By Anthony Howard
Jackson State University’s Office of Community Engagement partnered with Blackburn Middle School for its 5th annual Greens Festival and Cook-off. On Friday, Dec. 13, the event had its largest turnout, with 12 student contestants cooking alongside a parent, grandparent, guardian, or volunteer to show off those culinary skills.
“This is a full circle moment. Months ago the students planted seeds in the Blackburn Learning Garden and yesterday they harvested them and today they’re cooking the greens for the annual festival and cook-off,” said Heather Denne’, director of JSU’s Office of Community Engagement.
The learning garden was created in collaboration with Blackburn Middle School to promote beautification in the West Jackson Community while teaching the middle school students about nutrition and growing their own food.
Eric Jackson, principal of Blackburn Middle School, expressed his support of the collaboration with JSU and commends the life skills his students are learning beyond the classroom,
“It is one of the most beneficial programs we have to show community support and get parents and students involved in learning how fruits, vegetables and nutritious meals are prepared and grown before they make it to the table,” Jackson shared.
The contestants had four hours to prepare their best pot of greens to be tasted by judges and festival attendees. As the pots began to boil, filling the gymnasium with the soulful aroma of home-cooked greens, Annie Quinn and her great-granddaughter worked cohesively on a family recipe that spanned generations.
“My great-granddaughter talked me into coming, and she likes my greens at home, so I didn’t want to let her down,” said Quinn. “My mother was a chef, and I learned a bit from her.”
She said win or lose, the most important thing to her was having fun cooking with her great-granddaughter.
“This is a great way to make memories together, and I like that the school held this event so we can have holiday fun with our family,” added Aniyah Hudson, Quinn’s great-granddaughter.
JSU’s Office of Community Engagement invited special guests to serve as judges for the cook-off. Zakiya Summers, MS Representative of District 68, Jackson City Councilman Vernon Hartley, and Phil Stamps, Jr., were among the host of judges.
The first-place winners of the cook-off were Jeremiah and Clarence Honer, Cameron Watts, and Shonika Cooper, who came in second place, and the third-place winners were X’Zavien Nichols and Eric T. Wall.
The winners were awarded trophies and JSU themed gift baskets.
