Connor McBeth of Ames earns youth division title

More than 50 contestants competed along the Grand Concourse for $4,600 in cash prizes during Iowa Farm Bureau's 60^th annual Iowa State Fair Cookout Contest, with Matt Ouverson of Norwalk crowned champion. Ouverson's smoked and sliced rack of lamb topped with chimichurri sauce was favored by the judges over a wide array of entries from some of the state's best backyard chefs.

An Iowa State Fair tradition since 1964, Iowa Farm Bureau's Cookout Contest drew contestants

representing one-third of Iowa's counties, who smoked, grilled and barbecued entries in six divisions.

Competitors in the Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest earned entry by winning a county Farm Bureau contest in one of six categories: Beef, Lamb, Pork, Poultry, Turkey or Youth.

"The Farm Bureau Cookout Contest at the State Fair is a great tradition that celebrates the diversity of Iowa's livestock agriculture and some of the best backyard cooks in Iowa," said Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson. "We've had more than 2,400 Iowans compete in the Iowa State Fair Cookout Contest over the years, which is a testament to Iowans' love for real meat and sharing that passion through food with friends and family."

Ouverson's championship winning lamb dish topped several other lamb division entries in route to being selected as the contest's overall winner. He received $1,000, the champion's crown and a trophy as the 2024 Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest Champion. Ouverson also earned $400 for winning the lamb division.

Other first place winners, hometown and their winning category were: Richard Bishop of Granger, beef; Russell Place of Norwalk, pork; Michael Fritch of Mitchellville, poultry and Theresa Jones of Hubbard, turkey. All category winners received a $400 prize.

Second place finishers, hometown and their categories were: David Godinez of Carroll, lamb; Sarah Cruise of Olin, beef; Hunter VanEvery of Webster City, pork; Mo Knupp of Des Moines, poultry and Robert Pepin of Menlo, turkey. All second-place category finishers received $200. Sam Hall of Ollie finished second place in the youth division and won $150.

Connor McBeth of Ames topped a record field of young contestants to take home first place in the youth division. McBeth received a gas grill valued at $1,000 and $300 cash, courtesy of the Iowa Propane Gas Association. Logan Kahler of Boone earned laughter and applause from the judges for his flair behind the grill, presentation and engagement with fairgoers, all while dressed in a full cow costume, and received the $200 cash showmanship prize.

Prize sponsors for the Farm Bureau Cookout Contest include: Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Bureau Financial Services, GROWMARK, Inc., Iowa Propane Gas Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association, the Iowa Beef Industry Council, the Iowa Turkey Federation and the Iowa Poultry Association.

Editor's Note- Photographed from Left to Right: Johnson, Governor Kim Reynolds, Ouverson, Lt. Governor Adam Gregg and Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Mike Naig.

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