UJSSA’s Suffolk Lamb Culinary Competition: “Uncle Sam Lamb Slam”

Entry Deadline: October 15, 2026
Open to current UJSSA members ages 11-21.

As United States celebrates its 250th birthday, celebrate by cooking and promoting proudly raised American Lamb!

Eligible UJSSA members will design a main course entry to promote Suffolk lamb on a restaurant menu. Entrants will create the recipe, explain its origin and demonstrate step-by-step how to make it. Entrant is responsible for their own costs to prepare the lamb and for supplying any equipment to make it.

Rules:

• Each entry must take 30 minutes or less to fully cook.

• Practicing food safety and proper sanitation are important aspects of this contest. To learn more, view about cooking with American lamb, see: https://americanlamb.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2020-Lamb-CurriculambUpdated.pdf
• Submit a typed recipe listing all ingredients, steps in preparation, including cut(s) of American lamb used, plus cooking time and cooking temperature.
• In addition, describe the dish and explain its history, in 400 words or less.
• Submit an electronic photo of your completed dish, served on a plate and conveying an Americana theme.
• Submit a video of you preparing your entry from start to finish. Introduce yourself with your first and last name, the state in which you reside, plus the name of your recipe. Explain the history of the dish, stating each premeasured ingredient used, the steps in preparation, and showing you presenting the ready-to-eat entree on a plate. Also include the total cost of all ingredients used in it, including the American lamb.
• Follow the example for creating your video provided. Upload your video to YouTube on on the playlist “2026 UJSSA Lamb Culinary Competition” Video and all supporting documents for the dish must be emailed including with a link to the video with video to [email protected],by October 15, 2026, no later than 9 p.m. Central. List “2026 UJSSA Lamb Culinary Contest Entry” in your email subject line. Be sure to include your first and last name, address, phone number, email, as well as all the required information as noted above in your email.
• Contestants may compete as an individual or a member of a team, providing that all members of the team are current members of the UJSSA, aged 11-21.
• A UJSSA can only the contest as an individual, or as part of a team, but not both.

Each of the top 6 National Finalists will receive a $100 cash prize and a special culinary award presented by the UJSSA.

Check back for submission examples!