Breckinridge County recently hosted a Poultry BBQ Day Camp in collaboration with Hancock County. Dr. Jacobs led the camp, where participants learned how to safely prepare and cook chicken thighs and ground turkey. This class is part of the state-level poultry BBQ competition.

Together with Lisa Hagman from Hancock County, we organized this opportunity for our youth. The program aims to enhance community wellness through nutrition and safety. Given the rising prevalence of Alpha-gal syndrome in the surrounding areas, it’s essential for our youth to explore meat options beyond beef.

After preparing the poultry, the participants enjoyed a lunch made from their savory creations. We had 14 youth in attendance, ranging in age from 9 to 16, with a diverse group of male and female participants. This initiative will help our youth learn about alternative meat options while fostering a sense of community and wellness.

All the youth who attended thoroughly enjoyed themselves. None of them expressed interest in competing at the state level through the program this time. This is the first of many BBQ camps that Breckinridge will offer, and our goal is to send at least five participants to the state competition next year.