Merrimack Valley High School
106 Village Street
Penacook, NH 03303
United States
Join us Saturday, February 8th at Merrimack Valley High School for this fun, 4-H Healthy Living Event. Youth ages 5 to 18 can participate in a variety of contests like the Soup-er Bowl, Charcuterie Board Contest, Place Setting, and more! This is a great way for 4-Hers to get a taste for cooking, food safety and handling, and try something new!
EVENT CATEGORIES INCLUDE:
- Place Setting (youth 5-18 years old)
- Creative Food Art (youth 5-18 years old)
- Grilled Cheese Challenge (youth 12-18 years old)
- Charcuterie Board Contest (youth 8-18 years old)
- Soup-er Bowl (youth 8-18 years old)
- Global Gourmet Showcase (youth 8-18 years old)
REGISTERING FOR FOOD SHOW:
Sign-up through ZSuite by January 24, 2025, to participate in the Merrimack County 4-H Food Show. Each individual youth participant must register through ZSuite and select the events they would like to participate in.
HOW TO REGISTER FOR AN EVENT USING ZSuite:
If you HAVE a ZSuite household account and active enrollment. Please use the following instructions to register:
- Instructions for how to register for an event: https://zsuite.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/static/Help/LoginHelp/Registeringforanevent.html
If you HAVE NOT created a ZSuite account and enrollment yet. Please use the following instructions to enroll & register:
- Create an Account: https://zsuite.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/static/Help/LoginHelp/Creatinganewaccount.html
- Create a Club Member Enrollment: https://zsuite.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/static/Help/LoginHelp/CreateClubMemberProfiles.html
- Instructions for how to register for an event: https://zsuite.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/static/Help/LoginHelp/Registeringforanevent.html
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
We need volunteers to help run the event and judges to help judge at the event! We are looking for about 15 people who can assist us. If you can volunteer at this event, please sign-up to volunteer using this link: https://unh.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0NBvTkhisotJYFM
If you have questions contact Sunny Swanson, 4-H Program Manager at sunny.swanson@unh.edu.
PLACE SETTING DISPLAY: (Open to youth 5-18 years old)
EVENT DESCRIPTION:
How to set a table used to be common knowledge, but in today's fast and busy world, knowing how to set a table properly has become somewhat of a party trick. Youth are invited to show off their place setting skills in this event by selecting items and organizing a place setting for one person.
GUIDELINES:
- Every participant may have one place setting display. This is an individual effort.
- Select and organize a place setting for one person.
- Youth must use a placemat, menu, napkin, utensils, dishes, glassware or cups, a simple centerpiece or focal point, and other components you deem appropriate for the theme and your display.
- Place Settings should be based on the theme of “New Hampshire at its Best”.
- Theme should be carried out in the menu and used to help tie together your display.
- Entries will be judged on theme, cleanliness, organization, color, and creativity.
- Cloverbuds (youth 5-7 years old) can enter a Place Setting Display
JUDGING:
All participants will receive judging feedback, a participation ribbon and certificate. Please review the scoresheet to see what the judges will be looking for. Cloverbuds will use this scoresheet.
CREATIVE FOOD ART: (Open to youth 5-18 years old)
EVENT DESCRIPTION:
The Creative Food Art event is a chance for youth to “play with their food”. Using ingredients and supplies brought from home, come up with a fun and creative way to display your food. Learn more about Food Art.
GUIDELINES:
- No pre-plating, the art must be made by the youth at the event.
- Use a variety of ingredients to create your artwork.
- The final product should be eye-appealing (attention to detail and presentation are important)!
- This is a timed event, and all participants will be given 30 minutes to slice, prepare and display their art.
- Cloverbuds (youth 5-7 years old) can enter a Creative Food Art Display
Participants Need to Supply the Following Items:
- All ingredients needed for food art.
- All plating and preparation utensils.
JUDGING:
All participants will receive judging feedback, a participation ribbon and certificate. Please review the scoresheet to see what the judges will be looking for. Cloverbuds will use this scoresheet.
GRILLED CHEESE CHALLENGE: (Open to youth 12-18 years old)
EVENT DESCRIPTION:
Think you can make a delicious and inventive grilled cheese? Then grab a friend or two and join us at the Grilled Cheese Challenge where youth 12 & older get 15 minutes to grill up their tastiest grilled cheese for the judges.
GUIDELINES:
- Team must include 2 or 3 youth members and one adult supervisor (safety precautions ONLY).
- Youth must present their sandwich as a group.
- There should be 2 sandwiches made so that each judge can taste half of a sandwich.
- The group must explain their dish and be prepared to answer any questions.
- Each sandwich must include a fruit or vegetable component. Get creative and think outside of the box with your recipes!
- Your food will be sampled by event judges, please practice safe food handling guidelines.
Time Limits:
All grilling will be done in separate 15-minute heats and each team will have only 15 minutes to complete their grilling.
Teams Need to Supply the Following Items:
- All ingredients needed for sandwiches
- Cooking utensils (spatulas, etc.)
- Aprons for all team members
- Hair ties or clean hat (if you do not want to wear provided chef hat)
*Griddles, plates, spoons, napkins, hand sanitizer, food safe gloves, chef hats will be provided by 4-H*
JUDGING:
All participants will receive judging feedback, a participation ribbon and certificate. Please review the scoresheet to see what the judges will be looking for.
CHARCUTERIE BOARD CONTEST: (Open to youth 8-18 years old)
EVENT DESCRIPTION:
Charcuterie boards are a common appetizer that features various kinds of cheese, crackers, fruits, and meats to serve to a group of people. Work as an individual to create a charcuterie board with your own twist!
GUIDELINES:
- No pre-plating of the board, it must be made by the youth at the event.
- Use a variety of ingredients to create your charcuterie board.
- The final product should be eye-appealing (attention to detail and presentation are important)!
- This is a timed event, and all participants will be given 30 minutes to slice, prepare and display their board.
- After judging, participants may serve their charcuterie board to the food show audience in cups provided by Merrimack County 4-H.
Participants Need to Supply the Following Items:
- All ingredients needed for a charcuterie board
- A plate or board to showcase the final product
JUDGING:
All participants will receive judging feedback, a participation ribbon and certificate. Please review the scoresheet to see what the judges will be looking for.
SOUP-ER BOWL: (Open to youth 8-18 years old)
EVENT DESCRIPTION:
Have a delicious soup recipe you want to share with your fellow 4-Hers? Teams of two or three youth will prepare a crockpot soup prior to the competition to be judged on the day of the Food Show. The best tasting soup will be decided by People’s Choice voting.
GUIDELINES:
- The soup must be served out of a crockpot on the day of the competition.
- Time will be given prior to judging for the soup to warm, and garnishes may be prepared during this time.
- All teams must submit a copy of the recipe and should be prepared to answer questions from the judges about the soup.
- One adult supervisor per team should be present for safety precautions ONLY!
- A “Soup-er Bowl Recipe Handout” about your soup is also needed as a visual component.
- Your food will be sampled by event judges, please practice safe food handling guidelines.
Teams Need to Supply the Following Items:
- Recipe handout to share with judges
- Extension Cord to plug in crockpot (power strips may also be useful)
- Ladle or serving spoon
- Aprons for all team members
- Hair ties or clean hat (if you do not want to wear provided chef hat)
*Bowls, spoons, napkins, hand sanitizer, food safe gloves, chef hats will be provided by 4-H*
JUDGING:
All participants will receive judging feedback, a participation ribbon and certificate. Please review the scoresheet to see what the judges will be looking for. The best tasting soup will also be decided by People’s Choice voting!
GLOBAL GOURMET SHOWCASE: (Open to youth 8-18 years old)
EVENT DESCRIPTION:
Youth who sign up for this event will be given access to the Global Gourmet 4-H curriculum and make their favorite recipe from the guidebook to feature at the food show along with a poster about the culture of the country.
GUIDELINES:
- Pick your favorite recipe from the Global Gourmet Cooking Series and replicate it for this event.
- All cooking should be done ahead of time, and only finishing elements should be completed at the Food Show.
- Make an educational poster to accompany your display that includes the recipe and cooking instructions for the dish you made, the country of origin, and the cultural significance of the dish. (This poster can also be entered in the 4-H Poster Contest at Merrimack County 4-H Presents!)
- Your food will be sampled by event attendees, please practice safe food handling guidelines.
- Recipe should provide enough food for at least 30 small samples to be tasted by event attendees (this is a “People’s Choice” contest).
Participants Need to Supply the Following Items:
- All ingredients/food for their submission.
- Extension cords (if a crockpot or heating/ cooling element is required).
*4-H will provide plates, napkins and utensils for attendees to sample the food.
JUDGING:
All participants will receive judging feedback, a participation ribbon and certificate.
The best showcase display will be decided through People’s Choice voting!
