Students participate in culinary competition

Wallace family and consumer science students Hannah Sullivan and Hannah Nelson participated in the Beef Cookin’ Classic Culinary Competition sponsored by the Nebraska Cattlewomen Beef Council during the Beef Classic Days held in Kearney at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds on Feb. 20. 

Schools across the state participated in team or individual culinary events. 

Wallace students entered the individual beef appetizer competition. They were judged on culinary proficiency, knowledge, skills, creative abilities, flavor and presentation.

Each had 50 minutes to prepare, cook, plate and serve their appetizer featuring beef as the main ingredient. Each student had a butane burner to cook their individual beef product, and maintaining safe and sanitary conditions at all times was important. 

Sullivan prepared a seared beef tenderloin mini-sandwich with tarragon horseradish mustard sauce hor d’oeuvre appetizer.

Nelson won first place in the beef appetizer division with her preparation of chicken fried steak bites served with Cajun honey mustard sauce. Samples were enjoyed by judges and observers. 

One of the many highlights of the event was the opportunity to tour the University of Nebraska mobile beef lab with UNL Professor of Meat Science Dennis Burson, who demonstrated beef cuts. 

Teacher Lorie Artz and students appreciated the opportunity to learn about the career opportunities in the culinary field, observe culinary teams and learn more about the beef council and their support of schools.

All participants were served a beef lunch and went home with gift bags of information and items.