Brazos Valley High School Culinary Teams Face Off at 2026 Taste of Aggieland

Local high school students compete alongside professional chefs in annual culinary competition

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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High school culinary students from Rudder, College Station, and Caldwell ISD will compete at the 2026 Taste of Aggieland competition on February 26 at the Brazos County Expo. The event, hosted by the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Brazos Valley Restaurant Association, aims to teach local kids about the culinary industry.

Why it matters

The Taste of Aggieland competition provides a platform for high school culinary programs to showcase their skills and gain real-world experience working alongside professional chefs. It also raises funds to support these local programs, which teach students valuable cooking techniques, restaurant management, and teamwork skills that prepare them for careers in the culinary industry.

The details

The competition will feature culinary teams from Rudder, College Station High School, and Caldwell ISD. Defending champions Harper Watkins and Jacob Peart, juniors at College Station High School, will return to compete with a chicken roulade dish. The students will face challenges like cooking without a traditional oven and completing their dishes within a one-hour time frame.

  • The 2026 Taste of Aggieland competition will take place on February 26, 2026.
  • Doors open at 5 p.m. and the event runs until 8 p.m.

The players

Harper Watkins

A junior at College Station High School and the defending champion of the Taste of Aggieland competition.

Jacob Peart

A junior at College Station High School and the defending champion of the Taste of Aggieland competition, alongside Harper Watkins.

Cliff Wright

A chef from Santa's Wonderland who is mentoring the College Station High School culinary team.

Loghan Rosati

The culinary instructor at College Station High School, who prepares students for careers in the industry.

Brazos Valley Restaurant Association

The organization partnering with the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce to host the Taste of Aggieland competition.

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What they’re saying

“We're really good at making Cajun food.”

— Harper Watkins (KBTX)

“He kind of watches over you like your father who's like making sure you want to do everything right. And you're just like standing there like, I want to make him proud.”

— Harper Watkins (KBTX)

“We can't do this because it looks too bland. Oh, we can't do this because it's like everybody's gonna do that. It's too boring.”

— Jacob Peart (KBTX)

“The responsibility of actually being in the kitchen and what needs to be done shows how much they have matured in a kitchen setting and what they can bring to a lifestyle after high school.”

— Loghan Rosati, Culinary Instructor, College Station High School (KBTX)

“It's really important to stick through with what you do. Whenever you start something, you have to finish it. Don't give up halfway through and you'll see the benefits.”

— Jacob Peart (KBTX)

What’s next

The winners of the 2026 Taste of Aggieland competition will be announced at the end of the event on February 26.

The takeaway

The Taste of Aggieland competition provides high school culinary students with valuable real-world experience and the opportunity to showcase their skills alongside professional chefs. The event also raises funds to support these important local programs, which are preparing the next generation of culinary talent.