Morgan County Cattlewomen singled out 11 entrants as winners in the 2011 Beef Cook-off at West Morgan High School on Oct. 18.

The annual competition attracted 66 entries from five different schools, with 40 being judged in the senior division and 26 judged in the junior division.

In the senior division, Jessica Johnson of Austin took first place with a recipe she entitled “Peppery Beef Stir-Fry.”

Other winners were: Tiffany Nelson of Brewer and Mannie DeWeese of Priceville, tie for second place; Hayden Prentice of Priceville, third place; Dezaraie Hoffman, fourth place; and Mary Grubaugh and Marcia Northcutt, both of Brewer, tie for fifth place.

Hannah Edmondson of Brewer won first place in the junior division.

Following her in order were Colby Bowling of Danville, second place, and Courtney Davis of Brewer and Aubrey Richardson of Priceville, tie for third place.

Winners received certificates of achievement and cash prizes as follow: Senior division –  $75 for first place, $60 for second place, $45 for third place, $30 for fourth place and $15 for fifth place; Junior division – $50 for first place, $35 for second place and $20 for third place.

First place winners in both division qualified to compete in the State Beef Cook-off, which will be held in Montgomery on Jan. 15, 2012.

Teachers Holly Miller of Priceville and Debbie Gullion of Brewer each received a $30 cash prize for having the most students entered in the competition.

The cattlewomen sponsor the cook-off annually as a means of promoting the use of beef products.

“We had very good response this year,” said Laura Vest, president of the cattlewomen. “This is the most entries we’ve had in quite a few years.”

Judges for the event were Shirley Standridge, retired bank employee; Sue Smith, retired teacher; Felicia Hall, Wagon Wheel Restaurant; Joe Johnson, Logan’s Steakhouse; Valerie Hughes, O’Bryan’s Restaurant; and Herman Stringer, cattleman.

“What impressed me the most was the fact that a lot of the kids got out of the box and used a lot of creativity in preparing and displaying their dishes,” said Johnson. “They did a surprisingly good job overall.”

Junior division winners in the Morgan County Beef Cook-off, from left, are Hannah Edmondson, first; Colby Bowling, second and Courtney Davis and Aubrey, tie for third. | Clif Knight