Adolescence marks the beginning of a healthy lifestyle journey, with essential kitchen skills being a non-negotiable. In a unique twist inspired by the popular TV show "Chopped", our Family and Consumer Science Agents, Sarah Ware and Jessica Gardner, captivated the interest of young individuals in food safety and nutrition. Addressing one of the top concerns self-reported by residents of Onslow County—obesity—Sarah Ware collaborated with Stephanie Stevenson, the FCS Agent from Carteret, Tara Taylor, our 4-H Agent, Paige Svetahor, the EFNEP Agent, and Melissa Huffman, the Field Crops & Livestock Agent, to orchestrate a 3-day class for 13 children aged 9-13. Held at Hines Farm Park in January 2024, this intensive workshop spanned two hours each day, focusing initially on imparting knowledge about kitchen safety, proper knife handling, cooking temperatures, and the fundamentals of MyPlate.

On the final day, the young participants put their newfound skills to the test in a friendly cooking competition. Esteemed judges, including Allison Mattocks, Jan Smith, and Matthew Ware, were tasked with sampling their creations and selecting the top winning team. 

A heartfelt appreciation goes out to our judges for graciously lending their taste buds to evaluate our budding chefs' dishes. Congratulations to our triumphant winners of Chopped: (2024)!

We extend immense gratitude to all the enthusiastic 4-H members who eagerly participated. Your active involvement and eagerness to learn significantly contributed to the success of this workshop! Notably, our agents successfully educated 100% of the children on safe and efficient cutting techniques, 99% on appropriate portion sizes, and all 13 participants on the importance of preventing cross-contamination. These invaluable skills empower youth to evolve into healthy adults capable of disseminating their knowledge to others.