OTHO — A new kind of cooking competition will be coming to Otho next month. Noodle Fest, a ramen noodle cookoff, will be the first of its kind in the area.

The Sept. 11 event is being put together by Otho resident, Kerk Friday. Friday previously helped organize Frontier Days and has coordinated many other cookoff competitions.

“This is my hometown and I just wanted to do something fun and different,” Friday said.

There will be awards for first, second, and third place as well as a People’s Choice Award. The competition will be open for the public to watch and sample the ramen.

The public will be able to buy a bowl for $5 per person and try as many ramen recipes as they like, starting at noon. Children ages 10 and under can eat for free. After tasting, spectators can vote for their favorite to win the People’s Choice Award.

Friday said proceeds from the event will go back to the community.

“Half will go to the Otho Little League and the other half will go to the Otho Betterment Committee,” he said.

In addition to the food, there will be a bean bag tournament throughout the morning.

The competition will be held Sept. 11 in Otho City Park. Friday said he hopes they will be able to leave registration open until the week before the competition. Cost is $20 per team to enter and the noodles will be provided. Teams will just need to bring any additional ingredients for their own recipes. Cooking will begin at 8 a.m.

To enter, or for more information, contact Friday at 515-571-7293.