4-H teams compete at the Minnesota State Fair to show who can prepare the healthiest food!
This event is for 4-H’ers who have won a trip to the state fair and want a fun additional activity during their encampment.
Sign up when you arrive at the 4-H Building and participate in any session during your encampment.
For participants
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- Increase interest in and knowledge of meal planning, food preparation and safety.
- Understand meal production, preparation and the importance of food choices in your diet.
- Develop leadership abilities and self-confidence, while improving healthy food choices/decision making.
- Compete with other 4-H'ers to prepare a meal with the ingredients provided. Each team will have three to five members.
- Follow proper food safety procedures as you prepare the dish.
- You will prepare your dishes, transfer them to serving plates we provide and add any garnish, then place it on the judging table.
- We'll provide basic cooking equipment: electric grill or skillet, spoons, spatulas, measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, cutting boards, knives, vegetable peeler, can opener, power cords and hot pad holders.
- Accessories such as place mats, napkins, flowers or figurines are not allowed.
- Teams give a three to five-minute oral presentation on their final food product. Judges may ask questions about the process, nutritional information or facts and estimated cost.
- Dress for the occasion! You must be well groomed. Tie your hair back so it doesn't fall into the food.
- Check in with your team on the second floor of the 4-H Building 5-10 minutes before your scheduled time slot. Wash your hands!
- Attend a 30-minute presentation to learn about a nutrition-related topic.
- Teams will have their own stations and about 40 minutes to prepare their dishes.
- Gather supplies from a shared pantry or display table. Teams may bring up to three secret food ingredients to include in their dish.
- Display your menu item on the serving plates. We’ll provide the plates.
- Judges call each team to present their dish and give a three to five-minute presentation.
- Judges interview team members and evaluate each team based on the guidelines we’ll provide when you arrive.
- Know the food preparation techniques you used.
- Know the safety and sanitation procedures you used.
- Consider how your meal would fit into a healthy meal pattern.