Four talented 4-H members showcased their culinary skills during the annual Favorite Foods Contest held Saturday, February 21, in Freeport. The event highlighted creativity in the kitchen, meal planning knowledge, and confidence in presentation.
Participants prepared and presented a favorite dish while demonstrating their understanding of nutrition, food preparation, and table setting. Each youth shared why their selected recipe was meaningful to them and what they learned through the process.
The Favorite Foods Contest is part of the 4-H Youth Development Program, which helps young people build life skills such as decision-making, communication, and responsibility through hands-on learning experiences.
“This contest was so much fun to watch,” said Jen Schultz, Stephenson County 4-H Program Coordinator. “Seeing the creativity each member brought to their table and hearing them share the stories behind their favorite foods was incredibly rewarding. This was the first time we hosted the Favorite Foods Contest, and it was exciting to partner with Jo Daviess County 4-H Program Coordinator Angela Miller to bring this opportunity to our youth.”
While the competition component added excitement, the true highlight of the day was the enthusiasm and pride each member showed in sharing their favorite foods. Families and supporters enjoyed seeing the creativity and hard work on display.
Congratulations to all participants for their preparation, confidence, and willingness to try something new. Events like the Favorite Foods Contest continue to make the Stephenson County 4-H program a fun and meaningful experience for local youth.
University of Illinois Extension staff and volunteers deliver 4-H programs that help youth learn by doing. From exhibiting projects at the Stephenson County 4-H Shows to organizing community service projects, youth are learning leadership, teamwork, resilience, and communication—skills that will serve them in school, careers, and life. To learn more about Stephenson County 4-H or to get involved, contact University of Illinois Extension – Stephenson County at 815-235-4125 or email js80@illinois.edu.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.