Ohio 4-H Food Challenge
August 2, 2026
Kasich Building, Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds
The Winning Senior Team will advance to the National Contest
Date: September 29, 2026
Location: State Fair of Texas in Dallas, TX
Food Challenge Information:
At the Food Challenge, teams of 3-4 students receive a list of ingredients and have 40 minutes to create a dish. The teams then present their dish to judges and are scored on preparation, serving size, food safety concerns, nutritional value, and cost. Students qualify at the country and district level to compete at the state contest. Review all the rules in the Food Challenge Manual.
- Contest Overview
- Rules & Guidelines
- Preparation Scorecard
- Presentation Scorecard
- Worksheet
- Food Safety Fact Sheet
- FightBac – Fight Foodborne Bacteria Brochure
- Know Your Nutrients
- MyPlate Mini Poster (following Ohio 4-H guidelines, we will continue to use MyPlate in 2026)
Food Challenge Contest Timeline
- June 1 - Online Registration Opens
- July 1 - Online Registration Closes (unless capacity is reached prior to this date)
- Mid-July - Coaches receive final contest schedule including the time slot their team will compete
- August 2 - Contest at Ohio State Fair
- September 29 - National Contest at State Fair of Texas in Dallas
If you have questions about the Ohio 4-H Food Challenge, please contact Ryan Kline, event chair (kline.375@osu.edu; 740-702-3200) or Jacki Baca (baca.30@osu.edu; 440-326-5851)