OFFICIAL WE’RE COOKING IN MICHIGAN CONTEST RULES

PRIZES

• One Grand Prize Recipe Winner receives a $250 gift card for Hiller’s Markets.
• One First Runner-up receives a $100 gift card for Hiller’s Markets.
• One Second Runner-up receives a $100 gift card for Hiller’s Markets.
• One Third Runner-up receives a $50 gift card for Hiller’s Markets.

RECIPE GUIDELINES

• Recipes MUST contain a minimum of four ingredients
• The main ingredient in your dish MUST be a Michigan brand, produced, or grown in Michigan.
• Seventy-five percent of the ingredients in your recipe must be composed of Michigan brands, or items produced, or grown in Michigan.  LIST THE BRAND OR INDICATE MI-GROWN WHEN DESCRIBING ALL LOCAL INGREDIENTS.
• Entries must be the original recipe of the entrant.

All contest prizes are not transferable or redeemable for cash, except at the sole discretion of Hiller’s Markets. All taxes and other expenses, if any, are the sole responsibility of the winners. This contest is void where prohibited or otherwise regulated. All federal, state and local laws apply.

Who can enter?

You are eligible if you are 18 years of age or older as of January 1, 2011, and are a legal United States resident residing in Michigan at the time of the Contest Finals.


You are NOT eligible to enter and will be disqualified if:

You are a food professional, such as a chef, food writer or someone who creates recipes for pay. You, your spouse, your parent or your child are an employee of Hiller’s Markets, Denha Media and Communications, or The Catalyst Company, LLC.

How do I enter?

To enter submit your recipe using the online entry form at www.BuyMichiganNow.com. Fill in all information requested on the entry form completely and type your recipe, listing each recipe ingredient (including indicating the brand or if it is Michigan produced/grown), exact measurements or weights, equipment with exact dimensions or sizes and complete preparation instructions.  All entries must be received by midnight on July 24, 2011.  Each entry should be submitted only once.  Use of automated processes and devices to submit electronic entries is not permitted. Contest Sponsors are not responsible for any changes or effects caused to the entrant's computer system as a result of submitting electronic entries.

Only entries submitted via the electronic entry form provided on the website above will be accepted. Entries submitted via any other method, including but not limited to U.S. Postal Service, facsimile or other express delivery services, will NOT be accepted.  Contest Sponsors and their promotion agencies are not responsible for phone, network, electronic or computer hardware or software failure, or technical failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, fraud, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmissions, whether caused by Contest Sponsors, entrants or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the promotion or by any technical or human error which may occur in the processing of submissions which may damage a user’s system or limit a participant’s ability to participate in the promotion.

The Catalyst Company, LLC (a.k.a. Buy Michigan Now) may prohibit any individual from participating in the contest or winning a prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines that said individual is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the contest by cheating, hacking, deception, or other unfair practices; violates the Official Rules; or acts in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner at any time during the Contest, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person.  By submitting your recipe, you accept all contest rules and agree to be bound by the decisions of the judges, which will be final.

All recipes become the property of The Catalyst Company, LLC and may be published or utilized in the production and sale of a consumable food product, and, are submitted without any restrictions regarding their use, and with the understanding that there will be no additional financial consideration paid.


How will recipes be judged?

All entries must meet the requirements of the Recipe Guidelines. Recipes not meeting contest entry criteria will be disqualified.  Initial judging will be done by Hiller’s Markets personnel. Final judging will take place on Saturday, August 7th 2011 at the Buy Michigan Now Festival in downtown Northville, by a panel of qualified judges selected by The Catalyst Company, LLC and Hiller’s Markets. Decision of the judges is final in all matters relating to this Contest.

Criteria includes:

Taste 
Appearance 
Creativity 
Easy to Follow Instructions
Michigan Spirit

Judges will disqualify previously published recipes, such as but not limited to those in cookbooks, in magazines, from food companies, on food or recipe websites and winners in cooking contests, unless the recipe features changes considered significant by the judges.  Upon submission, entrants certify, on information or belief, that their recipes are their original creation and have not been published or publicized and have not won a previous cooking contest

What happens if I win?

Selected finalists will be notified by July 31, 2011. The Catalyst Company, LLC will advise finalists of further Contest procedures and policies at this time, and all finalists agree to comply with such procedures. Finalists may be required to make themselves available for promotional appearances during Buy Michigan Week August 5-7, 2011. Any finalist who does not comply with these requirements, cannot be easily located at the address or phone number provided, or who is unable to attend the Contest Finals may not be eligible for any prize and may not be allowed to compete. If a finalist becomes unable to compete for any reason, The Catalyst Company, may attempt to replace that finalist with an alternate, provided that the alternate can comply with the conditions stated above. 

All issues and disputes regarding any aspect of the Contest, including, but not limited to the construction, interpretation and enforceability of these official rules, shall be governed by the laws of the state of Michigan, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.

Sponsors of this contest are The Catalyst Company, LLC (a.k.a. Buy Michigan Now), and Hiller’s Markets.