Winta Ykeallo: Food Showcase Champion

Winta earned first place in all four Georgia 4-H Food Showcase contests.

Along the way, she discovered a spark that set her on a path to a career in medicine.

The kitchen in the Spalding County Extension office doubles as a culinary classroom. Throughout the summer and into early fall, 4-H’ers gather there to fine-tune creative, healthy, and delicious recipes in preparation for the Georgia 4-H Food Showcase contests. As they hone their technical cooking skills, they also experience immersive lessons in food safety and nutrition.

Winta Ykeallo has logged hundreds of hours in the Spalding County kitchen during her tenure as a Georgia 4-H’er. Just a few weeks after beginning ninth grade, she traveled to Rock Eagle 4-H Center to compete in her first Food Showcase. She grilled up the state-winning Chicken BBQ dish and helped her team sauté their way to victory in the Food Challenge group contest, earning her first two Master 4-H’er awards in the same day.

The aroma of the charcoal and the satisfaction of a good sear had Winta hooked. As the next September came around, she fired up the grill again and headed back to Rock Eagle, this time bringing home a blue ribbon in the Turkey BBQ contest.

“Winta is a remarkable student who consistently demonstrates enthusiasm and commitment in everything she undertakes,” said Elizabeth McGregor, Spalding County 4-H Agent. “Her readiness to learn and her unwavering determination are evident in the quality of her work and her unparalleled accomplishments within and outside of 4-H.”

The 2025 Georgia 4-H program year marked Winta’s senior year in Spalding County and a new opportunity to compete in the kitchen. Winta took the knowledge and experience she gained from Turkey BBQ, Chicken BBQ, and Food Challenge and channeled them to prepare for the final 4-H Showcase event: Egg Chef.

“If I could describe the 4-H Food Showcase events in one word, it would be ‘integral,’” Winta said. “The competitions have taught me important life skills, like cooking safety and public speaking, that are integral to helping youth become well-rounded people.”

Winta was named Egg Chef champion and became the first Georgia 4-H’er to earn Master status in all four Food Showcase events. She began her freshman year as a biology major at University of Georgia in August 2025 and credits her experience with 4-H food programs as the catalyst for her interest in a career in medicine.

Georgia 4-H Food Showcase is presented by Cal-Maine Foods & Eggland’s Best.