GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WTXL) - A seventh-grader at Deerlake Middle School won the title of Florida 4-H State Champion Pork Tailgater and a $1,500 college scholarship.
Sloan Finger won for his "G.W.'s Heavenly Ribs" by defeating 30 contestants from across Florida at the Straughn Center at the University of Florida before the Gators and Aggies of Texas A&M football game.
"I was ecstatic!" he said of his victory.
Finger said he used "indirect heat in the grill to create a flavorful, but not candied, and tender, but not mushy, spare rib with hints of real wood smoke, not liquid smoke."
The ribs were named for the pork state champion's grandfather, who passed away a year before his birth.
The contest sponsors - Winn-Dixie, Nationa Beef, Sonny's BBQ and Sanderson Farms - described it as an investment designed to prepare Florida's "youth with life skills, including smart decision making, healthy lifestyle choices and good communication skills."
Contest judges quizzed and scored the contestants on each of several factors, including fire and food safety, protein preparation, cooking strategy and execution. Then a set of judges blind-tasted each of the products.
Finger has succeeded before in 4-H's Life Skill efforts. As a Hawks Rise 4th grader, he place first in his school and third in the Leon County Tropicana Speech competition.
His subject then: "Real BBQ: An Elusive Meat."
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