(INDIANAPOLIS) – Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch will travel to Dallas, Texas, from October 17-19 to attend the 2019 World Food Championships in support of Team Indiana and to promote Culinary Crossroads, a new culinary-centric branding campaign for the State of Indiana. Team Indiana will join over 1,500 of their colleagues from over 40 states and 12 countries competing in 10 categories of competition.
Team Indiana is the first initiative for Culinary Crossroads, a new and ongoing branding campaign focused on raising awareness of the personalities, products, services, and attractions that comprise Indiana’s culinary landscape. In June, Crouch announced her support for the group of professional chefs and home cooks from across the Hoosier State.
In addition to the Indiana Office of Tourism Development, other team underwriters include: Indiana Kitchen, ClusterTruck, Indiana Grown, Red Gold, Piazza Produce and The Agency Worldwide.
“In addition to a robust agribusiness sector and supply chain, Indiana has award-winning restaurateurs and chefs, as well as talented, passionate home cooks that make us stand out among our Midwestern neighbors,” Crouch said. “I’m thrilled to see Team Indiana chefs show the world why Indiana is a top destination for food and agricultural tourism.”
While in Dallas, Lt. Gov. Crouch will meet with World Food Championships President & CEO Mike McCloud, tour the event campus, visit with exhibitors and competitors and conduct interviews with national and international media covering the food sport competition. She will also be actively involved in cheering on Team Indiana competitors as they go through the rigorous rounds of competition.
“My plan is to raise awareness of all that Indiana has to offer the culinary world as our Team Indiana members raise the bar in their respective competitions,” Crouch said. “Hoosier participation in the rapidly expanding world of food sport, specifically the World Food Championships, will introduce Indiana and our Culinary Crossroads brand across the country and on the global stage.”
Crouch is focused on the important role Team Indiana and the Culinary Crossroads effort will play in attracting the skilled professionals needed to fuel Indiana’s growing economy.
“Raising awareness of these tremendous individuals and organizations is a critical ingredient in making our state a tremendous place to live, work and play,” Crouch said. She added that as the Culinary Crossroads brand develops, Indiana will continue to share stories with consumers around the country and provide this information to Indiana-based businesses to assist them in their respective talent recruitment efforts.
“Team Indiana and Culinary Crossroads is a great example of public leaders listening to the marketplace and teaming up with private sector partners to develop a substantive program which drives tourism, fosters business development and assists businesses both large and small in nurturing their current employees and securing the human capital required for future growth and stability,” said Curtis Hansen, Director of Sales & Marketing for Indiana Kitchen, a lead sponsor for Team Indiana.
Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch’s World Food Championships Itinerary (subject to change):
Thursday, October 17
- Welcome and Meeting with Mike McCloud, President & CEO, World Food Championships
- Tour of Event Campus (kitchen arena, exhibition hall, Team Indiana area)
- Team Indiana meeting
- Media availability
- WFC evening event
Friday, October 18
- Team Indiana competitions
- Media interviews
- Lunch Meeting with Team Indiana Sponsors
- Meetings with WFC Sponsors and Underwriters
- Team Indiana competitions (cont.)
- WFC evening event
Saturday, October 19
- Team Indiana competitions (cont.)
- Meetings with WFC Sponsors and Underwriters (cont.)
- Media interviews (cont.)
- Depart for Indiana
About the World Food Championships
The World Food Championships (WFC) is the highest stakes food competition in the world. This multi-day, live-event culinary competition showcases some of the world’s best cooking masters competing for food, fame and fortune in ten categories: Bacon, Barbecue, Burger, Chef, Chili, Dessert, Recipe, Sandwich, Seafood and Steak. In 2018, over 1,500 contestants on nearly 500 official teams from 42 American states and 12 countries competed. More than 20 million people have attended WFC or have seen it on national TV over the past seven years. This year’s Main Event will be held in Dallas, Texas, at Reunion Tower Lawn, Oct. 16-20.
