"Breakfast On A Stick" Competition To Debut At 2007 State Fair

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Do you have what it takes to create the next, great "on-a-stick" concoction? At the 2007 Illinois State Fair, creative cooks will have their chance to do just that.

On Aug. 18, the "Breakfast on a Stick" competition, sponsored by the American Egg Board and Illinois Department of Agriculture Bureau of Marketing and Promotion, will choose the best breakfast food on a stick. The judging will begin at 10 a.m. in the Hobby, Arts and Crafts Building.  Entries will be scored based on the following criteria: creativity, 20 percent; appearance, 30 percent; taste, 40 percent; and ease of preparation, 10 percent.  Contestants will compete in two age divisions:  Adult (18 years and older) and Junior (17 years old and younger).  First place will win $75.  Second place will receive $50 and third place, $25. The top three finishers in each age category also will receive omelet kits. The awards will be presented at 12:45 p.m. in the same location as the contest.

Rules for the contest can be found in the General Premium Book, which is available online at www.illinoisstatefair.info, and include using at least one egg for each portion prepared. In addition, the display should not exceed ten inches and must consist of at least four identical servings. The recipe should list all ingredients, with measurements, preparation instructions, baking and cooking times, temperatures and number of servings included. The recipe must be submitted on an 8 1/5" x 11" sheet of paper at the time of entry along with the contestant's name, address and phone number.  Registration will take place in the Hobbies, Arts and Crafts Building from 9-10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18, just before the start of judging.

For more information, call the Bureau of Marketing and Promotion at (217) 785-7799.