BLOOMINGTON - Bring on the brain freeze. On a scale of 1 to 10, Tristan Bixby said her ice cream headache was a 10 after quickly devouring two bowls of vanilla during the ice cream eating contest at the McLean County Fair on Saturday. But the 7-year-old from Bloomington still wanted more ice cream. | Video | Photo gallery

"I just like to eat the ice cream," said Tristan, a member of Hudson Ag 4-H. "I thought it was awesome."

More than two dozen children and adults attempted to be the first person in their age category to eat their two bowls of ice cream as quickly as possible to the cheers of family and friends at the Interstate Center in Bloomington. The winner received a free ice cream sundae from the 4-H alumni sundae booth.

The McLean County 4-H Federation sponsored the ice cream eating contest as a way to support the fair, said Kailey Harvey, a member of Green-Leafers 4-H and the sentinel on the Federation's board. While competitors did not have to be 4-H members, Harvey, 16, of Carlock, hoped the event would get members and non-members more interested in the organization.

Most of Tristan's family got in on the fun, including brothers Trevor, 10, and Treyson, 5; mom Lynnette Bixby; and grandma Fran Martin.

"None of us won, but we got some good ice cream," Lynnette Bixby said.

As Tristan was spooning ice cream into her mouth at high speed, Trevor Johnson, 7, of Carlock, took another approach.

Trevor left his spoon on the table and dunked his face in his ice cream bowl.

When he finally came up for air, he smiled for a picture for his mom, Heather Johnson, with his face covered in icy goo from his nose down.

The ice cream was good, but cold, he said.

Hannah Lovel, 10, of Towanda, could relate to Trevor's feelings.

"It was really fun," said Hannah, a member of Old Town 4-H. "It just gets colder."

Since Hannah was the winner of the 8 to 10-year-old class, she was entitled to another free ice cream, but she wasn't ready for that treat just yet.

"I'm probably going to get it later," she said.

But Tristan was eager for more dessert. She waved her arm in the air with excitement before the final round as organizers looked to give away a couple of extra bowls of ice cream.

She spooned more ice cream into her mouth in between cheering for her mom and grandma, who weren't eating the ice cream quite as fast as the younger children.

"Go, go, go! C'mon," Tristan shouted. "Faster, faster, faster. C'mon! Hurry up, grandma; hurry up, mom!"