Panhandle youth compete in District 4-H Food Challenge

Three Donley County teams competed in the District 4H Food Challenge in Pampa on October 14, 2014.

A total of 285 youth from 17 Panhandle counties competed in the 4-H Food Challenge sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service on Oct. 14 at MK Brown Memorial Auditorium and Civic Center.

The Donley County Junior Team consisting of Laney Gates, Levi Gates, Jayde Gribble, McKenna Shadle, Haley Wilson and placed 3rd in the Breads and Cereals Group. In the Intermediate Age group, Kailee Osburn, Malorie Simpson, and Roxie Adams placed first in the Bread and Cereals Group. By placing first, they received embroidered green aprons. Also competing in the intermediate group was Izzy Craft, Chardy Craft, Jenci Hernandez, and Tanner Burch in the healthy snacks category.

The Food Challenge is modeled after such competitions as the Food Network’s Iron Chef, said Shawnte Clawson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 4-H and youth specialist in Amarillo.

The 4-H Food Challenge allows teams of three to five 4-H members to create a dish using a predetermined set of ingredients. From these ingredients, 4-H members must identify, prepare and then present information related to the preparation process, nutritional value, serving size and cost of the dish.

Throughout this process, 4-H members are applying the knowledge and skills gained through participation in the 4-H foods and nutrition project, demonstrating their culinary and food safety skills, and continuing to learn about making healthier food choices, Clawson said.