Farm to School junior chef champions announced at State Fair

By Blake Jackson

The Montgomery County Junior Chef Team emerged victorious in the annual Farm to School Junior Chef competition at the Kentucky State Fair, defeating nine other high school cooking teams.

The competition, sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, showcased the culinary skills of young chefs and promoted the use of local ingredients.

“Congratulations to Montgomery County and to all the Junior Chef teams that competed this year,” Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell said. “These wonderful young chefs showcase their culinary skills up on that stage and create some of the most delicious dishes with wonderful Kentucky products. This program, which would not be possible without the support of the parents, teachers, coaches, and Sullivan University, is an excellent way for students to pick up valuable life skills and possibly start a career in the culinary arts.”

The Montgomery County 4-H team, consisting of Luke Baker and Dalton Collison, prepared their winning recipe: Greek Turkey Bowl.

They were coached by LeeEtta Greer and each received a $10,000 scholarship offer from Sullivan University.

The McCracken County Mustang Café team finished second with their Creamy Sundried Tomato Chicken Pasta and received scholarship offers from Sullivan University. Raceland Independent's Rambling Chefs placed third and also earned scholarship offers.

Montgomery County will now represent Kentucky in the Southeast Region Junior Chef Competition in May 2025. The competition brings together champions from different states in the southeastern United States for a culinary showdown.

The Junior Chef competition encourages students to learn about cooking, agriculture, marketing, teamwork, and community involvement. The program includes workshops and training to prepare teams for the state fair.

The Kentucky Proud Farm to School Program, which helps schools purchase local foods, is a key component of the Junior Chef competition. The program benefits both students and local farmers.

Students interested in participating in the next Junior Chef season are encouraged to contact their school's food service director, consumer science teacher, or 4-H leader for more information.

Photo Credit: farm-to-school