39 Jefferson Parish 4-H members competed in the Annual Commodity Cookery and Ambassador Illustrated Talk Contests held February 28, 2009 at Lakeside Shopping Center in Metairie, Louisiana. These 4-H’ers won the chance to compete at the parish contest because their dish scored at the top of their category at their club contest. Youth prepared the dishes at home the night before, chilled them to refrigerator temperature, and transported them on ice in an ice chest to the contest. The judges then heated the dishes as needed. The highest scoring dish in each category is the first place medal winner. First place medal winners are eligible to compete in the regional contest April 27, 2009 in Houma, Louisiana. Other winners received ribbons according to their overall score. The commodity divisions for the cooking contest are: egg, beef, poultry, seafood, and sugar. Several volunteers served as judges for the event. They enjoyed tasting the wonderful array of dishes. Dishes were judged on taste, appearance, recipe format, originality/creativity, and dietary guidelines.

The Ambassador Illustrated Talk Contest allowed 4-H’ers to gain public speaking skills. 4-H’ers designed a 22” X 28” poster and presented a 2 to 3 minute presentation about their commodity (egg, beef, poultry, seafood, or sugar). Topics included: Production of the commodity, food preparation and nutritive value of the commodity, best food safety practices, processing of the commodity, and marketing of the commodity. These winners are eligible to compete in the state competition which will be held Tuesday, April 21st on the LSU Campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Contestants were judged on appearance, visuals, content, presentation, length. 4-H’ers also had to answer one question from the judges regarding food safety or food preparation.

2009 Jefferson Parish 4-H Parish Commodity Cookery/ Ambassador Contests Winners

Beef Cookery – Medal Winners: Maggie Schouest, Kerner Elementary; Dani Bean, Kerner Elementary

Beef Ambassador Medal Winner: Maria Heredia, Birney Elementary

Other participant was Garland Stevenson, Grace King High

Egg Cookery – Medal Winners: Anthony Castro, Roosevelt Middle; Carlie Martinez, Kerner Elementary

Egg Ambassador – Medal Winners: Rebekah Rine, Birney Elementary; Anthony Castro, Roosevelt Middle

Other participant was Fosterikka Franklin, Roosevelt Middle

Sugar Cookery – Medal Winners: Hailey Castinglione, Kerner Elementary; Samuel Tejeda, Homedale Elementary; Taylor Crain, Kerner Elementary; Caleb Brown, Word of Life Academy

Sugar Ambassador – Medal Winners: Samuel Tejeda, Homedale Elementary; Caleb Brown, Word of Life Academy

Other participants included: Fosterikka Franklin, Roosevelt Middle; Shenique Hines, Birney Elementary; Alissa Mamolo, Maggie Schouest, Alayna Whittle, Amber Carbo, Ireland Smith, Dylan Camus, Kerner Elementary

Poultry Cookery – Medal Winners: Dana Boudreaux, Kerner Elementary; Mason Poche’, Kerner Elementary

Poultry Ambassador – Medal Winner: Sarah Alexander, Birney Elementary

Other participants included: Gaelynne Guidry, Kerner Elementary; Jenna Devillier, East Bank Teen Leaders

Seafood Cookery – Medal Winners: Tiffany Landry, Kerner Elementary; Floyd Navero, Kerner Elementary; Salvador Caillouet, Fisher High; Brooke Renton, Birney Elementary

Seafood Ambassador – Medal Winners: Brooke Renton, Birney Elementary; Laura Melancon, Fisher Middle; Brittany Landry, Fisher High

Other participants included: Ayanna Aaron and Helen Stevenson, Word of Life Academy; Fosterikka Franklin, Roosevelt Middle; Destiny Pascual, Solis Elementary; Desiree’ Camus, Hailey Castiglione, Krista Dobroniah, Kerner Elementary; Daniel Melancon, Fisher High

First place Cooking Contest winners. Second place Cooking Contest winners. These winners will be asked to compete at the regional cooking contest in the event the first place winner can’t attend. Judges Victoria Jeansonne (left) and Bertina McGhee (right) enjoy some of the poultry dishes prepared by the contestants.

First place Ambassador Illustrated Talk winners. Laura Melancon presents “Seafood Processing” to Alexis O’Dwyer Navarro, one of the judges for this contest. Laura is the first place winner in the 7-9th grade division of the Seafood Ambassador Illustrated contest. Judges Lekoma Akate (sitting) and Harvey Reed (standing) enjoy some shrimp pasta prepared by one of the contestants.