By STEPHANIE FAROH, MA, RD, CD
Extension Educator-Health and Human Sciences, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Have you ever dreamed about being the next Julia Child, Gordon Ramsay, or Rachael Ray?

I remember watching old Julia Child videos with my cousins as we pretended to host our own cooking show. July is National Culinary Arts month so it’s a great time to promote awareness of professional cooks and chefs, especially those who choose to share healthy options. With the popularity of cooking shows and celebrity chefs on the rise, more and more Americans are learning about new food trends and maybe even considering a career in the culinary arts. The Food Network channel is now seen in over 100 million homes, but you don’t need the food network to experience fantastic culinary arts.

Kosciusko County is loaded with great places to eat and to experience food as an art. Whether you are dining out or simply coming out to the Kosciusko County Fair, you can see and try some fantastic food.

Last week I wrote about enjoying fair food in moderation, but you can still smell, look, and learn all you want. The kids presenting foods in 4-H and all those who exhibited their favorite recipes in the open class show have shared their talents and ideas with all. For example, our Best of Show winner in the open class was Barb Engle with her delicious chiffon cake. Come visit us in the Home and Family Arts Building at the fair to see Barb’s cake and many more wonderful culinary creations.

If you would like to share your culinary creations with the public of Kosciusko County, everyone, both youth and adults, are welcome and invited to participate in open class. Judging this year has finished, but stop by the extension office or visit our website or information and guidelines on how to participate next year.

Not all of our open class exhibitors participate in the foods or food preservation departments. We also have beautiful exhibits in agriculture, crafts, fine arts, garden flowers and plants, herbs, needlework, and sewing. Many exhibitors are first-timers and have just learned to sew or are only getting started with gardening. Come share your talents with your community.

If you are interested in joining the culinary world through 4-H, be sure to watch the newspaper and website for announcements on enrollment times in October. 4-H offers many exciting projects too, and you don’t need to bake, own animals, or live on a farm to participate. You could try our robotics project, creative writing, geology, or photography to just name a few.

Though I’d never consider myself a chef and I will never be like Julia Child, I still love to make new creations. Come see us at the fair for new ideas so you can bring out your inner Julia Child, Gordon Ramsay, or Rachael Ray and try something new for culinary arts month.

Here’s to a healthier you!

For more information please call Stephanie at the Purdue Extension Kosciusko County office at (574) 372-2340, or email at [email protected].