In 2012-13, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture launched the Kentucky Junior Chef competition to teach students to cook, educate them about the importance of buying local food and impact the school meals with recipes being incorporated into the school lunch program.  For five years the Montgomery County 4-H Junior Chef team has created these nutritional and delicious recipes that include the MyPlate food groups.  The team endeavor has resulted in the members learning the vital culinary skills of planning nutritious dishes, utilizing locally-produced ingredients; practicing safe food handling methods; and improving their food preparation knowledge and skills. For the members, it has heightened their awareness of local food production and the benefit of incorporating these foods into their daily diets.  As a result, their creative recipes have increased the quantity of local products served in the school cafeteria and has provided additional opportunities for the teen members to explore career patterns in the culinary arts. USDA recently recognized the efforts of the Kentucky Junior Chef contest, and specifically the Montgomery County 4-H Junior Chef team for its ongoing achievements in promoting lifelong healthy food choices and engaging young people in the farm-to-school program.