Carroll Teen Takes Second Place In Iowa Farm Bureau’s Cookout Contest At Iowa State Fair

Cristian Lera of Carroll finished near the top of the podium this week at the Iowa State Fair during the Iowa Farm Bureau’s 61st annual Cookout Contest. Since 1964, contestants from around the state have traveled to the fair to smoke, grill, or barbecue to be judged as some of the state’s best backyard chefs in six different categories: beef, lamb, pork, poultry, turkey, or youth. Lera finished in second place for the youth division and brought home $150 in prize money. Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson says, “The Farm Bureau Cookout Contest at the State Fair is a great tradition that celebrates the diversity of Iowa’s livestock agriculture and shows the creativity and skill of Iowa’s best outdoor chefs. We’ve had more than 2,400 Iowans compete in the Iowa State Fair Cookout Contest over the years, which is a testament to Iowans’ love for real meat and sharing an Iowa-raised meal with friends and family.” Sponsors for the contest include the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Bureau Financial Services, GROWMARK, Inc., Iowa Propane Gas Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association, the Iowa Beef Industry Council, the Iowa Turkey Federation, and the Iowa Poultry Association. A list of the other winners is included below.

______

Overall Champion: Kaden Weber, Clinton.

Beef (1^st): Sarah Cruise, Olin,

Lamb (1^st): Jordan Williams, Des Moines

Poultry (1^st): Mike Lambert, Peosta

Turkey (1^st): Bubba Campbell, Marshalltown

Beef (2^nd): Randy Stamper, Greenfield

Lamb (2^nd): Chelsie Ver Mulm, Rock Valley

Pork (2^nd): Bobby Quang, Des Moines

Poultry (2^nd): Luc Berndt, Clarinda

Turkey (2^nd): Hunter VanEvery, Webster City