ROCHESTER, NEW YORK — (February 2011) — While people across the nation tuned into the NFL Super Bowl to watch the Steelers and Packers battle on the football field, students at Gates Chili Middle School worked to score a touchdown of their own — in the kitchen.  

The 2nd annual GCMS Super Bowl of Chicken, sponsored by Tyson Food Service, was recently held at Gates Chili Middle School in Rochester, New York.  Students displayed their culinary talents as they prepared their custom recipes alongside school foodservice staff and vied to become the Chicken Bowl MVP.

“Students were really excited to watch their peers compete in the kitchen,” said Debbi Beauvais, RD SNS, District Food Service Supervisor, Gates Chili School District. “The Super Bowl of Chicken is a great way to get students enthusiastic about school food, and we were able to add new Kid Tested, Kid Approved™ product recipes to our recipe collection.”

Students were challenged to create a recipe using dark meat chicken fajita strips or breaded chicken tenders from Tyson Food Service. More than 30 students submitted recipes for the event.  The finalists’ recipes were selected based on healthfulness, taste and creativity.

Finalists then joined kitchen staff each day to assist with the assembly, cooking and serving of their touchdown-scoring recipes. Students and staff sampled and scored the daily chicken contender during their lunch periods.

All finalists received gift bags, and the MVPs received iPods donated by contest sponsor Tyson Food Service. The Chicken Bowl MVPs' recipe will also be featured at the Middle School Wellness Fair in March and added to the menu throughout the Gates Chili School District.

Finalists’ recipes may be viewed on the Gates Chili Central School District Web site at http://www.gateschili.org/index.cfm.

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About Tyson Foods
Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN), founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is one of the world’s largest processors and marketers of chicken, beef and pork, the second-largest food production company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products and is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves. Tyson provides products and service to customers throughout the United States and more than 90 countries. The company has approximately 115,000 Team Members employed at more than 400 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.


PHOTO CAPTION: Finalists display their winnings with official Tyson mascot Buddy the Chicken. Tyson Food Service was the sole sponsor of the GCMS Super Bowl of Chicken.