4-H'ers learn about the importance of quality in meat products from birth to plate. They work in teams of three to four members to prepare a Minnesota-grown meat product that is nutritious and appealing to consumers. Choose from beef, dairy, swine, sheep, meat or dairy goat, rabbit or poultry.
Watch them demonstrate what they've learned at the Minnesota State Fair!
It should be noted that this event is completely separate from the 4-H Chicken BBQ Contest.
For participants
- Teams can be made up of youth from multiple counties.
- Youth can choose to work in a different meat than the 4-H animal science project species in which they are enrolled.
- We'll provide teams with aprons, charcoal, grills, grilling utensils, the meat cut that will be prepared, seasonings, cheeses and vegetables including salad greens.
- Teams will have 40 minutes to prepare a final dish, which should include the meat as well as a side dish.
- 4‐Her’s can bring processed rubs or processed seasonings to enhance their meat.
- 4-H’ers can bring one additional fruit or vegetable for their dish. No deli meats or other items that require refrigeration will be allowed.
- Judges award points based upon the scorecard.
- Teams answer basic nutrition questions about their dish, such as knowledge of MyPlate nutrition.
- Each meat is judged separately and at different times. See the schedule below.
There is no pre-registration for this event before the state fair. Teams should sign up in the livestock office associated with the meat with which they will work.
For example, beef teams will sign up in the beef office, swine (pork) teams will sign up in the swine office and so on. Events will be held for beef, dairy, swine, sheep, meat and dairy goats, rabbit and poultry.
The days and times for each species during the Minnesota State Fair livestock encampment are provided below. The entire process is estimated to take 90 minutes.
2025 schedule
- Beef – Friday, 4 p.m.
- Dairy – Friday, 1 p.m.
- Dairy Goats – Saturday, 2 p.m.
- Meat Goats – Saturday, 2 p.m.
- Poultry – Friday, 10 a.m.
- Rabbits – Thursday, 1 p.m.
- Sheep – Thursday, 4 p.m.
- Swine – Saturday, 3:30 p.m.