Lamar County 4-H Steak Cook-Off and First Responders Lunch

The Lamar County 4-H Steak Cook Off and First Responders Lunch is exactly the kind of event small counties do better than anyone: a friendly cooking competition among 4-H families and local grill teams, with the results served up as a free lunch for the first responders who keep Lamar County running. It lands on the Paris/Lamar County Chamber of Commerce events calendar every fall and doubles as one of the county's most visible 4-H fundraisers of the season.

What to expect

Expect a working-day Saturday out: teams finishing their turns on the grill, plates moving down the serving line, and a crowd of county regulars who treat the cook-off as part of the October calendar. The lunch honors first responders, and the event raises support for Lamar County 4-H programs, which keeps the next generation of county fair projects and livestock shows funded and staffed.

The venue and start time for the 2026 edition are announced through the Chamber and the Visit Paris Texas events calendar, so grab a plate and check the calendar for the exact site and schedule. It is the kind of event that rewards showing up early and staying for the crowd.

Why it matters for the area

Events like this are the connective tissue of rural life. A cook-off that feeds the county's first responders says a lot about a community, and a 4-H program strong enough to run it says even more about the families behind it. For anyone looking at acreage in Arthur City or anywhere in Lamar County, this is a good weekend to see the county's civic side up close.

From 3870 County Road 45080, the drive into Paris for the cook-off runs about 20 minutes, most of it a straight shot up US-271. A short drive for a long morning of smoke, county pride, and good people doing good things.