Cooking Up A Competition: Lakeland Student Wins 2nd Place In Barbecue Contest

It wasn’t Tyler Lovend’s first rodeo — virtually and metaphorically — but it was decidedly his astir successful.

In early March, Tyler, a resident of Scott Twp. and a seventh grader astatine Lakeland Junior/Senior High School, competed successful nan Junior Cook-Off title successful Houston, Texas, that was held arsenic portion of nan Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s World Championship Bar-B-Que Contest. Competitors came from each complete nan world and had to beryllium sponsored by 1 of nan tents astatine nan arena successful bid to compete.

Twelve-year-old Tyler and his mom, Brenda Lovend, person cousins successful Houston that ain nan DIF Fiefelman Cookers tent, a catering tent, which helped to unafraid entry. In fact, this was Tyler’s 3rd clip cooking successful nan Junior Cook-Off.

“He sewage 36th spot (out of 50) his first time, and 4th spot connected his second,” said Brenda Lovend. “We were proud of him then, and we would’ve been proud this clip nary matter what. Not conscionable immoderate kid gets a spot.”

‘I emotion walking and I emotion cooking. I’m really excited to return portion successful thing that lets maine do both.’

But this time, Tyler sewage a spot connected nan winner’s podium — specifically, 2nd spot retired of 50 kids from astir nan world. He had a small help, being coached this twelvemonth by members of nan Boot Shooters catering tent, but he wasn’t up against conscionable anyone, either.

“We recovered retired 1 of nan girls successful nan title was a ‘MasterChef Junior’ winner,” Brenda Lovend said, referring to Raelynn Barker, who won a vacation version of nan children’s cooking title successful 2023. “We didn’t show him truthful he didn’t psych himself out.”

Barker didn’t spot connected nan podium, but nan Cook-Off was still fierce for some her and Tyler. Consisting of 1 round, nan title progressive cooking nan aforesaid type of steak arsenic everyone other and placing it successful a takeout-type instrumentality earlier being judged by a panel. Each competitor was free to take their sides and garnishes.

“I decided to grill my fruits and vegetables for flavor,” said Tyler. “One of nan ones I chose was starfruit, moreover though I had ne'er had it before.”

The bet paid off, and moreover a period later, Tyler’s still happy astir making it arsenic acold arsenic he did.

“I wasn’t expecting it, but I’m still really happy that I sewage 2nd place,” Tyler said.

Outside of cooking, Tyler is rather engaged some successful and retired of mediate school. He plays some inferior varsity shot and inferior varsity lacrosse astatine Lakeland Junior/Senior High School, and is simply a personnel of Boy Scout Troop 265 successful Montdale.

After nan awards ceremony, Tyler was invited to person luncheon pinch immoderate competitors astatine their tent. To his surprise, they offered to sponsor him if he wanted to compete successful different worldwide inferior cook-off successful Latin America. He said yes, and that title will beryllium happening adjacent January.

Whether he wins aliases loses that competition, Tyler is ecstatic either way.

“I emotion walking and I emotion cooking,” said Tyler. “I’m really excited to return portion successful thing that lets maine do both.”