BETHEL — Madi Touchette, 16, of Rumford, a sophomore from Mountain Valley High School and Noah Cunnington,16, of Bethel, a junior from Telstar High School, were second place winners in the SkillsUSA Maine MRE Challenge in Bangor on March 15.

The MRE (meal ready to eat) is a pre-cooked and pre-packaged meal used by US military personnel. The two-person teams had to produce two entrees, two appetizers, two desserts and two 12-ounce beverages to the judges in a limited time. It was a new category in the culinary arts category of the competition.

SkillsUSA is a national organization serving students in trade, technical and skilled service occupations.

Touchette and Cunnington won over the judges with their Street Chicken Meatballs and an Irish Cream Expresso. They competed with other Region 9 students.