An outdoor cooking contest designed to promote Iowa meat is being planned by the Tama County Farm Bureau. Contest chairman Susan Beichley says you don’t have to be an expert chef to participate; you just need to enjoy cooking outdoors with quality Iowa meat.

This is the 47th year for the Iowa Farm Bureau cookout contest.

Farm Bureau’s cookout contest is open to any Iowa resident age 13 years or older. Farm Bureau or affiliated company employees are not eligible.

Contestants can compete in one of the following six categories: beef, pork, lamb/goat, poultry, turkey, or combo/specialty. Combo is a combination of at least two of the six meats in one recipe. Specialty includes elk or any other Iowa domestically raised product (excluding wild game.) Beef contestants will be limited to chuck or round primal cuts including ground chuck or ground round. A Cookout Champion will be named, and awards will be given to winners in each category. Special recognition will also go to winners of showmanship, youth and team cooking categories.

The county contest will be held on Saturday, June 26, in Gladbrook during the Corn Carnival. The contests will be held at the west end of Main Street by the library. Contestants are asked to have their products ready for judging at 5:00 p.m.

The Cookout Champion, along with all first place category winners and winners of the showmanship, youth and team awards will have the chance to compete in the state finals at the Iowa State Fair on August 17, 2010.

Anyone interested in entering the Tama County Farm Bureau cookout contest is encouraged to contact the county office at 641-484-3361 or chairman Susan Beichley at 641-473-3057, email ransuhog@iowatelecom.net.