kitchen. “I just go sit and read a book,” she said.

Benjamin is a perfectionist. On Monday afternoon, he appeared a little frustrated, laying a plastic ruler on the kitchen countertop to make sure every pretzel was uniform.

In his second year in the foods competition, he was still making muffins the morning of judging. “I hadn’t found any good ones the day before. I wasn’t satisfied,” he said.

Benjamin got a red ribbon, and he almost quit the foods project.

But his mom encouraged him to try one more year, which last year turned into a banner decision.

Changes that he made to his grandmother’s butter cake recipe earned Benjamin the grand champion award and $230 at the 4-H Champions Food Auction.

3/4 cup softened butter

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups flour

1/3 cup cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Sugar crystals for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 F. Beat together butter and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt, and mix at low speed just until blended. Scoop dough into nearly golf-ball-sized balls and place in refrigerator for 2 to 4 hours. Remove dough four balls at a time and roll them to 8 inches long. Shape into pretzels, gently lay in sugar crystals and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until they reach desired crispness. Place on wire rack to cool.