The Iowa Farm Bureau is seeking backyard chefs to compete for its 60th Cookout Contest grand champion crown at the 2024 Iowa State Fair. The event, held annually on the Grand Concourse during Farm Bureau Day at the fair, hosts up to 60 backyard chefs vying for the champion title and $4,500 in cash prizes. 

There are two ways to enter. The overall winner of a county Farm Bureau Cookout Contest receives an automatic bid to the state competition. Those unable to make a qualifying event can sign up online for a chance to compete in the lamb, turkey, poultry or youth competition. The contest is a celebration of Iowa-raised meats and the farmers who provide them with animal care and sustainability as a top priority. Entry categories include pork, beef, turkey, lamb, poultry and a youth division. https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/News/Iowa-Farm-Bureau-Cookout-Contest