Jay Blackinton, Hogstone’s Wood Oven’s co-owner and farm-to-table chef in Eastsound, is a semifinalist in the James Beard Foundation’s 26th annual James Beard Awards. The semifinalists were announced on the foundation’s website on Wednesday, Feb. 17. This is Blackington’s second year making the semifinals for this category.

Blackinton is in the running to earn the title of Rising Star of the Year, presented by S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water​. The Awards feature 21 categories representing a variety of culinary talents.

According to a press release from the foundation, more than 20,000 entries were received. The list of semifinalists will now be sent to more than 600 of the country’s leading food critics, educators and past James Beard winners to be narrowed down to the finalists to five nominees. Once the nominees are chosen for each category the judges will chose the winner from those remaining finalists.

Final nominees will be announced on Tuesday, March 15 during a press conference in San Francisco, Calif. The winners will receive their awards on Monday, May 2 in Chicago, Ill.