Senior Culinary Arts students at FEH BOCES recently put their creativity and skills to the test in the MRE Challenge, held in partnership with the Army National Guard.
Working in pairs, students were tasked with transforming their assigned MREs, or “Meals Ready to Eat,” the pre-packaged meals used by soldiers in the field, into a two-course meal judged on both flavor and presentation in a Chopped-style contest. Judges included Sgt. Ham of the Army National Guard and members of the FEH BOCES administration. The event was made possible thanks to the leadership and planning of Culinary Arts Instructor Andrea Seymour, who played a key role in bringing the challenge to life for her class.
The timed contest brought out the best in students’ creativity and collaboration. The energy in the room was dynamic as classmates rushed to plate their dishes, cheered one another on, and celebrated their resourceful spins on military staples.
Blake Martin, a senior Culinary Arts student, said the competition pushed him and his classmates to think on their feet. “Even though it was challenging, it was a fun experience,” he shared.
His teammate, Brooke Lawrence, highlighted the creativity involved in working with unusual ingredients. “We were given pudding as our MRE, and we crushed peppermints and added it to the pudding and garnished with cookies,” she explained. “That was my favorite part of our multi-course meal.”
The MRE Challenge was more than just a cooking competition, it offered students a glimpse into the real-world skills and career pathways that connect Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs with opportunities in the armed forces and other fast-paced industries.
“The MRE Challenge highlighted the parallels between New York State–approved CTE programs and potential career pathways in the armed forces,” said Shawn McMahon, Director of Career and Technical Education. “Our students enjoyed the energy of the competition, and it underscored the value of bringing real-world experiences into the classroom.”
FEH BOCES extends its sincere thanks to the Army National Guard for making this opportunity possible and is eager to continue building partnerships that give students meaningful, hands-on experiences connected to future careers.