On Friday, August 6, 2021, nine Howard County 4-H youth attend the first Arkansas 4-H Food Challenge at the Pulaski Tech Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute in Alexander, Arkansas. Teams from 8 counties and 50 plus youth participated in the competition which required them to plan, prepare and present a nutritious meal in under forty minutes using readily available items found at the Dollar Store, Family Dollar or Dollar Tree. For people who live on a tight budget and in areas with limited access to food, eating nutritionally balanced meals can be a challenge. Through 4-H, youth are learning this important life skill, and just how creative they can be in preparing an inexpensive and nutritional meal in a short amount of time.

Howard County had three teams consisting of one senior team and two junior teams. This year’s senior team, know as Seniors with Spatulas, is made up by Adelene Westfall, Alex Trombley and Sarah Lamb. These three youth where named this year’s winners in the Senior division qualifying for the National 4-H Food Challenge event in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 28. Alex Trombley was also given the Specialty Award for his great leadership skills he demonstrated during the event. He received a golden spatula as his award. Two junior teams competed. One team, known as the Howard County Food Choppers, placed second overall in the junior division. This team is made up by Anna Kate McKinnion, Abi Webb and Christian Trombley. Our other junior team, known as the Howard County Cuties (and that is exactly what they were), is made up by Julianna Webb, Gracie Woodruff and Peyton Bagley.

If you are interested in joining Howard County 4-H, and finding out how you can be a part of all our 4-H youth activities, you can contact Samantha Horn at the Howard County Extension office at 870-845-7517 or shorn@uada.edu.