America’s only amateur bread baking contest will make its home in Manhattan, KS, on June 22, 2013. The National Festival of Breads, sponsored by King Arthur Flour, Fleischmann's Yeast and the Kansas Wheat Commission, celebrates the relationship between farmer and consumer and highlights the art of baking bread at home.
The biennial competition, which seeks the best bread recipes from home bakers throughout the United States, is adding a Youth Category to this year's contest that is open to amateur youth bakers ages 12 to 17 from all over the nation. The adult competition is open to home bakers ages 18 and up.
"Baking is an activity that can be used at all ages for positive experiences, learning and a feeling of accomplishment," says Cindy Falk, nutrition educator at the Kansas Wheat Commission, and contest coordinator.
Adult competition categories include Ethnic Breads, Rolls, Time-Saving Breads, and Whole Grain Breads. Judges will vet all entries and select eight adult finalists, each of whom will receive airfare to and accommodations in Manhattan, to participate in national competition events June 20-22, 2013.
In addition to the eight adult finalists' awards, four special awards will also be given for the best recipes using particular ingredients such as white whole wheat flour, cranberries and raisins. Each special award winner will receive a $500 cash prize.
Youth categories will include Rolls and Whole Grain Breads. One Youth Grand Prize Winner will be selected from the entries and will receive an invitation for them and a guardian to attend the National Festival of Breads to demonstrate their winning recipe.
"Inspiring youth to bake can foster future generations of home bakers," says Falk. "These youth bakers can then pass on their baking skills as a service to local schools, communities and clubs."
Contest finalists will bake their recipes on site in Manhattan on Saturday, June 22, 2013. Judging will be based on taste, originality, ease of preparation, healthfulness, and appearance. In addition, each finalist will receive a $500 cash award, as well as a Wheat Harvest Tour in the Heartland and a visit to a working Kansas wheat farm, flour mill and grain elevator on Friday, June 21.
One adult contestant will emerge as the 2013 National Festival of Breads champion and earn a prize package worth nearly $5,000, including cash, an expense paid trip to a King Arthur Flour Baking Education Center in Norwich, Vermont, and a year's supply of Fleischmann's Yeast.
Entries from amateur bakers are being accepted now at www.nationalfestivalofbreads.com. A secure, easy-to-use form is available for bakers to enter recipes online; submissions will not be accepted by mail, fax, e-mail or phone. Original bread recipes must be submitted using the online entry form by 11:59 p.m. (CT) on Thursday, January 31, 2013. No purchase is necessary to enter or win.
For additional contest information, official rules, and to enter online, visit www.nationalfestivalofbreads.com.
Source: Wheat Foods Council
