Midland FFA of Wyoming earns youth division title 

More than 50 contestants competed along the Grand Concourse for $4,600 in cash prizes during Iowa Farm Bureau’s 61st annual Iowa State Fair Cookout Contest, with Kaden Weber of Clinton crowned champion. Weber’s plate of smoked rump ribs was favored by the judges over a wide array of entries from some of the state’s best backyard chefs.    

An Iowa State Fair tradition since 1964, Iowa Farm Bureau’s Cookout Contest drew contestants representing half of Iowa's counties, who smoked, grilled and barbecued entries in six divisions. 

Competitors in the Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest earned entry by winning a county Farm Bureau contest in one of six categories: Beef, Lamb, Pork, Poultry, Turkey or Youth.  Those unable to make a qualifying event could sign up online for a chance to compete in the lamb, turkey, poultry or youth competition. 

“The Farm Bureau Cookout Contest at the State Fair is a great tradition that celebrates the diversity of Iowa’s livestock agriculture and shows the creativity and skill of Iowa’s best outdoor chefs,” said Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson. “We’ve had more than 2,400 Iowans compete in the Iowa State Fair Cookout Contest over the years, which is a testament to Iowans’ love for real meat and sharing an Iowa-raised meal with friends and family.” 

Weber’s championship winning pork dish topped several other pork division entries in route to being selected as the contest’s overall winner.  He received $1,000, the champion’s crown and a trophy as the 2025 Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest Champion. Weber also earned $400 for winning the pork division. 

Other first place winners, hometown and their winning category were: Sarah Cruise of Olin, beef; Jordan Williams of Des Moines, lamb; Mike Lambert of Peosta, poultry and Bubba Campbell of Marshalltown, turkey. All category winners received a $400 prize.  

Second place finishers, hometown and their categories were: Randy Stamper of Greenfield, beef; Chelsie Ver Mulm of Rock Valley, lamb; Bobby Quang of Des Moines, pork; Luc Berndt of Clarinda, poultry and Hunter VanEvery, Webster City, turkey. All second-place category finishers received $200. Cristian Lera of Carroll finished second place in the youth division and won $150.  

Midland FFA of Wyoming topped the field of young contestants vying for first place in the youth division. The Midland FFA chapter received a gas grill valued at $1,000 and $300 cash, courtesy of the Iowa Propane Gas Association. 

In addition to taking home the championship crown as contest winner, Kaden Weber earned praise from the judges for his flair behind the grill, presentation and engagement with fairgoers and received the $200 cash showmanship prize.  


Prize sponsors for the Farm Bureau Cookout Contest include: Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Bureau Financial Services, GROWMARK, Inc., Iowa Propane Gas Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association, the Iowa Beef Industry Council, the Iowa Turkey Federation and the Iowa Poultry Association.