Amy Riley, Austin, was a double-winner at the 2002 Mower County Beef Cookoff.

Riley's stuffed peppers with ground beef was the judges' favorite.

T. J. Medgaarden, the 2000 Cookoff champion, organized this year's competition, which was sponsored by the the Mower County Beef Producers.

The competition was held prior to the 2002 Midwest Steer and Heifer Show at Crane Pavilion on the fairgrounds in southwest Austin as part of the 2002 Mower County Fair.

Medgaarden recruited 10 entrants this year; the most ever for a Cook-Off contest.

The winners received beef certificates at Jim's SuperValu, Austin.

Eric Loftus, Dodge Center, claimed the Culinary Award.

Last year's cookoff champion, George Goodew, did not finish among the top five in this year's tough

competition.

The winners were: Scott Bendickson, Austin, 5th place; Glenn Medgaarden, Austin, 4th place; John Wolterman, Adams, 3rd place; Eric Loftus, Dodge Center, 2nd place; and Amy Riley, Austin, first place.

The contestants cookout skills were judged on taste, appearance, ease of preparation and practicality and overall appeal.

A large crowd of fair-goers gathered around the contestants as they worked over their grills preparing their mouth-watering beef delicacies Tuesday afternoon in front of Crane Pavilion.

The judges included Duane Germain, KAUS radio personality, and Ross Thede, sports editor of the Austin Daily Herald.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com