The Culinary Arts field of employment is one that is rapidly expanding. The employment of chefs and head cooks is projected to grow by 25 percent from 2020 to 2030. This is about 18,000 openings each year for the rest of the decade (US Department of Labor). Kentucky is no exception to this trend with large growth in hospitality and specialty restaurants surrounding the existing tourist industries connected to bourbon and horses. This growth positions young people with a passion for the culinary arts to experience career stability and advancement within the state. The 4-H Culinary Challenge program is uniquely positioned to prepare young people to enter this career path. 

As the 4-H Culinary Challenge program puts a fork in its 7^th annual contest a record number of teams attended with a 52% increase in youth participation. After the event, 96% of young people reported being confident in being able to make changes to a recipe. When ask about their food prep and kitchen management skills there was between 95-98% confidence across four critical techniques (knife safety, recipe reading, safe kitchen practices, and sanitation) with the highest confidence being in knife skills. This high confidence in critical skills is a result of the consistent work with 4-H agents and volunteers who work with the team on a weekly basis. Youth reported an average of being engaged in 4-H activities for 3 hours a week. These skills have been identified as making a young candidate highly qualified for positions in Culinary Arts positions.  Furthermore the young people who participate in Culinary Challenge programming have a head start on career advancement. 

Of the young people who participated in this year’s Culinary Challenge programming this year, seven were from Montgomery County.  These young people averaged 2 hours per week in food preparation practices over the course of 30-week period.  Montgomery County has fielded a senior division culinary team in every Kentucky 4-H Culinary Challenge that has been held.  Counting this year’s win, the program has won a total of four state championships and represented Kentucky in the National 4-H Food Challenge in Dallas, Texas each time.   This was the first year to enter a junior division team in the contest.