Pull out your favorite rice recipes and begin planning for the annual Rice Dish Round-Up cooking contest!
This year’s annual Rice Dish Round-Up Contest will be Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the Multi-Purpose Building at the Matagorda County Fairgrounds in Bay City, during Rice Festival Week.
The Rice Dish Round-Up Contest is open to any resident of Matagorda County meeting the age requirements of the contest.
The entry forms - including typed recipes for the contest - are due Thursday, Sept. 15, by 5 p.m. in the Matagorda County Extension Office located at 2200 7th Street, 3rd floor in Bay City.
All food dishes and recipes must contain a minimum amount of rice or rice product as outlined in the contest rules.
The purposes of the contest are to: teach new and different ways to prepare rice dishes; teach economy in meal planning – ways to extend meat dishes by using rice; promote the value of rice in the county’s agricultural program, and provide leadership and recognition for Matagorda County’s youth and adults.
There are four age divisions for entering including three divisions are children in school: Juniors - grades 1-5; Intermediates - grades 6-8; and Seniors - grades 9-12.
The fourth division is Adults - men and women out of grade school.
So, let’s get creative and promote rice – a valuable commodity in Matagorda County!
Late entries will not be accepted and there is no participation fee for the contest this year.
The fully prepared rice food dishes should be brought in between 9 - 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, to enter them at the Multi-Purpose Building.
No entries will be accepted after 10:30 a.m. and students will not be excused from school to bring their entries to the Multi-Purpose Building.
Please arrange for an adult to take your food dishes to enter between 9-10:30 a.m. Oct. 18.
There are five food categories that can be entered: Main Dish, Side Dish, Snack or Appetizer, Bread, and Dessert.
An individual may enter one food dish in each category if desired.
The entries will be judged on taste/flavor, texture, suitability of recipe, and appropriate/attractive display of food.
Public viewing of the judged dishes will be from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Oct. 18.
The overall division and category winners will be announced at 4:30 p.m., and awards/prizes will be presented.
For questions or a copy of the entry forms and general rules for entering the Rice Dish Round-Up, come by the Matagorda County Extension Office or call 979-245-4100 to receive by e-mail.
The contest is sponsored by the Bay City Lions Club with Wayne Witte serving as Lions Committee Chairman for the contest.
