LaGRANGE — Earlier this month, 13 elementary students showed up at LaGrange High School prepared to showcase their favorite recipes in the inaugural Hometown Showdown hosted by Chartwells, the food services provider for Troup County School System.

Employees in the nutrition department assisted students as they prepared kid-friendly entrees and desserts ranging from a Disney’s “Ratatouille”-inspired dish to “Whole Wheat Suprize Muffins.” After the items were completely cooked and plated, five judges from TCSS, Chartwells and the community made their way around the room inquiring about presentation, preparation and ingredients of recipes.

In a competition reminiscent of a MasterChef Junior episode, students stood behind round tables explaining their snack as the judges tasted each individual item.

The young chefs’ food selections were judged on health consciousness, simplicity, kid friendliness, preparation, demonstration, taste and fun. There were several winners for the evening.

In the entree category:

Third place tie: Charlie Battle and Christian Anderson, both from Hollis Hand Elementary.

Second place: Twin Team Maddie and Molly Blackburn, Hollis Hand Elementary.

First place: Teammates Nicole Yang and Shaniya Render, Ethel W. Kight Elementary.

In the dessert category:

Third place: Trace Powell, Hogansville Elementary.

Second place: Elena Gentile, Ethel W. Kight Elementary.

First place: Tessa Bailey, Long Cane Elementary.

In the pre-K category:

Second place: Teammates Brantley Pike and Andrea Torres, Long Cane Elementary.

First place: Teammates Lawson Wiliams and Evelyn Glover, Long Cane Elementary.