Fourth-grader wins Future Chefs Challenge

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. -- A fourth-grade Saluda River Academy for the Arts student is the winner of the 12th Annual Future Chefs Challenge.

Maggie Campbell was the top chef in a field of 16 finalists, all third-, fourth- and fifth-graders representing their Lexington Two elementary schools. Finalists were selected from an original field of roughly 100 recipes, all themed to fruit and/or vegetable side dishes. They prepared their dishes Thursday in the state-of-the-art commercial kitchen at the Lexington Two Innovation Center.

The fourth-grader’s winning dish was Maggie’s Homemade Fruit Salad, which included ingredients like apples, pears, strawberries, honey, cinnamon, Greek yogurt, and coconut milk. Finalists’ recipes were scored by a panel of judges.

In addition to Maggie, other Lexington Two finalists and their schools are:

Cayce Elementary: Piper Robuck

Congaree Elementary: Jasmine Carino, Hampton Lowman

Riverbank Elementary: Avery Bartys, Caitlyn Moore, Gracie Summers, Samantha Carroll, Carlos Gutierrez Avila, Addisyn Hydrick, Heidi Vande Brake

Saluda River Academy for the Arts: Joury Elalfy

Springdale Elementary: Jayna Murphy, Leah Hoag, Phoebe Rabon, Ryleigh Kate Laird

Wood Elementary: Landin Broxton

Maggie will now represent Lexington Two at the statewide competition. Last year’s Lexington Two winner, then-fifth-grader Chandler Dorn, went on to win the 2022 national championship. She served as a judge in this year’s event.

The annual Future Chef Challenge is presented by Sodexo.