The Wyoming ProStart Invitational is the premier statewide high school competition celebrating the skills and creativity of future culinary and hospitality leaders. Hosted by the Wyoming Hospitality and Travel Coalition Education Foundation, this high-energy event brings together top ProStart students from across the state to compete in four distinct competitions, showcasing their talent, training, and teamwork in front of industry professionals, educators, and judges.

 

Students compete in the following categories:

• Culinary Competition – Teams prepare a three-course gourmet meal in just 60 minutes using only two butane burners, without access to electricity or running water. Judging focuses on knife skills, sanitation, teamwork, flavor, and presentation.

• Restaurant Management Competition – Teams pitch an original restaurant concept, including branding, menu design, marketing strategy, and operations plan. They are evaluated on critical thinking, business acumen, and professionalism through real-world scenario questions from a panel of judges.

• Decorated Cake Competition – Individual students or teams create a visually stunning and thematically cohesive decorated cake. Judging includes creativity, technical difficulty, execution, and overall design impact.

• Artisan Bread Competition – This category highlights the craftsmanship of hand-crafted breads. Students are judged on taste, texture, presentation, originality, and knowledge of artisan techniques.

 

Winners from each category earn scholarships, awards!

 

The Wyoming ProStart Invitational is more than a competition—it’s a celebration of workforce development, a showcase of student excellence, and an investment in the future of Wyoming’s hospitality and tourism industry.