Pride of Iowa participants display their prizes (left to right): Brock Lowenberg, Ruby Lowenberg, Mycala Plank, Adelinn Beinhart, Emma Taylor, and Grace Taylor.

4-H’ers cooked up some Iowa pride during the 17th annual Pride of Iowa contest on Monday, July 17, at the Washington County Fair.  Contestants each prepared a recipe with an ingredient or ingredients representative of Iowa.  During the contest, participants handed out samples of their food, showed how to make their recipe, and answered questions from fair-goers.  Participants could enter as an individual 4-H’er, a team of 4-H’ers, or as a 4-H’er and adult team. Four groups of 4-Hers participated in Pride of Iowa with food items ranging from pulled pork sliders to watermelon sorbet to fruit pizza with local strawberries. The Judge’s Choice award, sponsored by the Noon Kiwanis, was given to Mycala Plank and Ruby Lowenberg of the Kalona Klassics for their watermelon sorbet. Each visitor at the Pride of Iowa event was given a piece of corn to vote for their favorite entry. The People’s Choice award, sponsored by Washington Keokuk County Corn & Soybean Association, was given to Emma and Grace Taylor of the Washington Go-Getters for their pulled pork sliders. The Pride of Iowa contest helps to make 4-H’ers, adults, and the public more aware of products made in Iowa.  Contestants were judged based on taste and flavor of their food, organization, uniqueness of recipe, health aspect, enthusiasm, public’s enthusiasm, display, and following contest rules.