Event Runs: June 13 - June 14, 2026
Hosted by SAIT in partnership with the Calgary Stampede, this new, two-day competition brings together youth participants to learn essential culinary skills and explore agri-food concepts, then put them to the test through exciting individual and team-based challenges. The Youth Agri-Food Culinary Challenge will inspire and equip the next generation of culinary leaders with skills rooted in sustainability, creativity, and local food culture. The event will also create opportunities for mentorship, community connection, and exposure to Alberta’s vibrant food systems, while celebrating local producers and sustainable food practices.
The Youth Agri-food Culinary Challenge will be a two-day competition open to students in grades 10-12 and will take place at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Canada’s #1 Hospitality and Tourism post-secondary institution. The inaugural challenge is scheduled for June 13-14, 2026.
Participants will be awarded with cash and prizes for taking part in this experience and testing their abilities in a competitive but encouraging environment.
Registration will open in April 2026 and close one month prior to the challenge. A maximum of 40 participants will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis. Once the capacity is reached, additional registrants will be wait-listed and contacted in order of submission if a spot becomes available. Invitations will be sent to high school students already enrolled in the dual-credit program available through SAIT’s Youth Initiatives team.
