About the Competition
The 2026 CTE Food Trailer Competition invites West Virginia culinary programs to develop and pitch a student-led food trailer concept. The winning program will receive grant funding to support the purchase or build of a food trailer.
Programs may choose to build a trailer from the ground up or customize a purchased trailer to create a fully functioning mobile food operation. Schools are encouraged to involve other CTE programs to assist with areas such as construction, welding, electrical, graphic design, marketing, and more to create a collaborative schoolwide project that reflects real-world industry connections.
The competition is designed to give students hands-on experience in culinary arts, entrepreneurship, budgeting, operations, branding, marketing, and business planning while encouraging creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving.
The competition will take place in multiple phases. Programs will first submit an application and video presentation outlining their proposed food trailer idea, vision, and project plan. A review committee will evaluate submissions and select the top five finalist teams to advance to the final presentation round.
Finalist teams will present their projects to a review committee and outline operational plans, budgeting, trailer layouts, marketing strategies, and plans for sustainability and long-term operation. Finalists will also be required to provide 200 food samples featuring menu items planned for their trailer. Samples will be distributed to the public, who will vote for a People’s Choice Award.
Following finalist presentations, one winning program will be selected to receive grant funding to help bring their food trailer project to life.
Competition Process
Phase 1 - Application Submission
Interested culinary programs must complete the competition application and submit all required materials by the application deadline. As part of the application process, teams must submit a video presentation highlighting their proposed food trailer concept, vision, and project plan.
For a full list of rules, see Competition Rules & Awards
Phase 2 - Finalist Selection
A review committee will evaluate all applications and select the top five finalist teams to advance to the final round of competition.
Phase 3 - Finalist Presentations
Finalist teams should be prepared to provide 200 samples featuring one to two planned menu items as part of a public tasting experience designed to showcase their culinary program and food trailer concept onsite. Samples will be distributed to the public for voting on the People’s Choice Award.
In addition to the tasting component, finalist teams will present their food trailer concept to a review committee. Presentations will include operational plans, marketing strategies, budgets, trailer layouts, sustainability plans, and other required project components.
Phase 4 - Grant Award
Following finalist presentations, one winning program will be selected to receive grant funding to support the purchase or build of a food trailer, including customization, equipment, and materials.