What is Favorite Foods Day:
An event in which 4-H members of all ages create a menu, prepare one dish from that menu, and present it with an appropriate table setting. Exhibitors must be prepared to answer questions based on their level of expertise. Competitors are judged against a criteria including appearance, presentation, and knowledge.

Who is in Charge:

• County Family and Consumer Science Chairperson and County Foods Chairperson
• The committee will be comprised of 1/3 youth and 2/3 adult volunteers

When:

• Typically in the early Spring.
• Lasts approximately 4 hours, beginning in the morning so that after judging is completed, all participants and their families may sample the favorite dishes.

What to do:

• 1 year in advance:
  • Check with Youth Development Advisor to select date
  • Reserve rooms that are wheelchair accessible. When reserving facility, obtain a lease agreement (if not already in place) and submit it unsigned to the 4-H YDA for processing.
  • Notify Council Vice President of date to place on calendar.

• 6 months in advance:
  • Begin publicity
  • Recruit youth and begin holding committee meetings to select theme

• 3 months in advance:
  • Continue publicity
  • Begin recruitment of judges
    Develop budget and check figures with county council treasurer
  • Put applications on web. Applications must be approved by YDA first.
    Send out applications to all eligible youth through the 4-H Office
    Order awards from Awards Chair
• 1 month in advance:
  • Publicize specific rules, time, directions and location of the event in the Timely Topics. Monthly deadline is the 15^th.
  • Meet with committee
  • Confirm judges and facility

• 1 week in advance:
  • Assign judging times to applicants (approx. 10 minutes each)
  • Re-confirm facility

• Day of:
  • Set up tables and room 1 hour before participants arrive
  • Assign areas for participants to set up place settings
  • Awards presentation
  • CLEAN UP afterwards

• 1 week after:
  • Update the binder for the following year
  • Send thank-you cards to judges

Sample Publicity Ideas:

• Report at County Council Meeting/Executive Board meetings
• Send information in county club packets through the 4-H office - Flyer must be approved by the 4-H Youth Development Advisor
• Advertise in the Timely topics (Deadline is the 15^th of each month)
• Hold a Favorite Foods Day workshop explaining and demonstrating what to do
• Volunteer to attend club meetings and report
• Encourage members of all ages to attend and/or exhibit

Sample Judges:

• Jr. Judges (Foods project junior or teen leaders) may help for the experience but their score sheets will not be included in the tallied results.
• Two judges per 15 participants
• Adult judges may be club leaders, parent volunteers, CE Office staff, or interested adults. They need not be a part of 4-H.