Get out your shotguns and gather your ingredients now for the craziest cook-off in Arkansas: The World Champion Squirrel Cook-Off will be held at 9 a.m. Sept. 7 at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's JB and Jonelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center in Springdale.
The free, family-friendly event returned last fall after a three-year hiatus, but after COVID-19 cancellations and some logistical issues, the original carcass-chicken dish settled into its new home at the nature center as easily as it fell off a log.
Joe Wilson, event planner, cooking competition veteran and connoisseur of all things squirrel-related, has been busy making this year's event even more memorable even before the final dish of last year was served. “We're always trying to try something new and keep it fresh,” Wilson says. “We're not sure exactly how it's all going to turn out, but we know it's going to be a lot of fun.”
Starting at 9 a.m., up to 40 three-person cooking teams will fire up their grills, smokers and other cooking equipment and present their dishes to a panel of judges beginning at noon. Wilson says there's still time to gather up some buddies, harvest some protein from the trees and join in the cooking fun. Complete rules and instructions for winning one of the few remaining cooking team spots are available at www.facebook.com/squirrelcookoff.
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Side dishes at this year's competition include the return of the World Champion Squirrel Skinning Contest and the World's Spiciest Squirrel Eating Contest. Wilson also raises the bark with a special squirrel calling contest, where contestants bark, chatter and squawk to win if they can convince a panel of expert judges that their squirrel talk is good enough. The AGFC will also be hosting the World Squirrel Shooting Championship at the Marksmanship Center, where participants can test their airgun skills and pick up some aiming tips to help them in the height of squirrel hunting season. The Nature Center classroom will also be full of squirrel-related activities for those interested in learning more about the Wild State's nutcrackers.
Everyone loves a side dish, but don't forget the main course: a great meal. This is a cooking contest, after all. In addition to the samples handed out by the competing teams, Wilson will have plenty of extravagant free food on offer that you can't buy at any store. “We'll have a giant fish fry sponsored by ACC Crappie Stix,” Wilson said. “Crappie and catfish will be served with a smile while supplies last, and we'll also have a ton of other free wild foods as taste samples of things you've never tried before. Last year's carp tacos were a big hit, and people kept coming back to eat their fill of the rabbit fricassee.”
And that's just some of the fun to be had by those who make the journey to Northwest Arkansas to enjoy the event in person. There's also talk of a special cookbook being sold filled with past winning recipes and other squirrel-centric resources. Proceeds from the book will benefit the local 4-H clubs who are volunteering to help secure parking for this year's event.
Visit www.facebook.com/squirrelcookoff for the latest updates on what's sure to be a talking point for years to come.
Attention food gatherers: Squirrel hunting season in Arkansas runs from May 15 to February 28, when hunters can take up to 12 squirrels per day. Keep an eye out for hickory trees as September approaches; hickory nuts are a favorite food of squirrels this time of year.
For more information about JB and Johnelle Hunt Family's Ozark Highlands Nature Center and squirrel hunting in the Wilderness State, visit www.agfc.com
