In a few short days, the heat will be on! Bertie County is sending a team of students to participate in the Dinah E. Gore Healthy Food Challenge, where quick thinking is just as important as a sharp knife. 4-H teams are tasked with creating a dish using a secret ingredient that won't be revealed until the day of competition. The teams must also deliver a 5-minute presentation highlighting the health benefits of their dish and its nutritional profile.

The Bertie County team is being coached by Toniqua Young, 4-H Agent and Keilah Howard, EFNEP Educator. This collaborative partnership provides the youth with a strong support system and competitive edge. They have spent several weeks preparing for the competition by learning about healthy eating and engaging in hands-on food preparation. Keilah has trained the youth using the EFNEP Fuel For Life Curriculum to provide instruction on safe food handling practices, nutrition guidelines, and food resource management skills.

As the competition date approaches, the students have their attention fixed on finishing strong. While the secret ingredient remains a mystery, one thing is certain: the bond these teammates have built ensures that no matter the final score, they are already walking into the competition with a winning mindset.