For the second year in a row, I lost the no-hands, baked potato-eating contest at the Wisconsin State Fair. WTMJ’s Brian Gotter cleaned up. However, I did a lot better this year and got more than just cheese in my nostrils from the experience.

First of all, I cannot believe how many people are interested in watching a potato-eating contest. The event was packed. But best of all, almost everyone was smiling. While I sat on the stage, I looked out at the sea of faces that ranged from amused to enthralled and felt more affirmation than most adults get in a year much less a five-minute time period. It’s pretty awesome.

After the "celebrity" contest, six people from the audience competed as well. This was where the real learning happened for me.  As a witness to the gross hilarity of it all, I was able to observe others’ technique. Obviously, I can’t do this when my face is planted in a spud.

I watched Daniel, the winner of the audience contest, and I was enlightened by his technique. He became my Mr. Miyagi of the competitive eating world.

Instead of doing the aforementioned face-plant smack dab in the tater, Daniel ate some of the top part of the open-faced potato and then picked up one side with his teeth and ate it in a vertical fashion like one might hork a hot dog without use of their hands.

He also did not take time to drink water until the end.

I learned a few other things from watching the contest, but I’m not sharing everything because I plan to (s)mash the competition next year.

Hear that, Gotter?