Getting Healthy & Going Blue with the Healthy Linn County Challenge

Are you ready to get healthy and go blue? If so then you need to sign up for the 2013 “Healthy Linn County Challenge” with The Linn County Fair and Jenny Craig!

The Healthy Linn County Challenge is a three month contest open to all residents of Linn County. The contest will include teams of 4 to 6 people and individual contestants. The purpose of the challenge is to encourage people to lose weight by eating healthy and living an active lifestyle.

Jenny Craig will provide weekly healthy tips to help participants to eat healthy. The bi-monthly challenge updates will be posted on The Linn County Fair’s Facebook account to continue to encourage participants to follow through on their challenge to “Getting Healthy”. Participants can “Go Blue” and upgrade their lives by pledging their support for the Blue Zones Project at www.bluezonesproject.com.

Kandice Dowie,Jenny Craig Area Market Director Cedar Rapids/Coralville, talks about why they partnered with The Linn County Fair for this event, “Jenny Craig is all about transformation, and helping people realize that it’s a lifestyle change and one that can impact their entire family, especially the next generation. With the “Getting Healthy & Going Blue” Challenge, this is a great opportunity to help pay it forward in our local community. Jenny Craig is a proud supporter of the Healthy Linn County Challenge.”

A prize package will be given to the team and individual that loses the most percentage of weight by the end of the Challenge. The winners will be announced at The Linn County Fair on Wednesday, June 26th. The prize package will include money from the entry fees, a ticket to each of the 2013 Linn County Fair’s grandstand events, and prize package from Jenny Craig. All participants completing the challenge will be eligible for two grandstand tickets for a grandstand event of their choice during the 2013 Linn County Fair. Tickets will be distributed at the final weigh-in on June 18th and 20th.

To help promote The Linn County Fair’s 125th Anniversary the fair is offering a second reward to any team that loses 125 lbs as a whole. Each team member will receive a grandstand ticket to the event of their choice for the 2013 fair.

Individuals or teams can go to Jenny Craig (located next to Dick’s Sporting Goods at 4651 First Avenue SE in Cedar Rapids) or to The Linn County Fair’s website to fill out the entry form. Entry forms are due by March 22nd. First 100 qualified entries will receive a free t-shirt at their first weigh-in. See below for official rules or email info@thelinncountyfair.com with any questions.

The Linn County Fair and Jenny Craig are Getting Healthy & Going Blue with the Healthy Linn County Challenge 2013!

 

List of Rules

Open to ALL residents of Linn County Entry forms due by March 22nd. Please turn in at Jenny Craig or email to: info@thelinncountyfair.com Contest begins March 26th and runs through June 26th. Final weigh in dates are June 18th and 20th. Contest is open to teams of 4 to 6, or individual participants. Official weigh-ins will be on a bi-monthly schedule on your designated day, as marked on your entry form, at the Cedar Rapids Jenny Craig location. Contest leaders will be reported bi-monthly by either Team Name or individual first name and initial of last name. Participants are not required to be a Jenny Craig client. No membership is required. Special offers will be provided by Jenny Craig to contest participants. All participants completing the challenge will be eligible for two grandstand tickets for a grandstand event during the 2013 Linn County Fair. Tickets will be distributed at the final weigh in on June 18th and 20th. The Linn County Fair, Jenny Craig and/or The Blue Zone do not guarantee results, but encourage all participants to live a healthy and active life style.·         Shirts will be given to the first 100 participants. Prize money for winners will be determined by the number of participants in the challenge. Prize package will be given to the team and individual that loses the most percentage of weight. The prize package will include money from the entry fee, a ticket to each of the 2013 Linn County Fair’s grandstand events, and prize package from Jenny Craig. A second reward will be given to any team that loses 125 lbs as a whole to go along with the fair’s 125th anniversary. Each team member will receive a grandstand ticket to the event of their choice for the 2013 fair.

2012 Results -Quilt Block Challenge

The forth annual Quilt Block Challenge is now in the history books. Forty six blocks were submitted for the challenge.  Contestants used four pieces of 1800′s reproduction fabrics to create a quilt block. One of the pieces of fabric was designated as the focus fabric for their block. All fabrics were included in the kit that was provided by Connie’s Quilt Shop of Marion.

Blocks were displayed at the 2012 Linn County Fair June 27th- July 2nd. The blocks were judged for the Viewer’s Choice and received a $25 gift certificate from Connie’s Quilt Shop. The 2012 Quilt Block Challenge winner was block #14 created by Kathy Clemens of Marion.

Later the blocks will be made into a quilt to be raffled off at the 2013 fair in celebration of the fair’s 125th anniversary. All proceeds will go towards improvements of The Linn County Fair.

The 2011 Quilt Block Challenge blocks were made into a beautiful quilt that was raffled off at this year’s fair. Willie Larpenteur was the winner of the 2012 quilt raffle.

THE LINN COUNTY FAIR QUILT BLOCK CHALLENGE

The 2012 Linn County Fair Quilt Block Challenge contest will be commemorating the 125th birthday of the Linn County Fair (1888). Connie’s Quilt Ship will be supplying the kits that will include 1800′s reproduction fabrics. Fifty quilt blocks are available for purchase. Contestants may use 3 to 5 fabrics with one of those designated as the focus fabric for their block Kits will be available March 12, 2012.

 

Blocks will be display at the 2012 Linn County Fair June 27^th – July 2^nd. The blocks will be judged for the Viewer’s Choice that will receive a $25 gift certificate from Connie’s Quilt Shop. Later the blocks will be made into a quilt to be raffled off at the following year’s fair. All proceeds will go towards improvements of The Linn County Fair.

 

Rules:

• Contest limited to 50 participants. Open to all Iowa residents.
• Contestant will pay $5.00 per kit. One kit per exhibitor.
• Exhibitor may use 3-5 fabrics with one of those designated as the focus fabric for the block. All fabrics are included in the kit. Do not add fabrics. Do not quilt or appliqué.
• Exhibitor may use an established pattern or create an original block, (the block size must be 9 ½” by 9 ½”)
• Blocks entered become property of The Linn County Fair Association. Blocks to be made into a quilt and raffled off the following year with the proceeds going for improvements of The Linn County Fair. Extra blocks received may be made into a small wall hanging, shams or pillows.
• A $25 gift certificate to Connie’s Quilt Shop will be awarded for Viewers Choice.

 

To purchase a kit please email blackfords@thelinncountyfair.com, or contact Kris Blackford at 319-377-3992 or Jean Dunn at 319-377-6079. The finished block must be dropped off or mailed no later than Monday, May 7, 2012.

 

Stay tuned for your opportunity to purchase a raffle ticket for your chance win the 2011 Quilt Block Challenge finished quilt. Drawing will be held on Sunday, July 1, 2012 at the Linn County Fair, need not to be present to win. Raffle tickets will be for sale for $1 per ticket.

 

Linn County resident wins ‘Cook This!’ 4-H Challenge

State fair is over but the results are still pouring in. I came across the following article talking about the “Cook This!” 4-H Challenge and how Linn County resident wins….Very proud!

Twenty-two teams competed in three levels for prize packages and scholarships

Iowa 4-H youth in grades 5-12 had a chance to put their culinary skills to the test, and win some prizes, with Cook This! during the Iowa State Fair. Cook This is a food and nutrition challenge for youth in its second year. The challenge drew 22 teams this year who competed in the event Aug.15-17 in the 4-H Exhibits Building.

In the Intermediate category, first place was awarded to Triple B Country Cooks: Maree Bean, Attylissa Bailey and Sylvia Bain, from Linn, Marion and Monroe counties.

Photo: from left to right- Triple B Country Cooks: Laura Kuennen, Cy Gushiken, Maree Bean, Attylissa Bailey, 2011 Iowa State Fair Queen Paris Schnepf, Sylvia Bain, Scott Hoffman and Lois Carlburg

Teams were divided by age into three levels: junior, intermediate and senior. Teams in each of the three age groups tested their knowledge of food safety, produce, food preparation and presentation, and proper use of kitchen equipment, as well as a new category this year of communicating a food-related topic. In the final part of the challenge, the teams demonstrated their cooking skills as they prepared a particular dish.

The Cook This! Judges included “That Guy Cy,” Cy Gushiken, the owner of Ohana Steakhouse and Cosi Cucina restaurants in Des Moines.

The first-place team in each level will receive a VIP tour of Meredith’s Better Homes and Gardens Test Kitchen and photo studio. First- and second-place teams received a prize package, and all participants received exclusive Cook This aprons and Dahl’s hats.

Those sponsors include: Dahl’s, Iowa Turkey Federation, Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Successful Farming Magazine, Better Homes and Gardens Test Kitchen, Iowa 4-H Foundation, ISU Extension, ISU College of Human Sciences and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Fareway, Iowa Egg Council, Cookies and Tone’s Spices.

About the Iowa 4-H Youth Development Program
4-H is the nation’s largest youth development organization, serving more than 6 million young people across America with programs in leadership, citizenship, communication and life skills. One in five Iowa school-age youth participates in 4-H. In Iowa, 4-H Youth Development is headquartered at the Iowa State University campus in Ames. 4-H is supported by federal, state and county funding, private grants and donations, and fees. For more information about joining 4-H, contact your Iowa State University Extension county office at www.extension.iastate.edu/content/county-offices/ or visit www.extension.iastate.edu/4H.