Minnesota Wild Rice Recipe Contest Winners Announced
The Minnesota Cultivated Wild Rice Council awarded top honors for home-cooked recipes featuring the state grain.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Food and Drink
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In September 2026, the Minnesota Cultivated Wild Rice Council concluded its annual recipe contest, naming winners for both the Grand Prize and People's Choice awards. Fourteen original recipes advanced to the final round of the competition.
Why it matters
The contest highlights the culinary versatility of the grain while celebrating National Rice Month, honoring a staple crop designated as Minnesota's official state grain in 1977.
Fourteen recipes advanced to the contest final round. Wild rice was designated Minnesota's official state grain in 1977.
The players
Minnesota Cultivated Wild Rice Council
This organization promotes the production and consumption of cultivated wild rice within the state.
Mary Shivers
She is the winner of the Grand Prize who resides in Ada, Oklahoma.
Mary Edwards
She is a home cook from Ormond Beach, Florida, who won the People's Choice Award.
Laura Kurella
She served as a judge for the Grand Prize entries in the competition.
The details
Mary Shivers took the Grand Prize for her Gone Wild Chicken Gnocchi Soup, judged by Laura Kurella. Meanwhile, Mary Edwards won the People's Choice Award for her Wild Chili Verde Soup, earning her a Golden Ticket to the 2026 World Food Championships.
Timeline
1977 marked the year wild rice was designated as the official state grain.
Contest judging and public voting took place throughout September 2026.
The World Food Championships are scheduled to begin in Indianapolis on Oct. 15, 2026.
Roadmap
The contest reflects a broader trend of agricultural boards using recipe competitions to drive consumer awareness for regional staples. It follows the long-standing precedent set by the 1977 designation of wild rice as Minnesota's official state grain.
Readers can incorporate the winning recipe concepts into their own home cooking to utilize cultivated wild rice. These recipes provide specific templates for home cooks looking to diversify their use of the state grain in soups and other dishes.
The takeaway
Home cooks can elevate standard pantry staples by experimenting with creative flavor profiles like those found in the winning soup recipes. Participating in such contests offers enthusiasts a pathway to larger culinary stages and professional food competitions.
What happens next
Mary Edwards will compete at the 2026 World Food Championships in Indianapolis, which are set to begin on October 15, 2026.
Further reading
For more on local culinary traditions, explore the Food and Drink section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Grand Rapids Herald-Review.
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