Food Challenge

The Northwest District 4-H Food Challenge Contest will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Augusta Expo Land in Fishersville (physical address: 277 Expo Rd, Fishersville, VA 22939).   

Visit the NW District Food Challenge Website to learn everything you may need for your team.  On the website you will find the rules, supply box list, registration link, dates, and contest resources. (https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/food-challenge-2023nwd?usp=sharing)

Registration, Fees & Deadline: Each team participating in Northwest District 4-H Food Challenge must register online.

Registration is open and will close Friday February 28, 2025.   

Entry Link: https://forms.gle/JfQyJruqEJya9v556

There will be a registration fee of $25.00 per team.  No refunds will be given to a county and/or individual after March 4th.  

CONTEST RULES - Based on 2024-2025 Texas Guideline https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/food_challenge_guidelines_24_25.pdf

• Be sure to read the VA Food Challenge Rule Clarification Sheet that is on the website (link above). 

Team Information: There will be three divisions in this event.

 Team members must be 4-H members currently enrolled in a Virginia 4-H Youth Development county program and actively participating in the Food and Nutrition project.   

• Junior team- all members must be 9 through 13 years of age as of Sept 30, 2025. Teams consist of at least three but no more than five team members.    

• Senior team - all members must be 14 through 18 years of age as of Sept 30, 2025. Teams consist of at least three but no more than four team members.                              

• Mixed age group team (If used for local/district contests) - members may be 9 - 18 as of Sept 30, 2025. Teams consist of at least three but no more than five team members.  * There must be at least two teams in a contest to have this division.*  If only one team registers, that team will be moved to the Sr. Division.  

• Only Senior teams are eligible for state competition. A mixed age group team that moves to the senior division due to low registration, will not be eligible for state competition.

• Each county may enter a maximum of two junior teams, two intermediate teams, two senior teams and two mixed age group teams.  The unit must determine which teams will advance to district competition.

Supply Boxes:  

The supply box submitted for check-in may only include those items listed.  Any items that are not on the supply list will be removed from the box and returned to the team after the competition.    *ALL TEAMS will only be allowed to use one cooking element at a time during the contest.*  ALL TEAMS NEED TO BRING A SURGE PROTECTOR!  This should be in your food challenge kit.  

Preparation & Pantry Supplies:  See attached examples

• *ALL TEAMS will only be allowed to use one cooking element at a time during the contest.*  This is due to power supply and demand.

• Each team will receive an information sheet with their contest category and “key” ingredient for that category (no ingredient amounts, recipe, or instructions will be provided at the station).

• There will be a “grocery store “available.  The “grocery store” will have additional ingredients that must be incorporated into your recipe.  Each team must use at least 2 items from the “grocery store”.  The items used should be noted in the team presentation.  Only one person from each team should go to the “grocery store” to get their team’s additional ingredients.  All original packaging must stay in the “grocery store” and cannot be taken back to the team preparation area.  Only a certain number and quantity of additional ingredients will be permitted. 

Schedule: Once we see how many teams we have registered we will determine if we will have two start times or one.  We do plan to start check in at 9:00am that morning. 

No electronic devices or jewelry (except for medically required) is allowed in the contest. This includes cell phones, smart watches, or other communication devices..