Country Ham Project Group (grades 6-12)

Due to modern technology many skills that our ancestors used to survive are being lost. The Country Ham Project Group is designed to teach young people the old-fashioned way ham was cured by our ancestors, without artificial preservatives. Mr. Bob Woods of G&W Hamery in Murfreesboro teaches the skills needed to cure a country ham and the business and background of the Hamery. This process takes several months and over the time spent at the hamery the 4-H members learn other skills besides just how to cure a ham. After the hams are cured Mr. Bob enters the 4-H members’ hams in competition where they can win ribbons and prize money. The hams are ready to be taken home by early November and enjoyed by your family. Our first meeting will be Monday, November 8th at 5:30 pm at G&W Hamery, 411 W. Lytle St., Murfreesboro. Cost is $35.00, and there is a limit of ten participants. For more information contact Barbara Davenport at 898-7710 or bdavenp4@utk.edu.

National 4-H Cornbread Cook-Off

ATTENTION ALL 4th GRADERS:

Tennessee 4th grade 4-H club members are invited to celebrate cooking and cornbread by entering a recipe in the National 4-H Cornbread Cook-off Contest. Recipes should be creative and easy to prepare and must contain at least one cup of Martha White Corn Meal or one package of Martha White Corn Meal Mix and be cooked in Lodge Cast Iron Cookware.
Novice cooks should submit their entries by March 2, 2010 to Vicki Lofty, Marion County UT Extension, 302 Betsy Pack Drive, Jasper, TN 37347.

Recipes will be reviewed and 10 lucky 4-H’ers will be invited to participate in the youth cook-off at the National Cornbread Festival on April 24, 2010 in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. Finalists will have one hour from start to finish to prepare their cornbread dish. Judging of the finished recipe will be based on creativity; texture, appearance, ease of preparation, appropriate use of products and of course - flavor!

The 4-H slogan is “Learn by Doing”, so 4th grade 4-H’ers get in the kitchen and learn to cook. Prepare a yummy cornbread dish that will make mouths water! Prize are as follows: 1st place - $400; 2nd place - $200; 3rd Place - $100 and the other seven finalists will each receive $50. All 10 finalists also receive special gifts from Lodge Cast Iron and Martha White. The 4-H agent or 4-H Program Assistant and the teacher of the winning contestant will each receive $50. Youth traveling more than 100 miles to the competition will receive $100 travel money.

Vicki Lofty, Marion County UT Extension Agent invites youth from all regions of the country to enter. “Every year I am amazed at the amazing tasty and creative recipes that are submitted,” said Lofty. To celebrate 100 years of UT Extension and 4-H in Tennessee, Marion County 4-H Clubs have compiled a cookbook containing a collection of recipes from the past finalists in the National Cornbread Festival Cook-off. Funds from the sale of the six dollar cookbooks will be used to fund 4-H youth projects and activities. For more information about purchasing a cookbook or the cook-off contact 423-942-2656. Contest guidelines are also available at www.nationalcornbread.com.

4-H Cooking Classes Offered

MURFREESBORO-The Rutherford County Extension office is offering 4-H Basic Cooking classes in July. There will be a class for 4th and 5th graders on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 and a class for 6th – 8th graders on Wednesday, July 30, 2008. These classes will cover the basics of measuring, baking and cooking terms. They will participate in cooking activities and will get to sample their dishes.

Both classes will be held from 9:30am to 1:00pm. They will be held at the Extension office at Lane-Agri Park, 315 John R. Rice Blvd., Murfreesboro. Each class is limited to ten youth. Cost is $5.00. Please call the Extension office at 898-7710 to register or for more information. Registration Deadline: July 8.