Cristian Lera of Carroll finished near the top of the podium this week at the Iowa State Fair during the Iowa Farm Bureau’s 61st annual Cookout Contest. Since 1964, contestants from around the state h

This year was no different, as over 50 backyard chefs set up their grills for the annual Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest. Categories in the contest included beef, pork, turkey, poultry or lamb. Some chefs kept it simple, serving meat fresh off the grill with classic barbeque sides, while others opted for meat sliders or skewers.