Coming this weekend, professional restaurant chefs and home-cookers alike will have the opportunity to put their food specialties to the test.

On Saturday, Sept. 21, during the annual Farm City Day, Foodworks Alliance will be hosting a Fun with Food Competition in the Veteran’s Complex at the Muskingum County Fairgrounds.

The annual event highlights the benefits that agriculture brings to the community.

“The goal is to educate the broader Muskingum County Community about not only the work the agriculture community is doing but also the fun things that it’s bringing to the community and what it can bring to the youth,” Tracy Rector, a member of Merit Marketing Services representing Foodworks Alliance, said.

There is a large focus on the youth in the community, as well as the role that bees play in the agriculture community as the theme for this year’s day is “What’s the Buzz?”

During the Farm City Day, judges will be evaluating entries from community members that have a special recipe.

“We want to highlight the good work that the agriculture community is doing,” Rector said. “And so this fun with food competition is designed to not only recognize the food professionals in the area, such as the local restaurant, the local chef, those folks but also the amateurs, you know, the mom that has the fantastic garden.”

The fun with Food Competition includes four categories — best salsa, best sauce, best zucchini recipe and food art.

“With Zanesville’s ties to the art community, it seems like a fun, natural fit, let’s see what the creative minds here in town can do with food, and it’s a produce-based food art,” Rector said.

Each category has a professional and an amateur section.

Registrations can be completed at foodworksalliance.com. Amatuer entry costs is $10 for the general public and $25 for professionals.

Participants are asked to arrive at 9 a.m., to the Vets Building at the Muskingum County Fairgrounds, to enter their unmarked item. Each entry should be in an unmarked container in order to make the competition more fair.

A group of judges, including Foodworks Alliance members, sponsors and local celebrities, will be judging the competition.

Courtesy of generous sponsors, Rector said, there is about $2,500 worth of prizes to be had.

People who don’t have an item to enter into the contest are still invited to browse local vendors and taste some samples.

All registration fees and remaining sponsor funds will benefit Foodworks Alliance and the programs that the non-profit offers to the community.

The Foodworks Alliance is a licensed commercial kitchen with industrial-sized equipment with a licensed kitchen operator to help people navigate the processes of producing local food products. It also helps guide people through all of the rules and regulations set forth by the state for people who do want to sell locally made food products.

Anyone interested in becoming involved with the Foodworks Alliance either to volunteer or as a member to utilize the service can visit the organization’s website.