Jefferson County 4-H Youth had taken an off day at school and learned how to make some southern delicacies from scratch.   Cooking is a life skill and supports math, science, language, social-emotional development, physical development (fine motor skills), and cognitive development.  

At 4-H Jam, Butter and Biscuits Day Camp, 18 youth had the opportunity to explore the art of homemade jams, creamy butter, and fluffy biscuits. Our team of 4-H staff guided youth through the process of making these delectable treats from scratch. Participants had to measure ingredients, scale the recipe to match the number of servings vs how many people we were serving, and roll out dough to specific dimensions. They also test the math skills of young chefs.  During the event, youth not only participated in hands-on workshops, where they learned various cooking techniques and recipes. Youth were allowed to make an extra batch of jam and take home the biscuit recipe to recreate at home and enter it into the 4-H Fair.  

Whether they were a beginner or a seasoned cook, this event was perfect for any 4-Her who loved food and wanted to enhance their culinary skills.  100% of the participants reported enjoying and liking the program.   35% of the participants felt they were challenged when asked to convert the serving size to match the number of participants.  90% of the participants felt they gained a better understanding of how to read a recipe.   Culinary skills increased by 80%, being that most of the participants had never made anything from scratch.

Overall the program was a great success!  Many youth expressed interest in participating in our culinary program held in the spring.   Participants reported that this experience gave them more confidence in the kitchen.