What's for dinner? It's a mystery at the Du Quoin State Fair

Joy Willis of Benton was the winner of Tuesday night's mystery sack cooking contest at the Du Quoin State Fair sponsored by manager Dwight Hitt and staff at Associated Lumber. Janel Williams was second. Sammy Simmons was third. The nine contestants were given a boneless pork chop, a potato, a tomato, celery, an ear of corn, cabbage, a bagel, a Coke, a radish, Tostitos chips, a clementine orange and a green onion and had an hour to come up with a main dish, sides and a salad. Judging was based on presentation, taste and creativity.

Cooking has been king at the Du Quoin State Fair this week. Cooking demonstrations Monday were courtesy of the culinary department at Rend Lake College. That program returns on Friday night, as well. Check the fair's schedule for times. All of the foods used in th demonstration are made and grown right here in Southern Illinois. On Saturday, the fair cuts the ribbon at 11 a.m. on the Southern Illinois Marketplace inside the Exhibition Hall which will feature dozens of Southern Illinois wine growers, food producers and product vendors.