Friday, March 29, 2024

50 Youth Compete in County 4-H food contests

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Even though school was closed for the Thanksgiving break, on Monday, Nov. 22, the Gatesville Intermediate School Cafeteria had plenty of activity, with 50 4-H youth competing in the Coryell County 4-H Food Show and Food Challenge event.

The Junior (for 3rd-5th grade) Food Challenge contest had the most team entries with seven teams competing. The Intermediate (ages 6th-8th grade) division had six entries. There were three entries in the food show.

In the Food Challenge contest, teams of three to four students received a list of ingredients and have 40 minutes to create a dish. The teams then presented their dish to judges and are scored on preparation, serving size, food safety concerns, nutritional value, and general nutrition knowledge. This allows them to develop teamwork skills, as well as test their creativity and knowledge of food preparation.

In the Food Show contest, individual members choose a recipe from the contest categories and then prepare and present it to a panel of judges. Contestants are interviewed by a panel of judges, explaining how they prepared it, the nutrients and ingredients in their dish, personal dietary needs, healthy substitutions, and complete a cost analysis. They take a multiple-choice quiz about food and nutrition facts and properly demonstrate a kitchen skill they have learned in their food and nutrition 4-H project.

A big thank-you goes out to the 4-H volunteer leaders who coach the teams. The first- and second-place winners at the county-wide event will represent Coryell County at the District 8 4-H Food Challenge and Food Show, to be held Dec. 8 in Belton. Complete results from both contests are:

Food Challenge

Junior Division-

1st place Team - Dino Nuggies: Gracie Klecka, Lyla Nichols, and Hadley Hopson

2nd place Team - Impossible Impasta: Madilyn Smith, Olivia Hendrix, Caroline Langenstrass, and Jayde Muegge

3rd place Team - Cooking Cajuns: Taylor Webb, Ava Rodriguez, and Preston Barron

4th place Team - The Witch Cooks: Bobbi Tubbs, Emily Wolff, Anna Belle Walls, and Hannah Ashley

Also participating were: Golden Chefs: Bryson Stevens, Maddox McAndrew, Ryan Rutherford, and Prudence Jackson; Fighting Chefs: Mary Mitchell, Jo Langenstrass, and Landri Stevens and Cooking Cowgirls: Emma Pruett, Ava Shaw, and Piper Beck

Intermediate Division -

1st place Team - Sauce Sisters: Kinsley McPherson, Anna McPherson, Makaylie Williams, and Kayla Mabry

2nd place Team - Cactus Crew: Willow Holland, Zak Huckabee, and Jacob Ellerbe

3rd place Team - Cowgirl Cookers: Lexi Miller, Callie Smith, Jaelee Thornton, and Emily Webb

4th place Team - Cooking Chaos: Annabelle Lea, Lucas Appelman, Rogan Smith, and Colin Rainer

Also participating were: Ain’t Got Muffin on Us: Hunter Beaty, Peyton Williamson, and Leonela Rodriguez and Sweet & Sour: Madison Manning, Madison Cohn, and Emma Treadway

Food Show

Senior Division - 1st place Healthy Dessert - Cayleigh Coursey

Junior Division - 1st place Appetizer - Mary Mitchell

Clover Kid - 1st place Healthy Dessert - Charles Yarbrough