The Pioneer Iron Chef competition heats things up during the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. It features two divisions, one for youth and one for adults.
(PHOTO COURTESY OF LEA COUNTY)
LOVINGTON, N.M. – If, as the saying goes, that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then producers of the TV show “Iron Chef” should be thrilled.
A few years ago, the Lea County Fair Board began toying with the idea of a similar competition during the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. Thus, the Pioneer Iron Chef was born and will continue with this year’s exposition, set for July 31-Aug. 8, at the Lea County Fairgrounds in Lovington.
“I watched it for the first time last year, and I was really impressed,” said Marsha Groves, one of this year’s organizers of Pioneer Iron Chef, which will take place Thursday, Aug. 6, at the Yucca Building; the youth contest is at 4 p.m., with the adult competition following at 6 p.m. Registration is 9-11 a.m. Friday, July 31. “The rules are similar to the ‘Iron Chef” program on TV. The youth group really turned out, and it was really good. I didn’t get to watch the adult contest.
“There were three adults entered, and then there were nine in the youth division. We would love to get more adults participating.”
In a fair that features various competitions – mutton bustin’, horse shows, barrel races, Xtreme Bulls, the rodeo, livestock shows and other exhibits, just to name a few – Pioneer Iron Chef offers locals a chance to get into the action while showing off their culinary skills.
“The prizes are new this year,” she said. “They are going to get a buckle and an iron skillet. I really think the iron skillet’s a really cool thing to give.”
The buckle will serve as a symbol of the agriculture and ranching history in Lea County, and the skillet will be the perfect trophy to present to the best cooks in each division.
“I remember when I was getting ready to leave home at 18, and I didn’t know what I was going to do because I didn’t have an iron skillet,” Groves said. “Everybody needs an iron skillet.”
Both are attractive prizes, which might help spark more interest.
“I’d really like to see it grow,” Groves said. “I’d love to see us get more equipment for the participants, but they did a really good job with what they had last year.”
Groves is involved because she enjoys giving back to the community and enjoys working in the kitchen. It doesn’t hurt that her daughter, Amber, is on the fair board.
“Amber teases me and calls me Gordon because I like Gordon Ramsey,” she said. “I watch the cooking contests, and I like cooking and everything. I just decided I wanted to be more involved and try to help the program grow.”