On Saturday, November 5, twenty 4-H members from throughout Florida – two from Escambia County – participated in the state’s sixth Florida 4-H Tailgating Contest at the UF/IFAS Animal Sciences Beef Unit at University of Florida in Gainesville. The contest was sponsored by Publix, National Beef and Sonny’s BBQ. Escambia County 4-H participants include Brooke Hoomes and Addie Manning. The Escambia County entrants also participated in the Escambia County 4-H Tailgate Day Camp in July.
The top two individuals in each protein category earned scholarship money: $1,500 for first place and $1,000 for second place. State participants earned the opportunity to compete at the district competitions held throughout the summer. Each participant from Escambia County placed in the competition, earning $1,000 for a college scholarship. The winners from Escambia County 4-H include:
- Brooke Hoomes – third place, pork
- Addie Manning – second place, shrimp
Grilling participants competed in one of four categories: beef, pork, chicken and shrimp. Participants created table displays to show off their recipes and creativity and were judged on their grilling abilities. In addition, their knowledge was put to the test with questions from judges on food and fire safety as well as meat selections.
“4-H helps our youth gain the knowledge and skills they need for their future. Whether they are interested in science, technology, food or public speaking, we have projects that will benefit everyone and help them give back to their community,” said UF/IFAS Extension Escambia Director Nick Simmons. “The tailgating contest allowed them to think outside the box, but also taught them important food and fire safety rules. All Escambia County participants have learned so much from this competition and have taken home new skills to share with their families.”
Escambia Extension thanks local sponsors – Cantonment Ace Hardware, The Butcher Shoppe and Joe Patti’s Seafood – for supporting the 4-H youth program.
UF/IFAS Extension Escambia is an Equal Opportunity Institution. Visit UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County online to learn more.
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