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Published August 26, 2011, 12:00 AM

Minnesota State Fair program features elk farm in Garfield, chef from Arrowwood Resort

Charles Francis and Kim Esala-Francis of Doraisamy Elk Farm in Garfield and Shane Wichtendahl of Arrowwood Resort in Alexandria will participate in the 9th annual “Minnesota Cooks” program at the State Fair this Sunday, August 28.

Charles Francis and Kim Esala-Francis of Doraisamy Elk Farm in Garfield and Shane Wichtendahl of Arrowwood Resort in Alexandria will participate in the 9th annual “Minnesota Cooks” program at the State Fair this Sunday, August 28.

As part of the program, chefs from restaurants around the state will show how they use Minnesota-grown products from local farmers to prepare meals at their restaurant.

The farmers and chefs will also answer questions about buying local.

At the end of each demonstration, fairgoers and a panel of Minnesota farmers and celebrity tasters will have a chance to sample the dishes created onstage.

A free calendar featuring them will be available at the Minnesota Farmers Union booth throughout the duration of the fair.

“The Minnesota Cooks program educates consumers about where food comes from and where to find farm-fresh, local food,” said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union president and creator of Minnesota Cooks. “The Minnesota State Fair is the perfect place to showcase what Minnesota agriculture has to offer our economy, and we are proud of the great food farmers produce throughout all of Minnesota and the chefs who look to them to provide healthy choices for consumers.”

Minnesota Cooks is presented by Minnesota Farmers Union and receives major sponsorship from Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (www.auri.org).

For more information about Minnesota Cooks, visit the website at www.

minnesotacooks.net.

Minnesota Farmers Union is a nonprofit membership-based organization working to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of family farmers and ranchers, as well as rural communities.

What’s cooking

Chef Shane Wichtendahl from Arrowwood Resort and the Doraisamy Elk Farm of Garfield will be featured at 1 p.m. this Sunday at the State Fair Carousel Park Outdoor Stage during the Minnesota Cooks program. Recipes featured during the session will include porcini crusted Doraisamy elk loin with grilled tomato compote, summer squash and wild mushrooms.

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