Saturday's Beef Cook-off shows Wilkes Co. beef at its tasty best

Visitors sample a taste of Flat Iron Steak carved by Smiley Casey of the Washington Jockey Club.

Saturday the Wilkes County Cattlemen's Association wrapped up its beef advocacy month by holding a Beef Cook-off at the Washington Farmers Market, with nine cooks competing in the third annual event.

Last year's winner, Tony White, again took top honors this year, winning $100 with his Flat Iron Steak recipe. James "Smiley" Casey of The Washington Jockey Club took second place, and John Harvey Edwards placed third. Winners will get engraved plaques and cutting boards, said Cattlemen's Association President Jeff Pendrey.

Pendrey said the observance was part of a program to raise awareness of the cattle industry in Wilkes County. "With all of our community outreach efforts this year, like the county proclamation establishing Beef Month in Wilkes County, and the radio trivia that has been running all month long, the Cattlemen's Association continues to raise awareness by holding a beef cook off at the Washington Farmers Market," said Pendrey. "The response has been overwhelming, both from entrants and from the general public who came out to taste test the beef and vote on the best of the best."

Beef Cook-off winner Tony White took the $100 First Prize with his steak recipe.

Working with the Cattlemen's Association is a win-win for local companies, too. "Not only does it draw attention to local meat producers like Tink's Grass-Fed Beef, but it also draws attention to local restaurants and purveyors that offer select cuts of beef," said Farmers Market owner Katherine Stolz Barber. "The Cattlemen's Association has been promoting a value-added cut of steak at the Washington Jockey Club, known as the Flat Iron Steak, and, according to restaurant management, sales have gone thru the roof!"

"Folks are really discovering cuts like the flat iron steak," Pendrey said, "which is a great cut of beef that costs only $6-7 a pound."

The Cook Off was sponsored by Southern States and the Washington Farmers Market.

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