Carlsbad High School takes top prize at New Mexico State Fair culinary contest

Carlsbad High School won first place at the New Mexico State Fair’s high school culinary competition. Teams competed by bringing their best green chile stew and tortilla recipe, with Santa Fe Indian School taking second and Taos High School third.

Cuba High School Culinary Arts Instructor Amber Pitts said the event taught students more than cooking.

“I think it shows them how to manage, how to be a team, work together as you can see. It shows them the industry and they were just really excited to come today,” Pitts said.

The winners earned $5,000 for their schools’ culinary programs.