Burnet County livestock show offering culinary contest
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
BURNET — While livestock get the center ring during the Burnet County 4-H & FFA Livestock Show on Jan. 9-11, there’s a section of the show about which many people might not know, but probably would love to take a bite out of.
The Creative Meat & Bake Show gives 4-H and FFA members a chance to demonstrate their culinary capabilities.
“This is really that connection between the farm and getting what they grow and produce there to the table,” said Linda Wells, the Burnet County AgriLIFE extension agent. “Plus, it’s just a great chance for the kids to get in the kitchen and have some fun and create some wonderful items.”
The Creative Meat & Bake Show features four meat divisions (beef, poultry, pork and lamb/goat) and five baking divisions (pies, cookies, cakes, candies and bread). Youth can compete in as many divisions as they want.
“We have several that are entered in five divisions,” Wells said. “But there are a lot with two or more entries. We have 43 different individuals entered.”
The Creative Meat & Bake Show starts at 8:15 a.m. Jan. 11 at the Burnet County Fair Grounds, 1301 Houston Clinton Drive. The youth will display their creations, along with the recipes, in the meeting hall section of the fair barn. Wells said a team of judges will go through the entries before announcing the ribbon winners and placings.
“It’s up to the judges to decide the winners, but no matter what the color of the ribbon, all the kids learn something,” Wells said. “It’s a great chance for kids to discover the fun of cooking and baking. I think one of the best parts of the entire experience is getting the chance to share time in the kitchen with an adult, whether it’s a parent, grandparent or somebody else. There’s such a connection we can build in our families when we get in the kitchen together.”
And like the livestock portion of the show, Creative Meat & Bake Show contestants can earn a little money. Often people will offer the youth some money for one of their entries, or even more.
“I think people will be amazed by what the kids enter in the contests and the quality of it,” Wells said. “They really do a wonderful job.”
daniel@thepicayune.com