The aroma of cooking beef will greet the thousands of people who visit the 17th annual SEMO Home Builders Home and Garden Show at the Show Me Center this weekend.

The show has been chosen as site of the Missouri State Beef Cook-off, said Cindy Gage, event coordinator. All weekend show-goers may sample award-winning recipes from some of the best cooks in the state.

The contest will be Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m when five semi-finalists cook their best recipes. One will go on to the national cook-off and a grand prize of $25,000, Gage said.

The semi-finalists are Carol Amos and George C. Wagoner, both of St. Louis; Lorraine Walmann of Gladstone, Marlo Thorton of Kansas City; and Lanita Aldridge of Jefferson City.

The Home and Garden Show will begin Friday at 3 p.m. On Saturday doors will open at 10 a.m., and the show runs until 9 p.m. Sunday hour are 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Admission is $2.50 for adults. Children 12 and under get in free.

"People come to see the latest breakthroughs in home-building technology," Gage said. "It's an exciting thing. People look forward to it all year."

David Ross, director of the Show Me Center, said the show is well attended. "It's one of our anchor events," Ross said. "It happens every spring, so people are ready to get outside and come out and see the new products."

He estimated that 10,000 people will attend over the three days.

"Your Ticket to Spring" is theme of this year's show. Over 100 exhibits will be on two floors featuring home building, remodeling, decorating and gardening.

Two seminars will be held. The show will have two theaters, and both will have seminars starting almost every hour on the hour. In the Lawn and Garden Theater such topics as easy perennials, using annuals for color and herb gardening will be presented. In the How-To Theater, spectators will learn how to grill juicy hamburgers, basic cake decoration, sponge painting and stencilling.

For the second year the show will showcase "Playhouses on Parade," which features elaborate, custom-built playhouses on display.

The five houses will be auctioned at about 2 p.m. Sunday. Proceeds will go to Make A Wish Foundation of Missouri, a not-for-profit organization that makes wishes come true for terminally ill children.

An estimated $20,000 worth of merchandise and prizes will be given away by exhibitors and SEMO Homebuilders.

One item to be given away is a chair that will be upholstered on-site. There will be hourly door prizes. A $5,000 shopping spree will be given away.

Michael Holigan, a television personality from "Your New Home" and "About the House," will attend.

AT A GLANCE

The Home and Garden Show begins Friday at 3 p.m. at the Show Me Center. It runs Saturday from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Two seminars -- one on lawns and gardens and the other on how to do things -- will be held ever hour.

The Missouri State Beef Cook-off contest will be held Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission to the show is $2.50 for adults. Children 12 and under get in free.