SPS Junior Chef Competition challenges student culinary prowess
Students were challenged to make a meal of their own making at the Fourth Annual SPS Junior Chef Competition Saturday, Oct. 5. In total, 75 students in 20 teams sourced, crafted and plated their creative take on brunch to local celebrity judges.
“The kids love it,” said Kim Keller, director of nutrition services. “The one thing we hear over and over again is that for some students, this is the first time their families have been able to cheer them on at a team competition. Some students just aren’t into sports, but they love to cook, and this is our way to celebrate them and engage them in healthy competition.”
Starting at 7:30 a.m. on a Saturday, the teams of students from grades 3-8 were taken to the Farmers Market of the Ozarks. There, they purchased locally grown ingredients with money provided by SPS and community partners. Then, the teams went back to Hickory Hills K-8 School, where they cooked dishes on site.
But it wasn’t play time -- junior chefs were expected to follow food safety guidelines, like hand washing, hair restraints and safe temperatures to serve food.
“Those are all elements that students need to learn if they are going into food service someday,” said Keller. “Our judges ask the students about their dishes and their presentation, and it’s such a great experience for the students to interact with a chef and the judges, who give them pointers about their food. It’s a great opportunity for students to explore a potential career.”
2019 JR. CHEF COMPETITION AWARDEES
Best Use of Local Food (Each Age Division: 3rd-5th & 6th-8th)
Elementary School Division: Tiffany's Tribe, Watkins Elementary
Middle School Division: Cooking Kitties, Cherokee Middle School
Best Presentation (Each Age Division: 3rd-5th & 6th-8th)
Elementary School: Brunch Bunch, Field Elementary
Middle School: Brunch Bunch, Cherokee Middle School
Best Recipe and Taste (Each Age Division: 3rd-5th & 6th-8th)
Elementary School: Sugar Babies, Disney Elementary
Middle School: Brady Brunch, Pershing Middle School
Best Team Spirit (Each Age Division: 3rd-5th & 6th-8th)
Elementary School: Iron Men, Hickory Hills, Elementary
Middle School: A.K.A., Cherokee Middle School
Judges Choice Award (Each Age Division: 3rd-5th & 6th-8th)
Elementary School: Sugar Babies, Disney, Elementary
Middle School: Cooking Kitties, Cherokee Middle School
Community partners that supported the Junior Chef competition include: Springfield Grocer, Aramark, Hiland Dairy and Cox College. In addition, Vital Farms donated eggs and butter, bags were donated by Jordan Valley Health and volunteers from Fellers Fixtures.
For more information about the Junior Chef Competition and its Farm 2 School grant history, visit the Farm 2 School website.