The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by David Grimes for the Quill
On the heels of last year's overwhelming success when the gates had to be opened an hour early to accommodate the crowds, Oquawka's Catfish Cookoff is now officially an annual event.
The event kicked off at 11 a.m. Saturday with 20 competitors and more signing on at the time.
Heidi Miller, Oquawka, cookoff board co-chair said the event is held to raise funds for Toys for Tots and for MDA and couldn't happen without the many donors who contribute food for the meals, prizes for the raffle drawings and money for competition expenses.
The day's festivities included live music by Mass Confuzion and Silver Creek, bingo, kids activities, hourly 50/50 drawings and a live auction.
And what would a catfish cookoff be without fish?
"Papa Joe's donated all the fish," Miller said.
Each cookoff contestant worked with 20 lbs. of catfish, adding their unique and special touch to the entry.
Judging was done at two levels.
A grand prize was awarded based on anonymous judging, but judging was also done by cookoff attendees who were encouraged to help themselves to free samples at each contestant's stand and then vote with their wallets as well by dropping something in the tip can.
At the end of the competition, tips were tallied with the competitor receiving the most tips receiving half the total amount while the other half was donated to charity.
Miller said 5,000 wristbands were ordered in preparation for the day's event.
from left-Kevin Sumpter, Oquawka; Dennis "Ringo" Rose, Burlington, IA; Jerry Ator, Oquawka; and Ned Fry, West Burlington, IA, team members of Monkey Ranch Engineering, prepare a batch of their Cajun Catfish as part of this year's Oquawka Catfish Cookoff competition. The competition is held to benefit the local Toys for Tots chapter as well as MDA.
Cindy Smith and Dennis Smith, rural Carman, members of team Whisker Lickers, prepare their entry, buffalo catfish, for the Oquawka Catfish Cookoff Saturday morning.