A Peak into History
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Rice recipe contests have history and tradition in Texas. In 1951, The Texas Rice Promotion Association and the Abilene Reporter-News have announced a rice recipe contest. The contest was well documented and communicated in The Abilene Reporter-News. Recipes were received from fourteen towns and in multiple categories. The judges were overwhelmed by the success and diversity of recipes featuring Chinese, Hungarian, Syrian, Indian, Uruguayan and other recipes. Read on the stories and the fine print.
The event was documented within the Abilene Art Forum Pressbook. See: Carpenter, Allie Mae. [Art Forum Pressbook, 1949-1950], book, 1949/1950; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth596113/m1/77/?q=%22rice+recipe+contest%22: accessed December 4, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hardin-Simmons University Library.
In 1951 The Abilene Reporter-News has documented the recipe contest throughout several of their June and July issues.
The opening of the 1951 Rice Recipe Contest. Clipping from The Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 71, No. 9, Ed. 2 Monday, June 25, 1951. 
The rules are outlined by the judges. Clipping from The Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 71, No. 10, Ed. 1 Tuesday, June 26, 1951, newspaper, June 26, 1951. 
Recipes arrived from 14 towns. Clipping from The Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 71, No. 12, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 28, 1951, newspaper, June 28, 1951; Abilene, Texas. 
Received rice recipes. You may try one of these recipes at home. Clipping from The Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 71, No. 12, Ed. 2 Thursday, June 28, 1951, newspaper, June 28, 1951; Abilene, Texas. 
Clipping from The Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 71, No. 10, Ed. 2 Tuesday, June 26, 1951. 
The contest had a great success. Clipping from The Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 71, No. 18, Ed. 2 Wednesday, July 4, 1951. 
Scene from the judging process. Clipping from The Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 71, No. 22, Ed. 1 Sunday, July 8, 1951. 
The winners of the rice recipe contest announced. Received rice recipes. You may try one of these recipes at home. Clipping from The Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 71, No. 29, Ed. 1 Sunday, July 15, 1951. 
Reported multicultural recipes were received and shared. Clipping from The Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 71, No. 31, Ed. 2 Tuesday, July 17, 1951. 
Recipes with meat and rice. Clipping from The Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 71, No. 33, Ed. 2 Thursday, July 19, 1951 
Rice recipes received. Clipping from The Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 71, No. 34, Ed. 2 Friday, July 20, 1951 
Rice recipes received. Clipping from The Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 71, No. 38, Ed. 2 Tuesday, July 24, 1951. 
…and more recipes. Clipping from The Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 71, No. 43, Ed. 1 Sunday, July 29, 1951.
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Cash, Wanda Garner. The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 83, No. 318, Ed. 1 Sunday, October 17, 2004.
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