Welcome to Junior Chef


Welcome Back to Jr Chef! We have a couple of new updates for this year.

We have taken your comments and suggestions to heart and simplified the Jr Chef Championship process. First, the top 16 teams will be determined by a Recipe Contest instead of head-to-head competition, thus eliminating the need for travel during the busiest time of the school year. Also, once Teams are selected and move on to the Final Competition they will only be required to cook once. The top 3 places will be determined from these scores. This also minimizes travel time and expense.

As last year there will be a mandatory Team Leader/Coach meeting which will cover the new requirements, review the scoring rubric and required documentation as well as allowing time for Team Leaders to discuss ideas, and ask questions. New for this year, we are hosting workshops for Western, Central and Eastern Ky. Dates will be released by Jan 15th.

Please read through the Rules and Regulations listed in the Entry Packet for updates and watch for more info on the Team Meeting!

Chef Robert W. Beighey

2024 Junior Chef Bracket


Hundreds of Kentucky students have participated in the Farm to School Junior Chef competition since its inception in 2013.
The competition opens with district tournaments, followed by regional tournaments, and culminates in the state tournament at the Kentucky State Fair in August.

Junior Chef Tournament Bracket

Junior Chef Recipes


Junior Chef recipes must contain at least five local ingredients, meet NSLP guidelines, and must be relatively easy for school food service staff to replicate. Recipes are judged by taste, appearance, creativity, best and most use of local ingredients, and appropriateness for school food service systems. Here are recipes from past state Junior Chef tournaments. Click here to download an example of a recipe card.

  • 2013
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • 2016
  • 2017
  • 2018
  • 2019
  • 2021
  • 2022
  • 2023
  • 2024
BAKED FAJITAS

Mayfield High School

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FRUITY FRITTATAS

Barren County High School

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VEGETABLE PATCH LASAGNA

Oldham County High School

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MAMA'S ITALIAN SOUP

Fern Creek High School

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BOBCAT BREAD

Breathitt County High School

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MEXICAN PIZZA

Portland Christian School

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PANTHER'S BURGOO

Pikeville High School

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CHICKEN APPLE SALAD

Madison County High School

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HEARTY FIRE ROASTED CHILI

Fort Campbell High School

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GLUTEN‐FREE CHICKEN VEGGIE BAKE

Boyle County High School

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THE EASTERN KENTUCKY NOT BROWN

Menifee County High School

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MESMERIZING MELON CHICKEN SALAD

Whitley County High School

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OVEN BAKED PARMESAN CHICKEN WITH PINEAPPLE MANGO SALSA

Conner High School

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WILD BERRY GRILLED CHICKEN SALAD WITH STRAWBERRY VINAIGRETTE DRESSING

Montgomery County High School

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GENERALS' SALAD TOPPED WITH SAUTÉED CHICKEN & VEGETABLES

Thomas Nelson High School

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VEGETARIAN WRAP

Fern Creek High School

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LASAGNA

PHS Cooking Team - Pikeville High School

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MINI OMELETS

"Eagles", Madison Southern High School

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CHICKEN AND RICE CASSEROLE

Owsley County High School

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BREAKFAST EMPANADAS

Corbin High School

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GENERAL'S SLOPPY PHILS

"Purple Cow Crew", Thomas Nelson High School

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MEXICAN CRUNCHY CHICKEN WRAP

"Cool Beans" Henderson County High School

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STRAWBERRY CHICKEN WRAP

"4-H Farmalicious," Montgomery County Hign School

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GF EVERYTHING-ON-THE-FARM LASAGNA

"Boyled to Perfection" - Boyle County High School

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FRUIT SALSA WITH BAKED CINNAMON CHIPS

"Eagles", Madison Southern High School

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POTATO CRUSTED BACON CHEESEBURGER QUICHE

"Cuisine Rebels", Owen County High School

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HONEY CITRUS CHICKEN STIR FRY

Apollo High School

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CHICKEN QUINOA BURRITOS

Atherton High School (Jefferson)

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TROPICAL FISH TACOS

Ballard County High School

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BEEF AND VEGGIE BURGER

Henderson County High School

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VEGETARIAN LASAGNA

Owensboro County High School

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BLACK BEAR NACHOS

Harlan County High School

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BETTER THAN CHEESE FLATBREAD PIZZA

Fern Creek High School (Jefferson County)

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LAYERED TACO BOWL

Pikeville High School

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KICKIN' CHICKEN CHIPOTLE RANCH SALAD

Allen County High School

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SAVORY HARVEST STUFFED MEATBALLS

Montgomery County High School

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LOADED POTATO SOUP

Fayette High School (Southside)

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BAKED HOT BROWN PENNE

Anderson County High School

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CREAMY CHICKEN TAQUITOS

Corbin High School

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ROASTED VEGETABLE PASTA PRIMAVERA

Apollo High School

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CARDINAL CHICKEN MELT

Taylor County High School

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ROARING CHICKEN ADOBO

Fleming County High School

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CHICKEN CLUB PIZZA WITH FRESH GARDEN VEGGIES

Letcher County High School

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Bear Paw Quiche

Harlan County High School

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Shepherd’s Pie

Bath County High School

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BCHS Beefy Fajitas

Bourbon County High School

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Barbeque Pork Tacos with Apple Poppy Seed Coleslaw

Boyle County High School

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French Toast Bake with Berry Compote

Owensboro High School

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Cheesy Chicken Chipotle Quesadillas with Peach Salsa

Allen County Scottsville

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Baked Honey Garlic Chicken

Henderson Count High School

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Grilled Vegetable Banh Mi

Jefferson County Public Schools

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Spaghetti Nest with Parmesan Cheese Turkey Meatballs

Martin County High School

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Farmer’s Choice Dirty Rice

Montgomery County High School

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Southwestern Frittata Stuffed Peppers

Owen County High School

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Commodore Cajun Stuffed Peppers

Perry County Central High School

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Shepherd’s Pie with Mini Honey Corn Muffins

Pikeville High School

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Cardinal Fiesta Pepper

Taylor County High School

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Turkey and Veggie Lettuce Wraps

Trigg County 4-H Culinary Team

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Quinoa Stuffed Rolled Chicken Thighs

Whitley County High School

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Zesty Buffalo Chicken Wrap

Beaumont High School

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Wildcat Grilled Chicken Mac

Bath County High School

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Sweet Chili Chicken w/Rice

Harlan County High School

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Rowdy Rebels Chicken Fajita Bowl

Casey County High School

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Ratatouille

Perry County High School

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Pollo & Pavo Fajita Flatbread

Corbin High School

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Inside out Ravioli

Pikeville High School

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Farmers Luau Chicken

Montgomery County High School

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Chicken Fiesta Pizza

Anderson County High School

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Cauli-crust Pe-Za

Meade County High School

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Cardinal Club Wrap

Taylor County High School

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BBQ Chicken Flatbread

St. Henry High School

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Blackend Chicken Strips w/SW Corn

Boyle County High School

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Cheesy Ranch Chicken Casserole

Graves County High School

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Garden Grilled Veg & Penne Sld

KY School for the Deaf

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Pasta Salad for Lemon Chicken

Henderson County High School

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Lemon Herb Chicken & Pasta Sld

Henderson County High School

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TexMex Wraps

Pikeville High School

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The Lafayette Linguine (Carbonara)

Layfayette High School

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Sorghum Glazed Pork Loin w/Cabbage & Apples

Montgomery County

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Hot Chicken & Waffle Kabobs

Marrow C. Moore High School

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Cardinal Creamy Chicken Cacciatore

Taylor County High School

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Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry

Western High School

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Lemon Herb Chicken & Pasta Sld

Henderson County High School

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Beef Stew

Bath County High School

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White Chicken Chili

Butler County High School

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Caribbean Carnival

Boyle County High School

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Berry Marinated Beef

Grant County High School

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All in One Paella

Raceland High School

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Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Cumberland County High School

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Italian Hot Ham & Cucumber Salad Hoagie w/Cheesy Kale Crisps

Central Hardin High School

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Grilled Chicken Quesdilla

East Jessamine County High School

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Colonel’s Crazies Pork Burger with Colonel’s Spicy Slaw

Henderson County High School

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“Cat Scratch Fever” Burger

Bath County High School

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Philly Sloppy Joe & Veggie Slaw with Green Apple Vinaigrette

Montgomery County High School

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Squashed Italian Delight with Zucchini Cheesysticks

LaRue County High School

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Harlan Cristo

Harlan County High School

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Chicken-Bacon Vegetable Medley
Chicken-Bacon Vegetable Medley

Barren County High School

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Cater ‘Tater Soup
Wildcat Cater ‘Tater Soup

Bath County High School

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Cat’s Potato Soup
Cat’s Homemade Potato Soup

Bath County High School

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Polo Fiesta
Red Hound Polo Fiesta

Corbin High School

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Sweet Southern Wrap
Sweet Southern Wrap

Cumberland County High School

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Meatball Sub Sandwiches
Healthy Italian Meatball Sub Sandwiches

Greenup County High School

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White Chili
White Chili

Harlan County High School

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Hawk-O Soup
Hawk-O Soup

Larue County High School

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Grilled Chicken Salad
Grilled Chicken Salad

Spencer County High School

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Colonel’s Crazies Awesome Chicken & Veggie Bowl

Henderson County High School

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Honey Kissed Chicken
Honey Kissed Chicken & Market Fresh Waffles

Montgomery County High School

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Wilson Frittata
Wilson Frittata w/Richards Fruit Cup

Bath County High School

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Garlic Chicken with Couscous
Garlic Chicken with Couscous

Louisville Moore High School

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Roasted Broccoli with Bear Paws
Roasted Broccoli with Bear Paws

Harlan County High School

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Asian Meatballs with Oven “Fried” Rice
Asian Meatballs with Oven “Fried” Rice

Montgomery County High School

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Hungry Hawk Tacos
Hungry Hawk Tacos

LaRue County High School

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Roasted Gnocchi and Veggies with Pesto Chicken
Roasted Gnocchi and Veggies with Pesto Chicken

McCracken County High School

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Southwest Grain Bowl
Southwest Grain Bowl

Gateway Academy - Christian County

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Pineapple Seasonal Stir Fry
Pineapple Seasonal Stir Fry

Grant County High School

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Lasagnatouille
Lasagnatouille

Bath County High School

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Orange Chicken with Bok Choy Stir Fry
Orange Chicken with Bok Choy Stir Fry and Basmati Rice

Grant County High School

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Black Bean Burgers with Cabbage Slaw and Mango Chutney
Black Bean Burgers with Cabbage Slaw and Mango Chutney

Greenup County - Raceland High School

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Colonels’ Crazies Teriyaki Pepper Steak
Colonels’ Crazies Teriyaki Pepper Steak

Henderson County High School

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Not So Hot Brown Pasta - Sauce
Not So Hot Brown Pasta - Sauce

Jessamine High School

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Hungry Hawk Hamburger Assembly
Hungry Hawk Hamburger Assembly

LaRue County High School

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Chicken Fajitas
Chicken Fajitas

Jefferson County

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Greek Turkey Bowl
Greek Turkey Bowl

McCracken County

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Greek Turkey Bowl
Greek Turkey Bowl

Montgomery County

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Junior Chef 2024 Finalists


Below are the Junior Chef finalists who cooked their way to the final drive in the
Farm to School Junior Chef State Championship in Louisville.

Montgomery County

JUNIOR CHEF 1st Place

McCracken County

JUNIOR CHEF 2nd Place

Raceland Independent

JUNIOR CHEF 3rd Place

What to Know


All required forms, recipes, and the $150 team entry fee must be mailed to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and postmarked no later than April 15, of program year.

Ready to enter the Farm to School Junior Chef competition? Click below to read the rules, browse the Frequently Asked Questions, learn how the competition is judged, and download the paper application and parental consent forms.

  • FAQs
  • Judges
  • How to Enter

How to get Started: Get a Team together and start developing your recipe. Recipes must be submitted by April 15th in order to compete in Round One of the competition which will determine the top 16 teams who will compete at the state fair.

How do I register my team? For those who move on to the Top 16 the team application (and all required documents and fees) must be mailed to KDA by May 8th.

When and where is this event taking place? The Kentucky Farm to School Junior Chef competition will be held at the Kentucky State Fair August 15 – 25, 2024. The event is open to the public (gate and parking fee may apply) and will feature fun activities for the whole family including chef demonstrations, food vendors, and entertainment throughout the day.

Who can participate? Any Kentucky student in grades 8-12 is eligible. Each team must have two to five members. Teams may have an alternate student, but the total number of team members on the day of the competition may not exceed five. NOTE: Alternate team members must also submit their contact information and permission slip.

How can I get involved with Kentucky Farm to School Junior Chef? If you are a student in grade 8-12, you can show off your cooking skills by competing in Kentucky Farm to School Junior Chef on your high school cooking team. Otherwise, you can join the fun by volunteering or sponsoring Kentucky Farm to School Junior Chef.

Can our adult/chaperone help us cook? No. Only students may cook at the competition. However, coaches/ leaders may provide hands-off guidance and advice.

How much time do teams have to cook? Teams have 1 1/2 hours to cook and a half-hour to clean up. You may not bring any prepared foods to the competition. All food preparation must take place at the event.

Round One: A panel consisting of staff members from KDA, KDE and an additional Food and Nutrition professional will determine the top 16 recipes submitted by April 15th based on competition guidelines. See Jr Chef Handbook under How to Enter for complete list of rules and regulations.

Round Two: This takes place during the first few days of the state fair (dates TBD) Judges will consist of Sullivan University Chefs, KDE and other Food and Nutrition Professionals at all the Kentucky State Fair JR Chef events.

How to Enter:

For the Top 16 Teams that move on to the State Fair: The following forms must be filled out completely and submitted to KDA no later than May 8th.


Team Application

The Team Leader/Coach must agree to the conditions provided on the Team Application provided below. Failure to understand and follow these instructions will result in team elimination from competition.


Parental Form

This form must be completed, printed and signed by the parent/guardian of each student who wishes to participate in the Kentucky Farm to School Junior Chef Competition during the current school year. A completed form must be submitted by each team member along with their application and registration fee postmarked no later than May 8th.


Payment Options
Competition Fees

There is a $150 entry fee per Team for the competition. Entry fees help cover hosting costs of Kentucky Farm to School Junior Chef. Teams are encouraged to seek local sponsors to help alleviate expenses associated with participation including entry fee, cost of ingredients, etc. Fee may be paid by your Food Service Director per Kentucky Department of Education School Nutrition Division through SAE funds.

Entry Fees are due no later than May 8th of the competition year.


Recipe Submission

Initial recipes must be submitted to Chef Rebecca no later than April 15th of the competition year and must include the nutritional analysis. Details will be provided during the Mandatory Team Lead/Coaches Workshops in February. Dates will be released by January 15th.

All recipes must be entered and submitted in the Standardized Recipe Workplan template (RWP). For complete details on how to utilize the RWP please see the Jr Chef Handbook. Pages 6-12

Click here to download (pdf) the Jr Chef RWP template.

Team Leader/Coach Workshops

There will be a mandatory Team Leader/Coach workshop during the month of February of each year. Times and locations will be announced after the first of the year. If you are planning on participating or are just interested in participating with Jr Chef please contact Chef Rebecca at rebecca.shepherd-smith@ky.gov to make sure you receive all Jr. Chef announcements.

PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!

KDA will be hosting Practice Workshops across the state for teams during the summer. The locations and dates will be announced no later than May 15th.


Rules/Guidelines

The following is a short list of the competition requirements. For a full list please refer to the Jr Chef Handbook. Link is provided below.

Each team must have an Adult Team Leader who is present for the duration of the competition. Team Leader must be a school employee, parent, Chef or Adult Representative of related Community organization. Each team is also allowed but not required to have a Team Coach. The Team Coach could be a school food service professional, chef, farmer, Family Consumer Science Teacher or Foodie who helps the team create and practice a recipe in preparation for the event.

Each team may consist of 2-5 students. High School teams any combination of 8-12th graders. Note: Seniors may not be able to attend State competition due to event timing. Absence of a Senior team member does not require a team to withdraw from competition as long as there is a minimum of 2 other students on the team.

All transportation needs and finance approvals should be discussed with your school administration by May 1st.

If you are not able to attend the State Competition, please let KDA know no later than June 1st, in order to allow time for a replacement team to be notified and make travel arrangements.

Only students may cook during the competition. The Team Leader and/or Coach may only provide hands-off guidance in cooking techniques and safety. Any other adult involvement in cooking during competition will result in disqualification of the team.

Entry fees are non-refundable.

Contact Us


If you have any questions or comments you may submit them online.
Be sure to mail your $150 team entry fee and application to:
Kentucky Farm to School Junior Chef
Kentucky Department of Agriculture
107 Corporate Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601
ATTN: Jr Chef Program
Email: rebecca.shepherd-smith@ky.gov or tina.garland@ky.gov

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