Tasting Smorgasbord allows youth to showcase cooking skills

COSHOCTON — One might think the junior fair is only focused on livestock, but there are other projects where students showcased their skills. 

The Tasting Smorgasbord gave Coshocton County 4-Hers, ages 9 to 18, the opportunity to highlight their cooking skills by competing in several categories that included appetizers, meats and main dishes, bread, pasta and rice, fruits, vegetables and salads, desserts and snacks. Judges critiqued the dishes on recipe, texture, flavor and appearance.

There were 25 cooks taking part, including Cloverbuds who were not part of the active competition.

Madison Hammond, 13, of Keene Kountry Kids 4-H Club serves judge Kaite Wesney a white chicken chili at the 4-H Tasting Smorgasbord at the Coshocton County Fair. Hammond won first place for meats and main dishes and judges' choice for best overall.

‘They’re learning to share something that they’ve made’

Emily Marrison, family and consumer sciences educator for the Ohio State University Extension Office of Coshocton County, said the smorgasbord allows 4-H members to explore their cooking interests while interacting with the public. Many also do cooking projects. 

“They’re learning to share something that they’ve made,” Marrison said. “We also talk a little bit about food safety too.”