DALLAS North Texas 4-H’ers from 22 counties warm up for a healthy food fightcooking foods in four categories during their upcoming competition on Jan. 15.
More than 133 4-H’ers will compete for prizes in preparing main dishes, fruits and vegetables, bread and cereals and nutritious snacks at the Texas A&M Dallas Research and Extension Center. They earned the right to compete at the district level by first winning in their own county food shows.
Not only will they be cooking, but competitors also must show a team of judges what they know about the dish, how they prepared it and answer questions about nutritional value and the knowledge and skills they’ve learned in the food project.
Winners in the senior division, ages 14 to 19, move on to State 4-H Roundup in June where they compete for scholarships. Intermediates are age 12 to 13 and juniors are age 8 to 11. Food shows are happening all over the state as 4-H’ers get ready to compete at the district level for the right to go on to state competition. Texas has a total of 997,000 4-H members enrolled with 42,500 of them working in food and nutrition projects.
“More than 8,800 young people are involved in food and nutrition related projects in North Texas,” said Jerri Kelly, Grayson County Extension agent for family and consumer sciences. “These 4-H’ers are growing in their knowledge of good nutrition. The families they raise in the coming generation should enjoy improved health because of what they are learning now.
“We’re also delighted to have Morrison Milling Company sponsor the District 4 Food Show again this year. They provide plaques for the winners and food products for all contestants. Lydia Booth Fenley, director of technology for Morrison Milling, will present the awards to the winners.”
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