Events and Activities : Cookout Contest planned at the Benton County Fair

An outdoor cooking contest designed to promote Iowa meat is being planned by the Benton County Farm Bureau. Contest coordinator, Bill Newton says, “You don't have to be an expert chef to participate; you just need to enjoy cooking outdoors with quality Iowa meat.” The 5th Annual Cookout Contest will be held on Saturday July 28th during the Benton County Fair in Vinton. Pre-registration is required and judging of entries will begin at 4:00 p.m. at the fairgrounds.

Contestants can compete in one of six categories – beef (limited to chuck or round primal cuts including ground chuck or ground round), pork, lamb, poultry, turkey, or combo/specialty. Combo is a combination of at least two of the five meats in one recipe and specialty is any other Iowa domestic raised product including venison, goat and fish (this does not include wild game). Entries will be judged on the basis of taste, appearance and originality.

A Cookout Champion will be named, and awards will be given to winners in each category. The Cookout Champion, along with all first place category winners will have the chance to compete in the Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest at the Iowa State Fair on August 14, 2012.

Anyone interested in entering the Benton County Farm Bureau Cookout Contest on July 28th should contact the county office at (319) 472-4710 or e-mail benton.county@ifbf.org for more details and an entry form.