Wyatt Lewis of Story County Captures Youth Division Title with Governor Reynolds Proclaiming ‘Farm Bureau Day’ at Iowa State Fair

Troy Anderson of Fort Dodge impressed the judges and stood out among the 45 other contestants representing 17 counties to claim the coveted championship crown, trophy, and the title of 2019 Iowa Farm Bureau ‘Cookout Champion.’  Anderson’s winning chuck roast placed first in the beef category of the contest and was voted as the championship-winning dish.  Anderson’s dish was favored by the judges over a wide array of entries from some of the state’s best backyard chefs during the annual contest held along the Grand Concourse at the Iowa State Fair. 

Competitors in the Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest first had to qualify by smoking, grilling, or barbecuing their way to victory in a county Farm Bureau contest in one of eight categories: Beef, Combo/Specialty, Lamb, Pork, Poultry, Turkey, Team, or Youth.  Anderson qualified by winning the beef division during the Hamilton County Farm Bureau Cookout Contest held earlier this summer.     

The Iowa Farm Bureau-sponsored contest always features a range of entries and cooking styles.   Anderson’s winning slow-smoked chuck roast beat out traditional entries like prime rib, pork loin, and smoked and grilled chicken and turkey dishes, and some more exotic entries like Hawaiian lamb burgers, breakfast bratwursts, and bacon-wrapped jalapeno popper meatloaf.

“The annual Farm Bureau Cookout Contest on the Grand Concourse is a great way to showcase the diversity of Iowa livestock production and celebrate some of Iowa’s best backyard cooks,” says Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) President Craig Hill.  “The Farm Bureau Day Cookout Contest provides a unique opportunity for consumers to witness the preparation of some amazing dishes and sample many great Iowa-raised meats including beef, pork, poultry, turkey, and lamb while celebrating the diversity and importance of Iowa agriculture.”

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds was on hand signing a proclamation declaring Tuesday, August 13, 2019, Iowa Farm Bureau Day at the Iowa State Fair and congratulating contest winners and their families.  The Tuesday of the State Fair has long been considered ‘Iowa Farm Bureau Day,’ and Governor Reynolds’ official proclamation noted IFBF’s commitment to Iowa farm families and their communities across the state through support in a number of important areas including something Reynolds noted was critically important to her, youth and education. 

Anderson’s championship winning chuck roast topped the other beef entries in route to being selected as the contest’s overall winner.  He received $200, the champion’s crown, and a trophy as the 2019 Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest Champion.

Other first place winners, county contest represented, and their categories were: Shannon Glaser from Adair County, lamb; Jared Merchant from Benton County, pork; Mike Anderson from Madison County, poultry; Ben Zehr from Iowa County, turkey; and Scott Degeneffe from Boone County, combo/specialty.  All category winners won $150. 

Second place finishers, county contest represented, and their categories were: Bob Carson from Lee County, beef; Shane Lindstrom from Hamilton County, pork; Mike Anderson from Madison County, poultry; Ben Zehr from Iowa County, turkey; and Duran Barlow from Hamilton County, combo/specialty.  All second-place category winners won $100.

Winners in special categories were youth first place – Wyatt Lewis of Maxwell; showmanship – Thyron Mathews of Oelwein; and team winner– Shawn McDermott and Kyle Johnson of Newton.  Lewis received a gas grill valued at $1,000 and $150.  The youth prize was donated by the Iowa Propane Gas Association.  Mathews received $150, and the team winners received $200.       

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, Iowa Poultry Association, and the Iowa Sheep and Wool Promotion Board.

Click here for the championship-winning dish “Troy’s Chuck Roast” and other recipes from the 2019 Cookout Contest.