Certified Angus Beef Cook-Off Contest calls for team rosters
The American Angus Auxiliary contest displays youth beef knowledge and culinary skills.
April 1, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Holly Martin, director of communications
816-383-5143
The American Angus Auxiliary-sponsored 43rd All-American Certified Angus Beef Cook-Off Contest is calling for states to submit their team rosters. All interested National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members must enter by May 15. The contest will be held Monday, July 13, in Louisville, KY at the 2026 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS). This year’s NJAS theme is Bases Loaded in the Bluegrass.
A beloved pastime at the NJAS, the Cook-Off Contest provides an opportunity for NJAA members to display their knowledge of the beef industry, skills in the kitchen and creativity while enjoying friendly competition with fellow juniors. All contestants must be members of the NJAA and each team should be made up of two to six state junior Angus association members. States can enter a team in each category and age-division.
“We are excited to host the 43rd All-American Certified Angus Beef Cook-Off Contest, which serves as the oldest NJAS educational contest,” said Anne Lampe, American Angus Auxiliary beef education committee co-chair. “I have no doubt we will see the teams bring their A-game to this year’s cook-off. What better theme to lend itself to the event than America’s favorite pastime.”
Juniors will be challenged to grill up a menu that puts the ballpark concession stand to shame. The team will then present their meal to the judges in the form of a skit that is not only entertaining, but also highlights the team’s knowledge of the Certified Angus Beef ® brand. The cuts selected for this year’s contest are:
- Steak: Baseball Cut Top Sirloin
- Roast: Peeled Coulotte (which also comes from the top sirloin)
- Other: Frankfurters
The contest consists of three age categories: 7-13, 14-17 and 18-21. States should note that the junior age division will be open to contestants as young as 7-years-old, aligning with the new NJAA age rules. All ages will be determined as of January 1. Mixed teams may be entered but will be classified by the oldest member of the team. The contest will be judged by a panel of three judges. Winners in showmanship, recipe and overall excellence will be awarded special prizes.
Rules and the online entry form are available on angusauxiliary.com. For contest questions contact Anne Lampe at 620-874-4273 or amlampe.al@gmail.com or Anne Patton Schubert at 502-477-2663.
To download photo, click here.
Cutline: Kentucky juniors won first place in the senior other beef division at the All-American Certified Angus Beef Cook-Off at the 2025 National Junior Angus Show held in Tulsa, Okla. The team prepared Aloha Angus Stackers and also received claimed top honors in the recipe and showmanship categories.
Pictured from left are Austin Petow, Cynthiana; Colby Cooper, May's Lick; Kat Branscum, Nancy; and Katy Cooper, May's Lick.
AMERICAN ANGUS AUXILIARY
For seventy years, the American Angus Auxiliary has been working with the American Angus Association and the National Junior Angus Association to promote youth and the Angus breed. The American Angus Auxiliary has worked to develop a number of educational and promotional programs to benefit everyone involved in the Angus industry. The American Angus Auxiliary presents more than $18,000 in scholarships, each year, to ten young men and women involved in the Angus industry. As a member of the American Angus Auxiliary, you can play an important role by working to promote our youth and the Angus industry, meet the challenges of today's society and work toward developing our Angus youth into tomorrow's leaders. The American Angus Auxiliary offers individuals interested in the welfare of the Angus breed the opportunity to work together to provide educational, promotional and social programs and activities.
ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS
The American Angus Association® is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving more than 21,000 members across the United States, Canada and several other countries. It’s home to an extensive breed registry that grows by more than 300,000 animals each year. The Association also provides programs and services to farmers, ranchers and others who rely on Angus to produce quality genetics for the beef industry and quality beef for consumers. For more information about Angus cattle and the American Angus Association, visit www.angus.org.
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