Emanuel County Family Connection con-ducts two-week-long cooking classes

June 2-5, twenty-five students attended Emanuel Chopped Jr. cooking classes to learn cooking skills, nutrition and healthy competition with their peers. Family Connection volunteers supervised the four-day event each week that went from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily to give the young chefs the opportunity to learn creative culinary skills as well as basic healthy food preparation to use at home.

June 9-12, twenty-five students who had previously attended a class were challenged to use their skills in preparing foods for the group as well as the expected competitions that were judged for an overall winner. Both beginner and advanced chefs are coached to give oral presentations on their culinary creations before the group. Public speaking is an added valuable skill that these students get a “taste of” during our Chopped Jr. week of learning in addition to trying new foods and how to prepare them. Students also receive take home chef gear to help them continue their interest and share their culinary skills with family and friends.

Special thanks go to Mill Creek Foundation for funding the project, Family Connection Board members who donated hours completing creative projects, Family Connection volunteers who worked daily with the students, volunteer judges and Swainsboro Elementary School.