Time Remains To Enter Carnival Cooking Contest

WATER VALLEY–For many guys out there, firing up the grill is more than cooking, it’s bragging rights.
    Bragging rights and thousands of dollars in prize money is on the line for participants in the Pickup  Porkers Barbecue Cooking Contest sponsored by the Water Valley Chamber of Com-merce.
    The prizes will be awarded in first, second and third place finishes spread across eight different categories.
    The categories range from the more dedicated pork, poultry and pork shoulder categories in the backyard cooking division to desserts, sauces, sides and Anything Watermelon  to entice cooks who simply enjoy spending time in the kitchen.
    “Last year’s winners, the Southern Piglets from Cleveland are returning. We already have 10 teams registered from across the north half of the state,” reported event organizer Tonya Eubanks. The deadline to enter is Friday.
    “Don’t forget about the side dishes, we really want our local cooks to get involved,” Eubanks added.
    The largest prize is awarded for the taster’s choice category, where teams prepare enough samples for 100 people. Each person casts their vote for the best-tasting lineup and the winning team receives $1,500. The second place team will win $500. First place prizes winners in the pork, poultry and pork shoulder pay $400, while second place pays $200 and third place pays $125.
    The remaining categories pay $100 for first, $50 for second and $25 for third place.     
    As a sanctioned Memphis Barbecue Network (MBN) event, winning teams earn points to qualify for bigger competitions in the Backyard Division. Top teams throughout the year can even qualify for a coveted spot in the Memphis in May competition.
    For more information, contact Eubanks at tonya eubanks@att.net or 609-7370.