Procrastinators beware! The deadline for submitting the written entry for the 2015 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Recipe contest is Monday, June 15, no later than 5:00 p.m. It is so simple – just give us your name, contact information, age group, and category, along with a copy of your recipe. Then, on Saturday, June 20, bring the prepared dish to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. Judging will take place, followed by an awards presentation at approximately 3:00, depending on the number of entries.
The contest was cancelled last year due to a low number of entries. Numerous comments were made on social media about how sad it was that the event was cancelled. SO, I challenge those of you who would like to see the continuation of the contest to enter! Official entry forms are available at the Extension Office, 1200-B W. Houston, on the Hopkins County Dairy Festival website, on KSST website, and at Hopkins.agrilife.org.
In a nutshell, here are the guidelines:
- All participants must be from Hopkins County.
- All entries must contain at least two real dairy products (non-dairy whipped topping does not count!)
- Written recipe must spell out measurements (example: teaspoon, not ‘tsp’)
- Entries will be judged on flavor, appearance, texture, use of dairy products.
- Age divisions are: Beginning Cooks (ages 11 & under); Youthful Cooks (ages 12 – 18); Experienced Cooks (ages 19 – 59); Seasoned Cooks (ages 6- & over); Past & Present Dairy Festival Board members
- Entry categories are: cheesecake/desserts; Side Dish; Main Dish; and Appetizer/Snack
That’s all there is to it! You may drop off the written recipe at my office, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, 1200-B W. Houston, Sulphur Springs, or e-mail it to [email protected] before 5:00 p.m., Monday, June 15. Then, on Saturday, June 20, bring your prepared dish. Please make sure that your dish is kept at a safe temperature while in transport. They will be tasted and we don’t want to make any of our judges ill! Refrigeration and warming/heating will be available once you arrive at the Extension Office. If you have questions, feel free to call 903-885-3443.
2015 Hopkins County Tomato Festival
I was recently distributing my “Better Living for Texans” newsletters, and one of my friends commented that she wasn’t aware that Hopkins County had a Tomato Festival. Well, yes, we do indeed! The third annual event is scheduled for Saturday, June 27 in a new, wonderful location! But I’ll get to that later.
The 2015 Tomato Festival will include two separate opportunities for involvement. Here is a breakdown of the contests:
1) Tomato Growing Contest: classes are Cherry, Pear, Large Red, and Goliath (biggest tomato by weight). There are no age divisions, so anyone can enter. These must be from your garden – not store bought!
2) Tomato Recipe Contest: Classes are Main Dish, Side Dish, and Salsa/relish/jelly. Age divisions are Children (ages 12 & under); Youth (ages 13 – 18); and Adult (ages 19 & up). There are a few guidelines to keep in mind for the Tomato Recipe Contest. The recipe must have tomatoes as a prominent ingredient. Fresh, canned or frozen will all be accepted. Please submit a written copy of the recipe when bringing the dish so judges can see the ingredients, but please do not put your name on the recipe. (The entry form, available on site, will ask for your name, phone number and name of recipe). Again, please keep the dish at a safe temperature while en route to the contest headquarters. Dishes will be tasted by judges.
All entries are to be taken to the City Hall Courtyard (by the wall fountain) to be checked in between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. We’ll have canopies and tables set up, so you can’t miss it! Judging will take place at 6:00 p.m., followed by announcing of the awards at approximately 7:00 p.m., depending on the number of entries.
While you’re downtown, stake out your spot for the Independence Day concert and fireworks on the square! What better way to spend a Saturday night, than to enter the Tomato Festival and hear great music?
Closing Thought
A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him – David Brinkley
Johanna Hicks
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Family & Consumer Sciences
1200-B W. Houston
P.O.Box 518
Sulphur springs, TX 75483
903-885-3443 – phone
903-439-4909 – Fax
