Still Time for 4-H Foods Contest

Mary Loftis

Don’t miss out on being part of the most beautiful and delicious 4-H contest in Burt County! It’s the 4-H Favorite Foods Contest and it will be held this Saturday, April 26 at the Fire Hall in Craig. Set up for the contest begins at 9:45 a.m. with the contest itself beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Three division of the contest are available, so every 4-H member has the best opportunity to do well in it.

Here’ what you need to participate:

1. Call the UNL Extension office in Burt County by noon this Friday, April 25 to pre-register for the contest.
2. Favorite Food – pick a favorite food of yours and make it for the contest. If you need to reheat or prepare it in some way there is a microwave, stove, oven and refrigerator/freezer available. You will also need a copy of the recipe to put on your table.
3. Plan a menu around your favorite food. Try to include all the different food groups and keep nutrition in mind as you plan the menu.
4. Plan and set a table to present your favorite food to the judge. If you are making an oriental stir fry you might want to set a “table” on the floor. Otherwise we offer half of an 8 foot table to allow space for a tablecloth or placemat, centerpiece and a place setting including dishes and silverware for one guest (the judge). You will need to set the table yourself as this is part of the contest experience. (Mom or Dad can help you carry things in, but then you’re on your own.) If you want to dress special for your table theme you are welcome to do that…such as wearing pajamas for a sleep-over with your friends.
5. Visit with the judge. This is really the fun part where you can tell your guest (the judge) about your favorite food, the menu you planned, how it provides for nutritional needs and how you would make sure everything was ready to serve when you planned to start your meal. You only have to make your favorite food, not the whole menu for the contest. The judge also gets to sample it so you can serve it as on a plate to her, or if a casserole type dish, just serve her some, or let her take what she would like.
6. The VERY BEST PART of the contest is when we all get to sample ALL the great food everyone prepared. I call this our “4-H Smorgasbord”! It’s a great time to find out how much everyone likes your favorite food, even more than you do!

Take it to the next level!

A new area of the contest is the State Fair eligible 4-H Foods Event. This is like our regular Favorite Foods Contest with just a couple changes.

First of all a team of two work together on the favorite food and presentation together.

Secondly, the must incorporate the “challenge ingredient” into either their favorite food or their menu. The “challenge ingredient” this year is corn.

The team does a presentation to the judge about their food, table, menu, etc.

Finally they must incorporate some type of technology in their presentation. This could be showing a video of them preparing the food, using an i-pad for their menu and recipe or some other fun way to use technology.

Burt County can have four teams selected to present their favorite food at the “Pilot – 4-H State Fair Foods Event” on Saturday, August 23^rd at the State Fair in Grand Island. Check it out and you might be the first from Burt County to compete at this new State Fair contest!

Don’t miss out on the fun; call the Extension Office at 402-374-2929 to get registered by Friday, April 25^th at noon. If you have any questions, please call and ask!

Mary Loftis,

Extension Assistant
UNL Extension – Burt County
111 North 13th Street, Suite 6
Tekamah, NE 68061
Phone: (402) 374-2929

Fax: (402) 374-2930

Internet: mloftis2@unl.edu