KUSA - Braised beef ribs, bison brats, grilled vegetables with a balsamic reduction, trout pate, and chicken and pulled pork tacos.

That's what Colorado Ag Day is all about: local chefs creating dishes from products grown, farmed and raised in Colorado.

This is the second year Colorado Ag Day was celebrated near the Rotunda in the state Capitol building. The purpose is to spotlight all the agricultural items that Colorado farmers and ranchers produce.

"It's the second largest contributor to the state's economy: 40-billion dollars at least and it contributes to our export market," Colorado Agriculture Commissioner John Salazar said. "We're exporting our products out of the state and to other countries as well."

This year, 9News anchors Mark Koebrich and Adele Arakawa joined Joan Brewster as food judges. Brewster is the executive director of the American Culinary Federation Colorado Chefs Association.

There were eight dishes to taste. According to the judges, all were delectable.

"They say don't eat it all, which is insane!" Koebrich said, as he chided the servers for taking away the food too soon.

"It's really not a competition, it's all about gathering together and having a good time", Greg Seber, Executive Chef at Azura of Lakewood.

After the judging, all the members of the Colorado legislature got to enjoy each dish in a buffet set up on the first floor of the Capitol.

 

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