By Amy Wallot
amy.wallot@education.ky.gov

The Kentucky State Fair is one of my favorite assignments every year. I really enjoy seeing the students working with the animals in the barns. It’s always something I focus my photography on while I’m at the fair. After the barns, I wander the fair to see what else students are engaged in.

When I was editing my take from this year’s fair, I noticed a theme emerging. The students were learning about different career options, including agriculture (of course!), culinary arts and manufacturing.

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture held the state’s first Kentucky Farm to School Junior Chef Cook Off.  High school teams took to the stage preparing dishes for an opportunity to win $70,000 worth of scholarships from Sullivan University. Students created dishes that were healthy, could be incorporated into school lunches and used Kentucky Proud products.

Ford Motor Co. set up a Ford Simulated Factory where students raced to see how many washers and nuts they could attach to a bolt before time ran out. This was the first time for this activity at the Kentucky State Fair. The students, and Ford workers, really enjoyed it.

North Laurel High School (Laurel County) senior Savannah Williams prepares to to bring in her black angus cattle to the Kentucky State Fair. Williams studies agriculture with teachers Dustin Estridge and Brandon Fawbush. Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 20, 2013

North Laurel High School (Laurel County) senior Savannah Williams prepares to to bring in her black angus cattle to the Kentucky State Fair. Williams studies agriculture with teachers Dustin Estridge and Brandon Fawbush.
Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 20, 2013

Spencer County Middle School 7th-grade student Sydney Warren, Murray State University sophomore Emily Hume and Spencer County High School senior school FFA President Darilyn Browning feed a lamb a shake before showing. Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 20, 2013

Spencer County Middle School 7th-grade student Sydney Warren, Murray State University sophomore Emily Hume and Spencer County High School senior school FFA President Darilyn Browning feed a lamb a shake before showing.
Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 20, 2013Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 20, 2013

Madison Southern High School junior Brittany Fryer, right, plates the chicken apple salad before presenting it to judges during the Kentucky Farm to School Junior Chef Cook Off. Also pictures are teammates Elliott Board and Rachel Montgomery. Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 20, 2013

Madison Southern High School junior Brittany Fryer, right, plates the chicken apple salad before presenting it to judges during the Kentucky Farm to School Junior Chef Cook Off. Also pictures are teammates Elliott Board and Rachel Montgomery.
Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 20, 2013Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 20, 2013

Whitley County High School juniors Marsha Allen and Carli Meade prepare chicken for their mesmerizing melon chicken salad during the Kentucky Farm to School Junior Chef Cook Off. Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 20, 2013

Whitley County High School juniors Marsha Allen and Carli Meade prepare chicken for their mesmerizing melon chicken salad during the Kentucky Farm to School Junior Chef Cook Off.
Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 20, 2013Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 20, 2013

Madison Southern High School (Madison County) senior Allison Gabbard slices crescents drizzled with Kentucky Proud honey to serve to judges and the audience during the Kentucky Farm to School Junior Chef Cook Off. Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 20, 2013

Madison Southern High School (Madison County) senior Allison Gabbard slices crescents drizzled with Kentucky Proud honey to serve to judges and the audience during the Kentucky Farm to School Junior Chef Cook Off.
Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 20, 2013Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 20, 2013

Ford Motor Co. employee Lamont Foust reviews Green County High School sophomore Laura Wright's work on the Ford Simulated Factory. Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 20, 2013

Ford Motor Co. employee Lamont Foust reviews Green County High School sophomore Laura Wright’s work on the Ford Simulated Factory.
Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 20, 2013Photo by Amy Wallot, Aug. 20, 2013